Our chance to remember those who gave their all. To give thanks for their courage and self-less love, and to pray for all affected by war, and somehow we pray for us to learn 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" Today we pause to think about those who gave beyond obligation during the two World Wars and many conflicts since. We thank you, Lord, for their dedication and service. We remember those who are in the armed forces today. Lord, protect them from harm as they seek to keep this world a safe place. And, Lord, more than anything, we pray for peace. May your Spirit hover over the earth and breathe peace into every continent, every nation, every people group, every adult, every child. Lord, we pray for peace. We thank you that you gave beyond obligation to bring the world back to you. Lord, we pray for peace. Amen. O Lord, the great giver, teach us how to give. We think of all that you have given us… the beauty of creation around us, focussing on one particularly beautiful sight we have seen this week… We thank you for giving us our homes or other places of refuge. We thank you for our families, friends and all who love and care for us. We picture our special people in our minds now… We thank you for our food, our clothing, the good times… And, above it all, we thank you for giving yourself to us so that we can have friendship with you. Lord, you have given all these gifts freely, out of your great love and creativity. Teach us how to love like you. Show us how to care like you. Make us good stewards of your creation and help us learn to give. Lord, the great giver of all good things Help us to give of ourselves. Lord, we think of times this week when we have not given wholeheartedly of ourselves. There have been times when we’ve been selfish, disobedient, ignoring people’s needs and choosing to look the other way. Forgive us for our lack of love and unwillingness to give of ourselves. As we start a new week, give us clear vision of how we can serve the needs of everyone we meet. Where people are sad, may we bring comfort. Where people need our friendship, may we give our time. When our families or workplaces need our energy, help us to keep on giving, filled with your Spirit. Lord, giving beyond obligation sounds so hard and exhausting at times: we need your strength and support. So, we ask for it now. Lord, the great giver of all good things Help us to give of ourselves. Lord, there are so many areas of your world where there is nothing we can physically do to help… but we can pray. We lift the troubled areas to you: Ukraine, the Middle East, Spain, so many parts of Africa. Lord, pour out your love and healing over these places of conflict and fear. Help us to remember to pray… perhaps as we walk, or travel. Lord, may your kingdom come. And, Lord, if we are able, help us to give aid where it is needed most to help ease the suffering. Lord have mercy. And we pray for the people of the USA as their new President is announced. May the result bring stability not division, we pray. We pray for wise leadership that will impact the world for good. Lord, the great giver of all good things Help us to give of ourselves. Lord, we bring our church to you now. Give us wisdom and vision so that we know where to place our prayers and our energies. Fire us up with your love to be a worshipping community that is known for its ability to care and live out the good news of your kingdom in practical ways in our local community. Help us to be prepared to go above and beyond to serve the needs of those around us. Inspire us to work together as the family of God. We pray for the charities we (already) support… and for those within our local area: the foodbanks, the homeless shelters, the soup kitchens, the after-school clubs… Lord, the great giver of all good things Help us to give of ourselves. Lord, we remember all those in our congregation who need a particular touch of your love right now. We pray for the sick, the sad, the anxious, the lonely, those waiting for hospital appointments or diagnoses. Come alongside them in their need. Show us where we can be the answer to our own prayers and give us the insight to know when to speak, when to act, when to just sit in companionable silence. Lord, the great giver of all good things Help us to give of ourselves. Finally, Lord, we pray for ourselves. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed with busyness that we forget to pray. Or we forget to take care of ourselves or to find some space just to be… Lord, this week, as we think in the stillness now of all the things that need to be done, help us to find moments of calm and times to recharge our batteries. Show us ways in which we can give TO ourselves so that we become more fully the people you have created us to be. O Lord, who loves to give us good things, give us times of laughter and joy this week, times shared with friends, a meeting of minds, a joining of hands, a game well played or a meal enjoyed. Lord, as we give of ourselves, replenish us with yourself. Go before us into every situation and help us to see you in the eyes of everyone we meet. Lord, we give ourselves to you. Thank you for giving yourself to us. Amen.