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Matthew 25:40
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Gracious God, we lift before You this morning the work of our NHS as we celebrate its 73rd birthday. We appreciate that it has been an unprecedented year for all those working within this great institution, and that pressures continue on a daily basis with ever increasing demands upon its services. And so, we give thanks for the 1.3 million people who support and sustain its work, be that in the sectors of medical care, administration, hospitality, scientific research, logistics or pastoral support. We pray for resilience, skill, wisdom and strength for all those who give of themselves, to provide well-being and healing for our nation. We pray especially for those whose own health has been affected by the pressures and challenging circumstances of the past year. We remember too, those who lost their lives to Covid whilst caring for others. We pray for comfort and assurance for their families as they grieve. God of healing, love and compassion, may Your presence be felt in every part of our amazing NHS this day and in the days to come and may we always give thanks. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.