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
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Peter 1:13-17)
Everlasting Father, please help us to walk in your ways this week, knowing that we are your children, eternally saved, eternally loved and destined for grace. Help us to live our lives for you, following in our Saviour Jesus’s footsteps. May we bring your hope into the lives of those around us. Amen.
Tuesday
Lord, guide us that we may walk in your way and rejoice in your truth. Make us the people that you would have us be, guide us that we may do what you would have us do, that we may lead others to the fullness of life. We remember too in our prayers, all those in positions of authority and who are called upon to make difficult decisions at this time, and also those who are doing research into the Covid 19 and all aspects of healing of people, the planet and our world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday
Wonderful Counsellor, we pray for decision-makers in schools this week, as they have to try to make effective plans for social distancing between children and staff if some return to school in June. Please guide and inspire all teachers, who are in week 8 of a very different learning environment to usual. Please give them huge amounts of creativity, energy and ideas to keep their children learning and active, both in and out of school. Amen.
Thursday
Loving God, Thank you for all those who have stepped forwards to be volunteers at this time. We pray for the success of faith and community groups, councils and agencies, in identifying vulnerable people and providing what they need. Please help us to become aware of any needs not yet being met among those near us, and to find a way to help. Amen.
Friday
Ruler of all, we pray for church groups all over the country as they decide how to safely begin to open and use their church buildings again. Thank you for the gift those buildings are: built and consecrated to your glory, and a visible sign of your constant presence in our community, especially in difficult times. Please help us to use them well, as bishops, church leaders, PCCs and other decision-makers plan the next steps to best serve our church families and communities. Though we are still physically separated from one another, let us all pray meanwhile that we can all develop as living stones of a living and growing church, ready for the time when we can return to worship You in our buildings. Amen.
Saturday
God of comfort, many of us will be very fatigued now by the on-going nature of lockdown; missing friends and family we haven’t seen for such a long time, feeling deeply the ongoing weight of loneliness or the constraint of isolation and social distancing, or trying to juggle responsibilities with no real end in sight and no possibility of a rest soon. Please would you help us bring all our burdens to you, and would you please take the weight of them from us, and give us the peace and the rest in you that we need most of all. Amen.