Heavenly Father, thank you for this chance to pray in peace and safety. We know that you are already aware of our needs, but we want to put them into words together and bring them to you as a congregation.
Thank you for the good things you have provided for us: for homes and food; families and friends; education and health care; sunshine and shelter from the rain. Thank you for music and art and books and laughter and love and cakes and nice clothes and washing machines and cars and sport and freedom.
We realise that not everyone has these things which we often take for granted. We do long for people across the world to enjoy those same simple and innocent pleasures. We pray for people whose lives have been damaged by war, terror attacks, disease, famine or political injustice. We pray for hope, protection, relief and healing and peace. We pray particularly that the children who have witnessed terrible things would be loved and nurtured and would be able to seek hope and peace and justice but not revenge.
In the UK, we pray for peace and protection for all. We ask that people would not assume that someone is evil just because they belong to a different community. We ask for wisdom from our political leaders. Please give them a desire to serve their constituents rather than their careers and a determination to improve the nation rather than to score political points. Please protect and strengthen the aspects of Britain that we are so privileged to have: our health service, our tolerance, our freedom of speech and conscience, our independent justice system; our free press.
Here are Rowheath, we pray for your blessing and care for the people who are in need, whether we are able to name them or not. Please bring friendship to the lonely, comfort to the bereaved, medical care and heeling to the sick, hope to the depressed, certainty to those facing the end of life. Please rebuild the lives of those who feel broken. Give new direction to those whose plans have been forced to change. Give love and generosity to those who are in a good and happy and strong place just now. Help us to carry one another’s burdens and to treat everyone with the love and respect which they deserve simply because they are, as we all are, made in your image.
Please hear and answer these prayers, which we ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.