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

Lord on this St Valentine’s Day we come before you with our prayers and rejoice in the wonder and power of your never ending love for us, and our love for you, and we now read from St Paul’s letter  to the Corinthians.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Lord,
Because love is patient…
Help us to be slow to judge others, but always quick to listen.
Make us hesitant to criticize, but always eager to encourage, remembering your endless patience with us.

Because love is kind…
Help our words to be gentle on those we meet  and our actions to be thoughtful.   Remind us to smile and to show courtesy to friends, to strangers to  say "Please" and "Thank You" because those little things often mean so much.
Lord in your mercy

Because love does not envy or boast, and it is not proud…
Help us to have heart’s which are humble and which always look for the good in others.  May we celebrate and appreciate all that we have, and all that we are, and be ready to share what we have with those around us.

Because love is not rude or self-seeking…
Help us to speak words that are easy on the ear and on the heart. When we are tempted to get wrapped up in our own little world, help us to remember the vastness of the world around us with still so many needs, hurts and conflicts.

Lord in your mercy

Because love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs…
Help us to forgive others as you forgive us.  When we hold onto a grudge, gently help us to release it so that we can reach out instead with a hand of love and friendship.

Because love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth…
Help us to stand up for what is right and good. May we defend the defenseless, and help the helpless. Show us all how we can make a real difference to the lives of others, however small or insignificant this may sometimes seem.


Because love always protects and always trusts…
Help us to be strong and a refuge for those around us . When the world outside is harsh and cold, may our hearts always be open, a place of acceptance and warmth. May we always strive to help those who are sick, lost lonely or in despair.
Lord in your mercy

Finally, because love always hopes always perseveres…
Help us to see each new day as an opportunity to give ourselves to your service. Help our hearts to always beat with love for you and others and we think especially of those we love but see no longer and we remember that
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember before God those we love who have died and light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ, which eternally shines and brings hope.
Today we remember
Nora May Seamer
Betty Zuckerman
Catherine Isobel Holdsworth
Michal Smith
Billy Wallace
You turn our darkness into light in your light shall we see light.
Lord in your mercy
Lord we thank you for this day when we celebrate love in all its glory and for showing us the true meaning of the word which is your will for us.
Merciful Father :-

We now say together the prayer that Jesus gave us.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
We say together the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father…….



 

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