Evening Prayer Thursday, 20 May 2021
A reading from Psalm 33
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the Lord looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling-place he watches
all who live on earth –
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you.
Psalm 33: 12–22 NIV®
Dear Lord, we praise you and thank you that you have chosen us,
and we place our hope in your unfailing love.
We ask you especially at this time to shield and protect all who are suffering
in body, mind or spirit. Although the current restrictions are gradually being eased
there are still many who are anxious for the future, and what may lay ahead.
We rejoice that we shall be able to worship you together again this Sunday
in your church building of Christ the Cornerstone.
We pray that this Pentecost will be a new beginning for us, as it was for your first disciples.
Grant that we may find renewed ways to serve you by reaching out to those about us.
We ask that we may use our restored freedoms to show your love to your world.
We pray, too, that as we move forward, we shall not lose sight of the new ways we have found
to keep in touch with everyone in our church community,
always remembering those who are not able to join us in person.
Help us build on the new recognition that the pandemic has taught us,
that the whole world is one interconnected whole, and that we must be our brothers’ keepers,
however far away they may be. Teach us new ways to protect your world and our environment.
Climate change affects us all, pollution is a global problem, and these problems demand
we work together for the common good.
As we come to the close of another day, may we rest in the knowledge that you are with us
through the long watches of the night, and we are safe in your loving care.
We ask all these prayers in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
