Suggested Prayers
A Prayer on the Presence of God
You Lord are in this place
your presence fills it, your presence is peace
You Lord are in my life
Your presence fills it, your presence is peace
You Lord are in the storm
Your presence fills it, your presence is peace.
Psalm 23 for Busy People Everywhere.
The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush
He makes me step and rest for quiet intervals,
He provides me with images of stillness,
which will restore my serenity.
He leads me in ways of efficiency,
through calmness of mind and his guidance of peace.
Even though I have many things to accomplish each day
I will not fret, for his presence is near.
His timelessness, his all importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity,
my cup of joyous energy overflows.
Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours
For I shall walk in the pace of my Lord,
And dwell in his house for ever.
A Prayer for God’s Comforting Love
Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give Your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ, rest Your weary ones.
Bless Your dying ones.
Soothe Your suffering ones.
Pity Your afflicted ones.
Shield Your joyous ones.
And all for Your love’s sake,
Amen. Saint Augustine of Hippo .A.D. 354 - 430
Lent
Almighty and everlasting God,you hate nothing you have madeand forgive the sins of all those who are penitent.
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness
may receive from you the God of all mercy
perfect remission and forgiveness
through Jesus Christ out Lord.
Lord of Lent, come to your Church and ask us hard questions. Are we faithfully proclaiming your gospel? Are we demonstrating in our life together the justice of your Kingdom? Have we welcomed the weak and given prominence to the poor? Come to you Church to spring clean our ways of life our structures and priorities. Point out to us the cobwebs, the dirt, the extravagance and the waste. Create in us a clean heart, O God and renew a right sprit within us.
Good Friday
Lord Christ,
On the cross, on the nails, you loved beyond reason and forgave beyond measure.
On the cross, on the nails, you gave the forces of evil their notice to quit.
On the cross, on the nails, you up the world’s sadness like a sponge in vinegar
On the cross, on the nails, you lost – you won – in a single glorious throw of the dice
Easter
Many people did not know why last Friday was called good. To them it was just another holiday and a few shops inconveniently shut. Many people knew it was a religious festival but which one? Many people knew it was the day when Jesus died but they couldn’t say why. Many people, one Saviour of them all. The stone of unknowing lies heavy across the tomb.
Mighty God, King of Easter, bringer of joy and hope take from us doubt and disbelief this Easter; make us witnesses of your resurrection as we see the stones rollaway from the tombs we have named. This we ask in the name of your risen Son, the ever living Jesus Christ. Amen
Passiontide
Almighty and everlasting god,
who in your tender love towards the human race,
sent your son our saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
Grant that we may follow the example
of his patience and humility,
and also be partakers of his resurrection;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
St Patrick
Almighty God,
in your providence you chose your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people,
to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error
to the true light and knowledge of your Word:
Grant that walking in that light
we may come at last to the light of everlasting light;
through Jesus Christ our lord
A Prayer for Advent
Make clear to us Lord,
The memory of Christ’s coming,
To Bethlehem long ago
In our lives now,
And at the last day;
That we may receive his forgiveness
Know the power of his living presence
And rejoice in the hope of his Kingdom
For his name’s sake
A Prayer for Christmas
Loving Father,
We thank you for the gift of your son,
Whose birth at Bethlehem,
We now prepare to celebrate,
May our hearts and homes be always open to him,
That he may dwell within us forever,
And we may serve him gladly all our days
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour
To the honour and glory of your name.