We cheer two children’s baptisms into the family of the church this week and have reached the concluding week of our look at Job. The clocks give you extra rest. Enjoy.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for the week from "Roots on the Web" We have heard God, and now we see God.
We see God in the opportunity for children and schools to take a break and rest. We see God in the opportunities to relax, do different things and use our creativity. We give thanks. We see God in the changing seasons, the sun and rain, and the colours of the autumn leaves. We see God in the light at dawn and the autumn fruits. We give thanks. We have heard God, and now we see God.
We see God in the light of our world, the places of good news and joy and the people who bring light to us. We see God in the new creations that he breathes life into every day. We give thanks. We see God in the saints of the past – those well-known, and those who were saints for us. We see God in the example they give us, and the hope they shared. We give thanks. We have heard God, and now we see God.
We see God in the amazing advances and discoveries in science that help us understand the created world. We give thanks for things that are used to help people heal. We give thanks. We see God in the happiness of birthdays, celebrations and anniversaries. We give thanks for opportunities to gather with others and share good things. We give thanks. We have heard God, and now we see God.
We have heard and seen, and now we pray to God.
We pray for our own church, town and community. We pray for the challenges faced by people who have difficult decisions to make and who face the unknown. We pray for the sick and the lonely, and all who feel unloved or abandoned. We pray for those who have life-limiting illnesses, that they may face them with strength and trust in you. We have heard and seen, and now we pray to God.
We pray for the needs of the world, and again we think of the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. We pray for those who are too young to understand the trauma that surrounds them and those who are too distressed to see any future. We pray for those who have the power to bring pain, death and horror to an end, and those that seem to have no understanding of the chaos being caused. We have heard and seen, and now we pray to God.
We pray for all those who work for justice, including the police, probation services and all those who work in the criminal justice system. As offending against others and causing harm seems to be on the rise, we pray for those who are sent to and who work in prisons, and those who are released and hope to change, and we ask that justice and mercy would be balanced in our society. We have heard and seen, and now we pray to God.
We pray for this time of the year, when it can seem that fun is being made out of things that are sacred and special. We pray for those disturbed and upset by the darkness and horror. We pray for those who hide in their homes, worried about ‘trick or treat’. We pray that all people will look beyond the darkness and see the light of those who have gone before, whose light shines on us. Amen.