Holy Week – Monday

Mark 11:15-17       Living Bible
‘When they arrived back in Jerusalem, he went to the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers, and knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves, and stopped everyone from bringing in loads of merchandise. He told them, “It is written in the Scriptures, ‘My Temple is to be a place of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of robbers.”

Gracious God as we begin Holy Week, we reflect upon Jesus’ final days on earth. Today as we remember how Jesus went into the Temple and chastised those who were cheating others out of their money, we pray for those in authority, those who have the power to make decisions that affect the welfare of others. Lord God, we know that sadly not everyone is treated fairly and justly in our world. As we reflect upon the witness of Jesus, we pray that You will help us to do whatever we can to support justice for others to ensure that all people in society are treated with equality and respect.
We pray especially for refugees, for all those who have had to leave their homes and are searching for a safe place to live. May we as communities extend hands of compassion and support to those in need. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Psalm 23 Modern English Version
A Psalm of David.
‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake’.

Gracious God, as many of our schools and colleges begin to close for the Easter holidays, we pray for all staff, young people, parents and carers. We thank You that schools have been able to open and that our young people have resumed the joy of learning together and seeing friends again. We pray for all students returning home from college after a very unsettled term. We know that sadly, many of our young people, of all ages, are facing mental health issues as a result of the pandemic, and so we lift them before You and pray for assurance and a sense that all will be well amidst these challenging times. We give thanks for staff who have made the transition from providing online learning to welcoming everyone into the classroom. For their energy, resilience and vocation we give thanks and pray that all educators will have some time for rest and relaxation during the holiday period. Finally Lord God, we give thanks for all parents and carers. We appreciate that there are many difficult and challenging situations in our homes, that many parents are struggling with financial concerns and their own health issues. So we just pray that Your presence will be felt in every home, and that all our families will know that as a society we care for them and that they are truly loved and valued by You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Isaiah 41:13 Modern English Version

‘For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.”

Gracious God, as we come before You this morning, we recognise that there are the days when we have the strength to ‘stride out’, days when we need a ‘gentle nudge’ to guide us forward and then days when just ‘putting one foot in front of another’ is hard. But we know that You are a God who understands this, who is simply waiting to offer us the support and encouragement we need. So, we pray that you give to each of us the assurance that however we are feeling we can come to You, that Your firm hand is stretched out before us and Your arms are waiting to wrap around us. May we continue to put our trust in You. As communities, may we continue to support those in need, particularly those struggling emotionally at this time. May conversation and a listening ear be a natural part of our daily routine. Lord God, we come in thanks and praise that You are our living God. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

On this Thursday morning, we pray once more for all those working within the NHS. The applause on our doorsteps may have silenced but their amazing self-giving continues. And so, we lift the mental well-being of all NHS workers before You, and as we give thanks for them, we continue to hold them in our prayers. Amen.

John 8:12        ESV

‘I Am the Light of the World’
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Gracious God, as we look upon the light emerging from the clouds, we are reminded that nothing can ever fully extinguish the light of Your love for us. There are many aspects of our life that reflect darkness at the moment and yet we believe in Jesus Christ who came into our world to radiate light, to bring us the assurance of Your presence with us and, most of all, to bring us hope for the future and a sense of peace. We give thanks for all those who shine light into our communities, those who reflect kindness, compassion, generosity and love. This new day, may we feel hope in our hearts, a sense of peace, and the assurance of the light of Jesus radiating and shining love, hope and peace into our homes and into our communities. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

‘Light of the world You stepped down into darkness,
Opened my eyes, Let me see beauty that made this heart adore you, Hope of a life spent with you.
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy, Altogether wonderful to me’
Writer    Tim Hughes   Publisher / Copyrights    2000 Thankyou Music

Romans 8:38-39 Modern English Version

‘For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’.

John 14: 27

‘Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’.

Gracious God, on this national day of reflection we lift before You the many ways that the pandemic has affected our lives over the past twelve months.
We pray for all those families who have lost loved ones and ask that those whom we love rest in Your eternal peace. May all those who grieve feel the assurance of Your presence with them.
We pray for all those suffering the effects of long covid and those who are still in hospital. We give thanks for the incredible work of our NHS and all care-givers who have given us hope and cared for our nation with such love and compassion.
Lord God, we know that the virus has and continues to impact on our lives in so many different ways; it has wreaked havoc upon our economy and social contact with one another is denied, affecting the very core of our being. As we continue to journey forward, we pray for the power of Your Holy Spirit to sweep across our nation into every corner of our communities. We pray that You will give us courage, give us strength but most of all, give us an assurance of Your presence in the days ahead so that we may feel a sense of peace in our hearts, knowing we are truly loved and cared for by You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Song of Solomon Chapter 2 from ‘The Message’

Look around you: Winter is over;
the winter rains are over, gone!
Spring flowers are in blossom all over.
The whole world’s a choir—and singing!
Spring warblers are filling the forest
with sweet strains.
Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,
and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms.

Gracious God, as Spring officially begins we thank You for sustaining and supporting us through the long and difficult winter months. Our lives continue to be in a state of flux and for some there are still dark days ahead, yet as we see the beauty of Your creation all around us as Spring bursts into life, we are reminded that You are ever present in our world, that Your life-giving power continues to bring about new life and growth. Living God, give us the courage and the assurance to continue to put our trust in You. As we journey ever closer to Easter Day, may our hearts and minds be filled with the hope that is found in the resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ, who promises life in all its fulness when we choose to walk with Him. May the power of Your Love sweep through our communities this new day. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Galatians 6:2 NIV
‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ’.

Gracious God, as Red Nose Day 2021 is celebrated, we give thanks for the work of all charities who strive to make our world a better place. We appreciate that without the support of different charities and their volunteers, the lives of people in need, for so many different reasons, would be that much harder. But so too, we acknowledge that the last 12 months have been particularly difficult for charitable organisations. And so for every ounce of compassion, empathy, understanding, support and very practical help that has been received, we give grateful thanks and ask that You continue to bless and sustain the work of all those, who through their giving, touch the lives of others. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Isaiah 41:13 Good News Translation
‘I am the Lord your God; I strengthen you and tell you, ‘Do not be afraid; I will help you.’”

Gracious God on this Thursday morning, we continue to pray for the work of our NHS, all health care agencies and all carers. We thank You for the dedication of all those who give of their energy, their skills, their resilience and their empathy to care for the needs of others, in whatever role, in whatever setting care is given. We pray that You will strengthen and encourage all those whose vocation it is to protect the well-being of others, both physically and mentally. May we in return, as communities, seek to protect the well-being of those who selflessly give of themselves. God of compassion and grace, we pray for the power of healing to pour into every corner of our hospitals, clinics, hospices, care homes, and our own homes where many continue to care for family members. May the assurance of Your healing presence be felt in the lives of those who are unwell, for whatever reason, and may You give assurance to all care-givers that You are walking alongside them today. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Matthew 28:19 Good News Translation
‘Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’,

Happy St Patrick’s Day everyone. On St Patrick’s Day we share in a prayer by St Patrick.

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
– Against the snares of the evil one.
May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!
May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore.
Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:7-8 (Good News Translation)

‘Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail. Love is eternal’.

Gracious God, we thank You that Your Son, Jesus Christ, gave us one clear commandment to live by. We thank You that this single commandment can be activated through a single word, that of ‘love’. We thank You that through the ability to love and be loved we can change our world. We thank You that through the ability to love and be loved we can speak words of peace, not anger. We thank You that through the ability to love and be loved we can promote justice and equality, not prejudice. We thank You that through the ability to love and be loved our actions can be rooted in kindness and compassion, not selfish gain. Lord God, as we begin a new day, help us to give thanks for every act of love we witness today. Help us to be encouraged that love hopes, endures and bears all things, and may the knowledge of Your love for us give us hope, faith and patience wherever we journey today. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.