These are prayers from this morning, based on the lectionary readings Ephesians 1:2-14, Mark 6:14-29 and Psalm 24.
Blessed are you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before you in love. We thank you for adopting us as your children and for your grace and patience with us.
In Christ you shared in the suffering of humanity and of the rest of the world you created. We pray for those suffering in their body, mind or spirit, and lift them to you in the silence of our hearts…. May they know your presence and receive your healing.
Lord in your mercy
We lift before you situations of injustice and pray for those people and organizations who speak truth to power; give them the courage of John the Baptist and the resources they need to serve you in this way.
In this time of political change and uncertainly, inspire our leaders to ever greater integrity and give them wisdom for the decisions they must take each day. May they prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable, and risk making unpopular decisions when they are in the interests of society as a whole.
Lord in your mercy
We lift before you those suffering in places of conflict and war, thinking particularly of Sudan, Haiti, Israel/Palestine, Ukraine and other places we bring to you in the silence… we pray for peace and for creative solutions to apparently intractable situations.
Lord in your mercy
The earth is yours, and all that is in it, you founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers. We praise you for water that sustains us and all your creatures. Forgive us for wasting, polluting and taking this precious gift for granted. Help us to respect and restore our seas and rivers, for the sake of all your creatures.
And we pray for people in places where water is not the gift it should be – places suffering from drought or from flooding. Help us to find ways to live in better balance with the forces of nature.
Lord in your mercy
We pray for the church as she seeks your face. In her quest for truth, give her wisdom when taking decisions, compassion for the vulnerable and grace in relating to others. We pray for our Bishop Robert, our chaplains, and our curate. Fill their hearts with joy and peace.
Lord in your mercy
Thank you for the hope we have that in the fullness of time you will gather up all things in Christ. And so we leave all these peoples and places in your all-embracing arms, and chose to trust you and not be afraid.
Merciful Father…