We continue our harvest season, our thanks and offering and sharing of our gifts and talents to be built into God’s ways.
Please come and pray for the life of our parishes. This will take place in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’. Coffee and croissants from 8:15am, followed by prayer for the life of our churches. Finished by 9.30am Please do join us.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for the week from "Roots on the Web" Where are you, God? Do not be far from us, Creator God, when we look at the wonderful world you created. Help us to recognise the damage we have caused over centuries through greed for food and the rush for industry and vain progress. When we see the destruction of huge forests and the extinction of rare and precious species, we can’t see you. When we see the seas warm and the ice melt, we can’t see you. When we see temperatures rise and heatwaves, storms, floods and fires, we can’t see you. Show us the small things we can do to bring change and help us to respect and enjoy all creation. Do not be far from us, for trouble is near. We are not silenced by darkness; we approach God’s throne with confidence. Do not be far from us, Loving God, when we feel lost, powerless and unable to help in the face of the deep and damaging suffering of others. Help us to recognise the harm caused by abuse, addiction, poor family relationships and poverty. When we see people suffering because of lack of food or shelter, we can’t see you. When we see children damaged and hurt in their homes and communities, we can’t see you. When we see the result of conflict, war, hatred, mistrust and prejudice, we can’t see you. Show us what to do to bring help and support and give us the words to say on behalf of those who have no voice. Do not be far from us, for trouble is near. We are not silenced by darkness; we approach God’s throne with confidence. Do not be far from us, Healing God, when we are feeling troubled, when we see sickness in others and when we face the loss of those we love. Help us to feel and know that you are always with us and walk alongside us through the hardest and most challenging times. When we see people suffering pain through illness and enduring difficult treatment, we can’t see you. When we see those who have lost someone close to them and can’t recover or see a future of hope and happiness, we can’t see you. When we ourselves go through sickness and other personal struggles, we can’t see you. Show us how we can share your love and healing hope with others, and teach us to trust you in all that we face. Do not be far from us, for trouble is near. We are not silenced by darkness; we approach God’s throne with confidence. Do not be far from us, Peaceful God, when we remember the people of Israel who look back to this time last year and the horrors of attacks, death and kidnapping. Help us to pray for your peace when we think of the suffering of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and of the people of Lebanon. When we hear the fixed views and lack of compassion from those who order attacks and promote conflict, we can’t see you. When we hear the news coverage and see suffering at arms’ length, not really feeling the true pain of all involved, we can’t see you. Show us what we can do to promote peace in all situations and make us determined to keep praying for the peace that only you can bring. Do not be far from us, for trouble is near. We are not silenced by darkness; we approach God’s throne with confidence. Amen.