Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

‘I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well’.

Gracious God, as our schools re-open this week for all pupils, we lift them before You. We understand that this will be both an exciting but also anxious time for some staff and children and so we pray that the assurance of Your presence will be felt in every institution. We pray that amidst the procedures and regulations of testing and the wearing of masks, the joy of learning will be at the very heart of every school. We pray for staff who have worked so hard to prepare to welcome back all pupils and give thanks for their care and dedication. We pray for pupils, that they will feel the joy of being back amongst their peers and their friends and give thanks for their individuality and unique characters. Finally, we pray for parents and carers, as homes adjust to new routines within this continuing pandemic. For the gift of children, of education and learning, we give You grateful thanks. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Gracious God, on this International Women’s Day we give thanks for women across all nations and for the roles they play in our society. May You continue to support and sustain them. We pray especially for equality and justice, so that all women, wherever they are in the world, may feel empowered and enabled to be the women You lovingly created them to be. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Ephesians 1:18 (Good News Translation)
‘I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people’.

Today we join in with the celebrating of the World Day of Prayer 2021.This year, prayers and acts of worship have been prepared by the Christian women of Vanuatu, and so we share in this prayer, written by Elizabeth Burroughs

Holy God, Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them: –
We join with the Christian women of Vanuatu in praise to you
– for fertile land and fresh air
– for the sweet melody of the birds, for land animals and the mysterious creatures of the deep
– and for the sounds of children playing.
We thank you for the example of the Christian women of Vanuatu
– for their trust in you and
– for their fortitude as they struggle to provide food for their families and education for their children
– things that we in this country so often take for granted.
We ask your forgiveness for our thoughtlessness, our carelessness and our lack of foresight which has led to the pollution of the environment and the current climate emergency, and is causing irrevocable damage to Vanuatu and to other low-lying Pacific islands.
We pray that you will help us
– to listen more carefully to you and to your Word
– to build our homes and communities on its strong foundations
– and to work together towards a world where resources are used more sustainably;
where justice and peace reign; and where all your creatures can live in safety and harmony.
We pray in the name of Jesus
Amen.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

“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, as each Thursday we have given thanks for all those who care for the health of our nation, today we pray especially for all those involved in the Covid 19 vaccination programme. We give thanks for the expertise and knowledge of scientists, still working on vaccines, adapting them to make sure we have the best possible protection. We give thanks for all lab technicians gathering data and rmanaging equipment. We give thanks for those arranging appointments and processing forms as folks arrive for a vaccine, and for the marshals who direct our pathways to ensure vaccinations centre are safe. We give thanks for all those who deliver the vaccines and deal with logistical issues. And so too, we give thanks for the healthcare professionals who administer the jabs. Lord God, we appreciate that this is a huge team effort and a combination of paid workers and volunteers, so, for everyone involved, we are truly thankful.
This morning Lord, we remember too those poorer countries who are struggling to roll out vaccination programmes. We pray that richer continues will continue to do whatever they can to ensure that the peoples of all nations, in our world, receive the protection they need to fight the spread of the virus. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’.

Gracious God, we lift before You today, all those who care for the needs of others in their homes. We think especially of young carers who look after parents, grandparents or siblings, for whom home schooling will have been particularly challenging, as they juggle their schooling and their responsibilities to their loved ones. We appreciate that many support agencies have had to temporarily cease during lockdown, adding to the pressure upon our children. We pray that these networks will soon be re-established, and that funding will be available to enable them to continue to offer the support so greatly needed. And we think especially too of all adult carers, often caring for someone they love in isolation as a result of the pandemic. May we as communities do whatever we can to support and sustain them and let them know that they are not alone. Living God, may Your presence be felt within every home and in every caring situation today, and may Your strength, compassion and Your love be felt in people’s lives this day, and in the days to come, Amen.

‘The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope’.

Gracious God, we thank You for the gift of this new day. We thank You for its possibilities and the opportunities it will give us to shine love and hope into our world, through a hand outreached, or a prayer spoken. We praise You for the beauty of the sunrise, for the light of the midday sun as it radiates down upon us and for the certainty that the sun will set, whatever challenges and difficulties the day has brought. Living Lord, just as the sun continues to rise and fall, You continue to love us and walk with us, wherever the day takes us. And so, in this knowledge, help us to carry the hope and peace in our hearts that comes from being truly loved by You and may we, in grateful thanks, commit the day ahead in service to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart’s eternal spark
You are the door that’s open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day.

(celtic oral tradition – 1st millennium)

“Be joyful and keep the faith. Do those little things you have seen and heard from me.”
– St David’s last words to his monks

Gracious God, as we come before You in prayer on this Saint David’s Day, we pray for all the people of the Welsh nation. We ask that You will be with them as they too continue to deal with the effects of the pandemic, one year on from the first reported case in Wales. As we remember your servant, Saint David, we give thanks for the passion he showed in telling people about the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the part he played in the growth of Christianity. We give thanks for his teaching and preaching and for the ways in which he encouraged us to appreciate life. Help us to learn from his deep commitment to serve You and to follow the teachings of Jesus. We pray that we may respond to the words St David gave us, ‘’Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do, through Jesus Christ our Lord’. This day may we offer ourselves in service to You, in the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life’.

Gracious God, as the National Trust prepare to plant blossom trees throughout the towns and cities of our nation, we give thanks and praise for the beauty of Your creation. As the first daffodils begin to bloom and we see snowdrops adorn our grass verges, we are so grateful for the promise of Spring to come, signs of new life which refresh our souls and cheer our hearts, giving us hope after the long, dark days of winter. As we continue to journey through Lent, we are reminded of the promise of life in all its fulness that we find through a relationship with Jesus Christ, a relationship that offers us light and hope wherever life’s journey takes us, and the assurance of the Love of God, now and throughout all eternity. May our hearts and minds blossom with the hope, peace and love of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

1 John 4:11 (ESV)

‘Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another’.

Gracious God, this Thursday as we continue to focus upon the work of the NHS and all those who care for others, we reflect upon Jesus our Saviour, who extended a hand of healing, compassion, understanding and empathy to all those unwell in body, mind or Spirit. We give thanks for the way in which he taught us and encouraged us to care for one another, and to walk alongside people in their hour of need. And so we give thanks to all those who will extend a hand of compassion this day, and simply let others know they are loved and cared for. May You bless every act of kindness today. In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Matthew 25:40 New International Version

“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, as we embark upon Fairtrade fortnight, we ask that you bless the endeavours of all those who seek the ability to provide for themselves and their families, through the process of fair trading. We pray for those who grow crops amidst issues of climate change and global warming. We pray for those who skilfully produce craft items with a lack of resources. We ask that all Farmers and Artisans will be supported and guided and given the opportunity to receive a just price for their goods. We pay for the process of importing and exporting Fairtrade goods and ask that all those, in consumerism and retail, support the application of just trade rules and a fair market. Finally, Lord God, help us all to consider and understand where and how we purchase our goods so that all traders are treated with dignity and respect. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Version)
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Gracious God, as we digest the roadmap set before us in the coming weeks, we thank You that You remain unchanging and dependable, the One in whom we can place our trust. We thank You that at last there seems to be a route forward for us as communities, that take us beyond the current restrictions. Today we think of all those in education, business, retail, industry, leisure and entertainment who will spend the next few days digesting the information and beginning to navigate their path forward over the coming months. We give thanks for all those involved in the vaccination programme who have helped to make this next stage of the journey a possibility. Lord God, we appreciate that the road ahead will not be easy for many people, there is still a huge amount of uncertainty around peoples livelihoods, but we ask for courage, for wisdom but above all, assurance. May the power of Your Holy Spirit continue to sweep across our nation and may Your presence be felt in every home and business setting today. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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