Gracious God, as World Oceans Day is celebrated today, we give thanks for the vast expanses of water that cover much of our planet Earth, producing the water of life and the oxygen that we need for life to exist. We celebrate and marvel at the millions of species of animals and plant life that live within the depths of the oceans, an undersea world of beauty, diversity and mystery. We give thanks for the joy of sailing, fishing, paddling and watching waves ebb and flow. We pray for all those who rely on the sea for their livelihoods. Sadly, we know that we have polluted our oceans and damaged the eco-systems within it. Lord God, help us to care for our oceans and seas so that they might be restored to health and truly reflect the wonder of the amazing undersea world You have created for us. For the beauty of Your creation we give thanks. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Gracious God, as a new week begins, we thank you that You are our awesome God. You are the creator of everything. The stars twinkle and light up our night sky because You placed them there. The sun and the moon shine down brightly on us because You made them. You made sandy beaches that we can walk on barefoot to watch waves tumbling in seas and oceans. You made mountains that we can scramble to the top of to see the vastness of the fields and valleys you have created. You have made trees and flowers that change in colour and appearance to give us a world of variety and delight. You have made creatures of every shape, size colour and pattern, of the sea, of the sky, of the land. And You have made us, each of us unique and individually precious to You. And so, we come before You this morning to praise You for the wonderful world You have created because You are our awesome God. We pray that You will encourage, empower and inspire us to nurture and protect the beautiful world You have entrusted to us. May we never take the beauty and wonder of our natural world for granted, and may we never cease to give praise and thanks to You, today and every day, Amen

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Gracious God, as we continue to focus on the hope of the coming of Jesus into our world, we remember those today still fighting for justice and human rights, those who are not treated equally or fairly, simply because of the colour of their skin, their gender, their age or their social disposition. Lord God, when Jesus walked the earth, he showed us what it truly means to treat people with respect and build inclusive communities where are all are made welcome. So today we think of those campaigning for the civil rights of others, for those living with the effects of the freedoms denied them by society, for those striving to create a future filled with opportunities for their children. Lord, help us, wherever we are, to support those who work actively to build up communities where the voices of all are heard, and where all are afforded the hope that comes from being truly valued and loved by You, in order that they may experience life in all its fullness. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Gracious God, as we continue to focus on the hope of the coming of Jesus into our world, we remember that yesterday we brought before You those oppressed by the burden of increased financial worries as a result of the pandemic, those still fighting for justice and human rights regardless of race or social disposition, those grieving or in need of healing, and those unaware of Your Love for them. This morning we realise that for many in our communities, hope has dimmed with the potential loss of more jobs in the retail industry, on the back of those already struggling in the hospitality trade who may not be able to open their doors this Christmas. Lord God, we realise that loss of employment brings with it anxiety, insecurity and a lack of well-being. God of Hope, we lift all those affected before You this morning. We pray that those in positions of power and authority will do whatever they can to sustain the financial needs of others. Lord God, as we reflect upon the example of Jesus, who sought to help people in very practical ways, help us to unite to do whatever we can to support those in need; donating regularly to our Foodbanks, supplying charities with clothes we may have discarded that would bring warmth to another, giving what monetary aid we can afford to charities for the homeless, offering a take-out hot meal and drink to the person on the street, being mindful of our immediate neighbours who may be in need of a conversation over the garden wall. Lord, we pray that You will give us the energy, the courage and the conviction to reach out and bring Hope into the lives of others, this Advent, so that those in need will know that they are valued, and will feel touched by the power and the presence of Your love for them. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Gracious God, as we enter the first week of Advent, we focus upon the message of Hope, Hope as an assurance of Your presence with us. Lord God, over 2,000 years ago, Your Son was born into a world in need of Hope; a world in need of freedom from oppression, a world in need of justice and equality for all, a world in need of compassion, and a world in need of the knowledge of Your Love and Grace. Today, as Advent begins, we too live in a world in need of Your Hope. There are many oppressed by the burden of increased financial worries as a result of the pandemic, there are many still fighting for justice and human rights regardless of race or social disposition, there are many grieving or in need of healing, and there are many unaware of Your Love for them. And so, as we begin to journey through Advent, we pray that You will overwhelm our hearts with Your Hope, Your Love and Your Peace and may we be assured of Your presence with us. But so too, may we take the time to reflect, in the days ahead, upon how we can share Your Hope, Your Love and Your Peace in our world this Advent. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Gracious God, this Thursday morning we pray for all those who will travel through our hospitals todays; all medical professionals using their expertise and compassion to heal and diagnose others, for patients receiving treatment, for all those who will undergo surgery, for those who will visit as a day patient for ongoing treatment or diagnosis, for all the staff who will clean to ensure a clean, sterile environment, for those who will cook food or serve the hot drinks from the trolley, for the chaplains who will pray with those in need, for the engineers who will maintain heating and electrical systems, for the administrative staff who will check folks in and out, for those who maintain resources,  for all NHS staff. Lord God, our hospitals are a microcosm of a world where healing, compassion, kindness and teamwork are at the very epicentre of everything that occurs. We realise that we must never grow tired of giving thanks for our NHS and so, we hold them in prayer today and ask that Your presence may be felt in every corridor, ward, theatre, kitchen and meeting room. May Your love, support and strength seep into every activity and into the hearts of every one who will pass through our hospitals today. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Gracious God, this week so many words have been spoken, words that have caused anxiety,  fear and despondency. But so too, there will have been words that have spoken kindness, encouragement and joy. As we consider the effect words have upon us, we remember that Your Word always speaks the truth, Your Word always brings comfort and hope, Your Word endures forever. Even in the difficult times, Your Word lives amongst us through Jesus Christ, Your Son. And so, even in the challenging, difficult days, we give thanks and take assurance from knowing that we have the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus to raise us up and give us hope, not only for today, but in the days to come. Amen.

Gracious God we come to you in prayer on this international day of peace. We pray for all those in the midst of violence and conflict. Lord, may nations and World Leaders unite to bring peace across our world. In the midst of war and destruction, Lord shine Your light into the darkness. We pray for those whose voices are silenced, for whom hope has disappeared. May we strive for justice so that the voices of all people are heard. God of peace, help us to unite and strive as communities to bring Your justice, love, hope and peace into our world this day and in the days to come. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace we pray, Amen.

Gracious God, as we move towards the end of another week, we take some time aside of the cares and worries of the last week and reflect upon You. We reflect upon Your majesty, Your greatness and Your unconditional love for us. We reflect upon the wisdom of Your Word as found in Scripture. We reflect upon the gift and witness of Your Son Jesus Christ and the wonder of the resurrection. We reflect upon the power of Your Holy Spirit as it continues to empower,  guide and sustain us. And as we pause, and as we reflect . . . we give thanks. Amen.

Gracious God, as the temperatures fall and we see signs of Autumn drawing in, we pray for all those harvesting the land to ensure we have food to eat. We give thanks for all those who cultivate the good land You have given us. We give thanks for all those involved with food production from the fields to the supermarket shelves, but today especially we remember the labours of those gathering in the crops. May we never take their efforts for granted. God of Creation, we thank You for Your gifts to us, help us always to share what we have so that all may benefit from the fruits of Your creation. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.