I hope that these emails and prayers are useful, and that you are able to spend a few minutes at noon each day, as we pray together as a church family. Please do keep sending your prayer suggestions to me, so that we can make sure we are praying around the needs, burdens and encouragements of our whole church family.
Monday
Prince of Peace, we remembered VE day this weekend, and we thank you once again for the gift of peace in Europe seventy-five years ago. We remember our own stories, or stories others have passed on to us, of that day when war in Europe ended, and we thank you for everyone who worked for that peace. We thank you most of all for the eternal peace you brought, when you died for us to bring us home to our Father God. Amen.
Tuesday
Lord of Nations, as the government tries to find the best and safest path towards easing lockdown, we pray for our country. We pray for wise decisions: firstly on an individual level as some are allowed to return to work, for people to plan well and make good choices; secondly by our elected leaders as they monitor and adapt policy. And as time goes on in lockdown, please protect us from compassion fatigue and help us to keep caring for those who are in need. Amen.
Wednesday
Eternal God, as poppies sway in the breeze and their seeds are scattered, so may your refreshing Spirit breathe through us freeing seeds of love, hope, compassion and kindness, joy and news of Christ, that you may be glorified today and always. Amen.
Thursday
Almighty God, we pray for you to smooth international relationships that can make this pandemic harder to deal with, where sanctions or impaired relationships impact the availability of medical supplies, food, or other essentials. Please would you enable the opening of routes for goods to get to where they need to be. Amen.
Friday
Father God, as lockdown starts to be lifted, we pray for those who are in more complex or pressured situations than they were a fortnight ago, with new demands and decisions to make, perhaps with added work demands or choices to make. Please would you bring your peace and wisdom to those situations. Amen.
Saturday
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:1-4)
Loving Father, you are the majestic Creator of the universe, and yet you still cared so much for us as individuals that you sent Jesus to die for us. We pray for our small parish of Northaw and Cuffley especially today. Where there is need, please help us to see it and meet it in your name, whether it is for contact in isolation, for practical help, or for anything else. Most of all, help us to bring glory to Jesus and share the good news of his love and his salvation in our community, especially in this difficult time. Amen.