For God, whom I serve with my spirit
by announcing the gospel of his Son,
is my witness that without ceasing
I remember you always in my prayers.
Romans 1:9
As a benefice of our churches, daily, we hold the joys and woes of our world in our prayers.
Here are the topics uppermost on our hearts at this time.
Rebuilding of Gaza
God of all,
of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Isaac and Ishmael:
our hearts are broken in pieces
at the suffering of your people.
Our voices cry out for lasting peace
and for the rebuilding of lives and communities.
Comfort those who grieve,
console and heal the injured,
be close to those who fear for the future.
Send us your wisdom in all that we say and do,
that our voice may seek justice,
peace and security for everyone. Amen.
Based on a prayer by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
This prayer offers up all of the pain and suffering of Abraham and Sarah and Isaac's descendants - the people of the Jewish faith, and of Abraham and Hagar and Ishmael's descendants - the Arabic nations. Ishmael is revered as a prophet in the Muslim faith.
Peace in Ukraine
God of life and love,
you call us to love our neighbours
and to pray for those who seek to do us harm.
As we hold the people of Ukraine in our hearts,
we pray Russia and Ukraine can learn to live peaceably as neighbours.
Guide the leaders of both nations,
and the world's peace makers,
so that they can agree a just and lasting
end to this invasion.
We pray this in the name
of our Prince of Peace.
Amen.
Revd Katrina Hutchins
Cost of Living Crisis
The 'we' in this prayer is for ourselves and also for all in this nation who can help ease this crisis.
God of life and love,
as you have been generous with us,
so may we richly give.
Help us to hold onto what we have loosely,
always ready to share
when we see others in more need than ourselves.
For in our love will your love be seen.
Bless our own homes
and all who enrich our lives by their goodness and love,
Lord, we pray. Amen.
Revd Katrina Hutchins
Here in this benefice one of our answers to this prayer is to support the Daylight Centre's Foodbank in Wellingborough. For more information on this, please click - HERE.
Caring for God's Creation
God of creation and Lord of life,
you entrusted us to care for our home,
which is your home too,
but in many ways we have failed in this.
Help us to realise how fragile,
yet beautiful, our surroundings are.
We are not looking after your creation
as you call us to do.
We need to be true stewards
and understand how the most insignificant of flowers,
the tiniest of insects,
and each creature - plant - person
are all part of a wondrous whole.
Amen.
Based on a prayer by Margaret Pickford
2018 Women's World Day of Prayer