Evening Prayer Thursday, 20 August 2020
Psalm 138
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the ‘gods’ I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down towards your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.
4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures for ever –
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Psalm 138 NIV®
Loving Lord God, whose love endures for ever,
we praise you with all our heart.
Each of us, wherever we may be, sing your praise in silence.
When we call to you, you answer us as is best for us.
You embolden all who put their trust in you,
enabling them to face the difficulties and uncertainties that beset them.
Help us, we pray, that through our words and actions in our daily lives,
others will come to know what your power will do for those who strive to follow you.
We pray for all those whose lives are not good at this time.
Give perseverance to those young people who have to make tough choices about their future studies.
May they be guided by your wisdom, mediated through wise counsel.
We pray for those who still need to shield loved ones, as support for them becomes harder to obtain.
We pray for those who continue to be isolated, fearful and lonely.
Help us to reach out to all who need our support, prayers and practical help.
Give us eyes to see where we are needed and the determination to do whatever we can.
We thank you for all those dedicated people who continue to care
for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly and the lonely.
We pray for all the initiatives and projects in Milton Keynes providing support for the most needy.
As we look back on the day now closing, we thank you for all the opportunities
you have given us to make a difference in our community.
We know that your love does endure for ever, and that you will never abandon the works of your hand,
you will always be with those who turn to you.
You have saved us so many times, and preserved us in the midst of trouble.
So we praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness.
We close our prayers this evening by saying the Grace together:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore.
Amen
