Lord God we pray for all the people who believe they are alone in isolation

Lord we know that they are not alone as you are with them offering strength, courage and comfort

Close their minds, hearts, ears and eyes Lord to fear, anxiety and solitude

Open their minds Lord to unlock your love and allow them to cast all their anxieties on to you

Open their eyes Lord and allow them to see your presence

Open their ears Lord and allow them to listen to your message of hope

Open their hearts Lord, uplift them and strengthen their faith so that they shall not be afraid

Lord God give them this courage and comfort in your name

Amen

George Lloyd

Heavenly Father,

I pray for Your blessings on all the parents, carers and children who are home learning at this time. May they appreciate the opportunity to spend time together. Enable them to draw nearer to You and nearer to each other as they enjoy discovering more about Your world. On the days when the difficulties seem too great to overcome help them to bring them to You to seek Your help. May this be a happy time with love and laughter every day. I ask this in the Jesus’ name Amen

Christine Fisher

Loving Father, we thank you for your presence during these troubled times. We ask that you guide us and help us to reflect on the part we can play in accepting that the life and society we thought we enjoyed is now subject to fundamental change.  May we take this opportunity to focus on new directions.  May we adapt and prepare ourselves and our communities for whatever lies ahead.  Thank you for those who use their skills to care for others.  May we, too, in whatever way we can, spread your love and care to those around us.  Grant wisdom to our decision makers and may they be guided by your ways of compassion, truth and justice. Amen

Barrie Beaumont

Heavenly Father, thank You for all those caring for, protecting, and serving our communities, our families, and us. Thank You for all those people daily risking their own health and safety for others.

Gracious God, we pray for their protection. Please give then the courage and strength to deal with the demands made upon them.

Please provide everything they need, both for the people they are serving and for their loved ones. Help us to support them and their families as they care selflessly for others.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May we who are  inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.

May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.

As fear grips our country, let us choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.

Amen.

Use chalks to create your own family prayer picture. Draw your home and family, you can even cut out people using paper and add them to your picture. Include the names of people you’d like to pray for. If you can make bubbles, send a prayer as each bubbles floats away, or even shout out loud the name of someone who is helping you everyday and say thank you.

I hope that you have been able to enjoy and share together a peaceful and Holy Easter.

Times are challenging just now for us all so please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can help in any way; sometimes just a quick chat can be all we need to brighten our day.

How blessed we are to have our Faith. Please find attached two activities that you may wish to embrace with your family together.

On your daily walk (or even indoors), collect some items that you can make a mini prayer garden with. A paper plate, an egg box, anything will do. Just add things, that you collect and say thank you to God for all that he has created for you.

Pray outdoors with chalks and bubbles. Use chalks to create your own family prayer picture. Draw your home and family, you can even cut out people using paper and add them to your picture. Include the names of people you’d like to pray for. Blow bubbles and send a prayer as each bubbles floats away, or even shout out loud the name of someone who is helping you everyday.

Pray together… God of all Creation, open our eyes to your wonders around us. Help us to embrace a bit of mess, that we might lead children to the beauty, peace and joy that exist in your amazing world.

With love and blessings to you all.

Cathy Family and Schools worker.