Evening Prayers Saturday, 23 May 2020
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah
13 Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
14 But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.’
15 ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!
Isaiah 49: 13–15
Dear Lord, we give you thanks,
that you are always present, to comfort your people
we pray that you will have compassion
on all those afflicted by Covid-19,
both by the virus itself, but also by the effects it has:
fear, anxiety, insecurity, isolation and poverty.
Make us the instruments of your compassion,
reaching out to all those around us,
to offer assistance and assurances,
and in other ways, reaching out to all those, near and far,
to whom we can offer words of comfort.
We shout for joy and rejoice, that you, dear Lord,
comfort all your people, however dark their lives may be.
We know that you will never forget us,
and into your care we commit ourselves.
We end 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
Finally, a Benediction. Please join in:
May God’s blessing surround you tonight,
as you trust Him and walk in His light.
May His presence within guard and keep you from sin,
go in peace, go in joy, go in love.
© 1982 Cliff Barrows (altered)
