To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help, as I lift up my hands towards your most holy sanctuary. (Ps. 28 NRSV)

Lord, we give you thanks for all the thousands of saints who have worshipped you here in this Church over the centuries.

And we give thanks for the many hands throughout the world lifted up, in past years, in praise to you – manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil; young, strong hands or hands gnarled with age; blue-collared people, and three-piece suited people, who made great sacrifices to bring their faith to us.

Help us to follow their examples of faith, dedication, worship and love.

For you are the everything we desire,
The everything we do not deserve.
You are the love that we have yet to find,
The peace beyond imagining.
You are the breath of life
Enlivening the hardest heart.
You are the truth that calls
In quiet whisper through the storm.
You are the precious moment
When we reach out and touch the divine.
For those days when we forget, forgive us.

Lord, at this time when persecution of Christians is increasing in many places, we bring your Church before you. We ask that you will protect and sustain all who are suffering in this way.

We thank you for your ample provision for most of us in prosperous Marnhull but we are aware that there are many in this locality who are finding it difficult to put food on the table. So we pray for organisations such as the Food Bank. Help us to remember to support them – it’s so easy for us to forget.

Bless Stephen our bishop, Gaenor our priest, Judith our Lay Minister and all who have positions of responsibility in our Church.

May all those who confess your name be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

And, Lord, as we think of our world today, there are so many conflicts going on it is hard to know which ones to mention in our prayers. But we do particularly ask that You will cause the leaders in Israel, Gaza, Iran, Lebanon, the USA, Ukraine and Russia to seek peace rather than political advantage.

Protect those who are poor and hungry; move those with plenty to share with those who have little.

Good and gracious Lord, give us eyes to see the needs of those around us, give us feet to venture wherever the Spirit leads.  For our mission is to bring your good news to all.

Bless and guide Charles our king; give wisdom to all in authority; and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Lord, today we commit to you Jason and Daisy as they start their journey with you. It’s lovely to see them here in your house and we pray that they will continue to follow you as they grow older. We pray for their parents that you will help and sustain them during the often difficult, but hugely rewarding, task they have undertaken as parents.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

We commit to you, Lord, all those for whom this day will seem long and hard; for those in hospital or ill at home; for those struggling with despair or depression.

We particularly remember with thanks our own Village Care and our nurses, doctors, and care workers – they help us so much with our health needs.

So we ask, Lord, that you will comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or Spirit
give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, we commit to you all who have died. And please be with all those who are suffering the loss of loved ones; help them to have the assurance that, however hard the loss, death is but the gateway to eternity with Jesus.

Lord, your love reaches beyond the grave. May those who have gone before us rest in your eternal peace.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love.