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Prayers for Epiphany 2
By Mr Mike Elliott
Heavenly Father, creator of a universe full of wonder and many
still-hidden mysteries. Help us in our modern, sometimes confusing and
fast changing world to pause and reflect on your glory and unending
grace and in the stillness to listen, like Samuel, for your voice
speaking to us alone.
We bring to you now our prayers and concerns for others confident in the
knowledge that our prayers will be both heard and answered.
As we pray for the Church both far and near we remember the great
commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Help us through our
services, community outreaches, house groups and other organisations to
be bold in our professing that Christ is Saviour and Lord of all.
We pray especially for the Rt. Reverend Dr. Alan Smith the newly
appointed Bishop of St, Albans that as he takes up his office at Easter
he will know your presence along his new journey of faith.
We pray for the ongoing discussions about Methodist Circuit mergers and
the meeting at Priory tomorrow evening that ‘your will’ may be discerned
in all things.
We pray for all who share in the church’s mission in this community.
Help us to move forward in faith trusting in the guidance of your Holy
Spirit and in your divine purpose for us all.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We continue to pray for peace in your world, and especially for those
involved in the process of reconciliation and bridge building between
peoples, cultures or nations. We give thanks for the cessation of
hostilities in and around Gaza but pray for those for whom it has come
too late. We pray for all innocent victims of violence both in the
Middle East and in other war-torn parts of the world. Help us wherever
and whenever we can in our everyday lives to be instruments of your
peace.
We are called to challenge injustice in all its forms and we pray for
all aid agencies bringing hope to peoples in desperation and in
situations that often seem hopeless.
In our world of Have’s and Have-nots and as we come to terms with new
economic realities help us to remember those who are without even the
most basic of the necessities of life and for whom Christ also died.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for our own nation, for Elizabeth our Queen, her ministers and
for all who serve the people at all levels of government and
responsibility.
The current and deepening financial crisis creates uncertainties and
hardship at all levels of our society and we pray for careful and
considered leadership that transcends party politics and works for the
betterment of all sections of our diverse society.
As we see the jobless total rise and the increase in the reality of
house repossessions on our tv screens we pray for all charities who work
to improve the lives of those blighted by misfortune and earnestly pray
that our nation will still maintain its levels of giving.
We pray for our armed forces overseas and their families back home and
that their time ‘in theatres of conflict’ is brought to a timely
conclusion.
Help us all to play our part in creating and maintaining a just,
equitable and loving society with Christ at the centre of our lives.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
Lord Jesus, we turn our thoughts and prayers to those who are in
physical, mental or spiritual need. And let our prayers extend to those
who faithfully and lovingly care for them in whatever location or
capacity. We pray for those who reach out to those in need to help them
to know that they are not forgotten.
We bring before you now those known to us who are in any sort of need at
this time. In a moment of silence we name them in our hearts and commit
them to your loving care (silence).
Let those for whom we pray feel your healing touch in their lives and
that through your unfathomable grace they come to know your peace in
their lives.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
The loss of a loved brings many questions, doubts and mixed emotions
which are difficult to express and so we give you thanks Lord for the
opportunities in the life of our church to offer support and comfort to
those bereaved.
And so as we remember and pray for now those who are having to face the
future without the physical presence of a loved one we are reminded that
as Christians we find comfort in the full and certain knowledge that: -
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
symbolise the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings hope.
Today we remember: -
You turn our darkness into light; in your light shall we see light.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
A final prayer for ourselves:
a) As Philip and Nathanael were called to be your disciples so we too
must be prepared to respond to whatever you ask of us knowing that in
all things you will be at our side. AMEN.
Merciful Father, “Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen”.
We sing the Lord’s Prayer together.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen