Bullies and Victims The world is full of them, and we all see ourselves as the victim….. ? The stories of David and Goliath and of Jesus calming the storm guide us for the world we live in.
Piano Recital by Patrick Lillie Also this Saturday, 22nd June, we are delighted to welcome back local pianist Patrick Lillie to St Thomas'. He will be playing a selection of works by Debussy, Liszt, Chopin and Beethoven.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week from "Roots on the Web" Lord God as we come to you in the stillness, help us to focus on you. Keep our minds firmly fixed on what YOU can do, not on our own strength. As we pray for the week ahead, give us the confidence to know that you go before us into every situation. Help us to remember that your strength is so much greater than ours and you offer it to us freely. Give us the humility to ask for your courage and strength rather than seeking to do things our way. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lord, we think about the week just gone. We pause to think about any difficult situations we found ourselves in. We ask: where were you in that situation? We listen in the silence for your response… Help us to see that you are always there, sometimes ahead of us, sometimes working almost unseen, but you are there. And we thank you. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lord, we think about the battles we have to face in the week ahead. We know that there will be giants and storms along the way, and we ask you to give us trust. To know that you are holding all things together. Give us the courage to believe that, even though storms may seem to be raging, you are in control. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
We think about our work, school or home life. Where might there be storms this week? We pray for the tricky situations in these contexts that make us uneasy and uncomfortable. Help us to face difficult situations with grace and love. If there are difficulties with people, we pray for them by name now in our hearts. If there are stressful situations, we offer them to you. Lord, go before us and equip us to handle everything that comes our way. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
We pray for storms within countries this week: as fighting rages in Gaza and Ukraine (as well as so many other parts of the world that drop off the news agenda), we ask for peace. We know that conflict is not your ideal, so give the leaders of the nations the humility to work towards permanent ceasefires and a lasting peace. Still the storms of conflict, Lord, we pray. Lead us into a new world of love and harmony, where you are in control. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lord, we remember the political battles that are being fought in so many parts of our world right now. We pray that you will raise up leaders of integrity and humility, people who seek not their own strength, but yours. Give us the wisdom to vote for those we know to be people who reflect your will and your ways. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lord, at the end of refugee week, we pray for justice. We cry out to you for all the situations in our world that are causing people to leave their homes and seek sanctuary elsewhere. We pray for those who are trafficked. For those who are abused. For those who are in forced marriages. Those who have no hope but to try and find safety in a culture so far from their own. Give the leaders of the nations compassion as they see the refugee crisis developing. Help them to look through the lens of your love and seek caring solutions that bring lasting security for all whose lives are in turmoil. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lord, we remember all those facing the battle with sickness and ill health. We pray for those facing a hard future of treatment and hospital visits. We remember any who we have been asked to pray for… Lord, give them and us the courage to face adversity knowing that you walk beside us. Hold our hands, hold their hands, at all the times when there is pain and distress. Pour your peace into every painful moment… Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lord, we remember those who are facing other storms in their lives right now… bereavement, hard decisions, redundancy, turmoil in their family life… Lord, the disciples saw you sleeping and thought you didn’t care. But you were still there, present with them, confident in who God is. And then you spoke, and all was calm… Lord, speak to those who need to hear you calming their storms and give them courage to face the future… Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Finally, Lord, we turn to the week ahead. There may be so much we know about what will happen and who we will meet. There may also be so little… Help us to go into every situation equipped not with our armour, but with yours. Show us the gifts you have given us to use… Teach us to look to you for strength and courage rather than trying to solve our own problems. Still our storms with your peace and help us to keep our eyes fixed firmly on you. Lord, our confidence is in you: Help us to step out in faith.
Lead us forward in your strength. Go before us and shine your light. Help us to be people of confidence in you and you alone. Amen.