Hello Everyone
Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help. For he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’
A Call to Prayer
A prayer call has been made with the support of senior church leaders – Churches Together in England, Evangelical Alliance, RC Archbishop of Westminster, Leader of the Pentecostal Church, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Pete Grieg of 24.7 Prayer International, and the Church of England House of Bishops.
This week we have had several emails from various churches and organizations all pointing to the need for prayer. There are many different suggestions – i.e. Prayer on specific days, or on each day, prayer at specific time, fasting along with prayer, using bells as a call to prayer. So many ideas, so many thoughts but no matter how, when or where you pray or possibly fast the key thing is to take on board the words sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo ‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help for he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’
Words from Stephen Cottrell the new Archbishop of York says – “Prayer changes things. It changes things by inviting God into the room.”
YOU MAY LIKE TO USE THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS
As we have entered a second period of National lock down, let us pray in earnest that people will honour the guidelines set.
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Loving God,
at this time of crisis
when so many are suffering,
we pray for our nation and our world.
Give our leaders wisdom,
our Health Service strength,
our people hope.
Lead us through these parched and difficult days
to the fresh springs of joy and comfort
that we find in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
On Wednesday 11th November let us take a moment to remember all those who laid down their lives in the two great wars and for all lives lost in the wars since the end of the second world war.
YOU MAY WISH TO USE THIS PRAYER FOCUS FOR EACH DAY
MONDAY
SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
We pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives. We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education.
TUESDAY
ELDERLY, ISOLATED ABD VULNERABLE
We echo God’s commitment to those most at risk of this virus by praying for those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated. We pray for their deliverance protection and comfort. We hold before God those who care for them – that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.
WEDNESDAY
BUSINESSES, THE WORKPLACE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING
In this time of great challenge, we pray for the economic wellbeing of the country. We remember before God those who face great uncertainty in their work. We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future.
THURSDAY
NHS AND OTHER KEY WORKERS
Our God is the great healer – and the agent used more than any other is the NHS. Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst us.
FRIDAY
NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
We pray for those who are in positions of authority with responsibility for decision making at national and local level at this difficult time. We ask that God would give great wisdom, deep commitment to all and right judgement.
SATURDAY
ALL WHO ARE GRIEVING AND ALL SUFFERING WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILL-HEALTH.
‘Lord the one you love is ill.’ John 11.v3
We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind spirit or with grief. We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know God’s sustaining presence amidst their pain.
SUNDAY
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES
We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their healing. their well-being and their sense of hope. We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together, they would not feel apart. We ask for God’s help in our communicating, our connecting and our caring.
KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING
Peter
