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  Ordinary 33 Year A

Church Prayers by Mr Ian Farthing 

The bidding for our prayers is 'Lord in your mercy' and the response is 'hear our prayer'

Let us pray

Lord God you are the father of all people and we come before you today with our prayers knowing that you will hear us, help us and guide us.

Lord we come to you at a time where our daily lives and those of all around the world are uncertain and disturbing, our financial markets are weak and volatile, prices are rising, debts increasing, savings lost or eroded, and jobs are being lost as businesses struggle and fail.

Loving Lord be with us in our uncertainty and fear, be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands, be a light in the darkness, and we pray that we may all receive the gift of your peace and comfort, and help us to fix our hearts on you where true joys are to be found.

Today we think especially of children and for those people who through their generosity however large or small have sought to help the BBC Children in Need appeal to continue it’s vital work.

We remember those children who are homeless and orphaned and for those whose lives are overshadowed by violence or thwarted by disease or cruelty.

Awaken in us your living charity that we may all have a desire to ensure that right will prevail and may we not rest while children cry for bread or go uncomforted for lack of love.

Lord in your mercy

Lord in a world where the peace which is your will seems so far from our grasp we ask you to help us to seek out opportunities to work for understanding and tolerance between people of different religious backgrounds, different social backgrounds, different racial and political backgrounds. We pray especially that religious views would not lead to bitterness and hatred between us your children whom you so love and with whom your patience and tolerance is boundless.

We remember the example of the Good Samaritan who reached out to someone outside of his own religion and culture, may this example inspire us to go beyond our own comfort zones and help those in need regardless of them being different to ourselves.

Lord in your mercy

Lord today we pray for victims of war, flood, earthquake, fire, famine or disease. For those left homeless, injured or bereaved.

Give all who suffer the love that bears all things, believes all things , hopes all things.

Be the support of all who give their strength, their skill and their stamina in a ministry of providing relief.

We ask you to open our hearts in prayer that we may also be partners and support their commitment to bring relief to all in need at this time.

Lord in your mercy

We pray for people who are frightened because they are ill.

Reassure them that because of the knowledge and skills that you give to us, many diseases can now be cured.

Help them to have confidence in those with medical knowledge to diagnose illness and care for the sick.

Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering.

We pray especially for those who have no one to help them, that in their loneliness they may know that you are with them.

Lord in your mercy,

Lord, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall.

Help us to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit within us, and the fellowship of the church family around us until we are reunited once more in your heavenly kingdom.

Jesus Christ is the light of the World, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember before God those who have died and light a candle to symbolize the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings hope - we remember



You turn our darkness into light in your light shall we see light

Lord in your mercy

Lord be with us in the week ahead help us to be good tempered and considerate, to work hard and not be lazy, to watch our tongues and not speak hastily, to be cheerful even when things go wrong and to act kindly to those we find it difficult to like, help us to receive your spirit through prayer and worship, fellowship and service so that the fruit of the spirit will grow in us to your glory.


Gathering our prayers and praises into one let us pray with confidence as our saviour has taught us as we say together the Lord’s Prayer
 

What is Prayer ?

When people close their eyes and pray. What are they actually doing? When people light candles and offer a thought to God what is taking place?

Christians do not believe that God needs to be alerted to the needs of people, or begged, coaxed and pleaded with if he is to do something about their problems. What sort of God would only make people better if and when enough other people asked hard enough? And what would it say about the infinite value of each and every person?

Prayer is not a shopping list, neither is prayer about grovelling before a God who is like a fearful tyrant.

In our prayers we bring our deepest feelings to God and share them. To pray is to express our most profound longings. To be continually awe-struck by the world is to pray, in that it helps our souls to fly. To be aware of our failings is to pray, in that it helps our souls to grow. To be thankful is to pray, in that it helps our souls to shine. None of these attempt to change the world, all of them reflect the fact that we have spiritual needs which only prayer can satisfy.

Prayer is the means by which Christians communicate with their God. The New Testament records that Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and that he encouraged them to address God as Father. Christians believe that they continue this tradition. Sometimes the prayers are formal and part of a ritual laid down for hundreds of years. Others are personal and spontaneous, and come from personal or group need.

Whilst prayer is often directed to God as Father, as taught by Jesus, some traditions encourage prayer to God through intermediaries such as saints and martyrs. Prayers through Mary, as the mother of God are central to some churches and form a traditional part of their worship. It has been said that there are as many different ideas about prayer as there are people to pray. But what is certain is that prayer is nothing less than the foundation of the spiritual life, and we need therefore to ‘pray without ceasing’, as St Paul put it, with such reflection being as natural as breathing - and almost as important!