A particularly warm welcome to
St Cuthbert Church and Home Prayer Group,
whether at Home or in Church.
Welcome to our July Prayer Group.
This month our topic is ‘Peace’.
In answer to the question, ‘What should our July Prayer subject be?’, one of our Group suggested ‘Peace.’
How appropriate just now!!
But the importance of peace is universal, from our own ‘Inner’ peace to the peace between Nations and our peace with others, we offer our ‘Peace’ in our Holy Communion Services?
As we shall hear in a moment, peace with God, and therefore our own inner peace, is a fundamental aspiration of each of our Christian lives.
In Romans Chapter 15 verse 13, St Paul tells us of the immeasurable joy of our receiving God’s peace; we read:-
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So, shall we commence our prayer time together with the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father which art in heaven ,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. AMEN.
We begin our specific prayers for peace regarding peace among Nations.
A prayer for understanding and peace between Nations and a prayer for peacemakers.
Most merciful God, the very refuge of all who put their trust in you, we turn to you with penitence and humility as we acknowledge our share in the world’s sinfulness.
We turn to you with faith and hope, for you alone can save.
We ask you Lord to break down the barriers of fear, of hostility and of misunderstanding, that so divide the nations from one another, and prosper all counsels that make for sanity and charity, for a just and enduring peace, we pray for the work of the United Nations and other groupings of countries allied in their search for peace as last week the leaders of the UK, Germany and France were seeking a negotiated peace in Iran. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
A prayer for peace in our world today in the Middle East Iran and Ukraine, from the Church of England (Amended)
O God of all hope and peace, we bring to you the needs of our broken and hurting world.
Our hearts are breaking with images of lives lost and torn apart by grief in the Ukraine, Sudan Israel Palestine and Iran.
We pray for an end to violence and warfare so that the challenging work of rebuilding may begin.
Help us, O Lord, to affirm our common humanity so that in our differences we may build together for justice and peace. In Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for justice and peace in Gaza.
Heavenly Father as we see daily the scenes of conflict in the Middle East we pray that you will grant wisdom to the leaders of Israel Gaza, other Middle Eastern leaders and mediators, those countries assisting the route to peace and justice and the UN; that they may navigate these distressing events with discernment and compassion. We pray for Gaza and the safe return of hostages and for all the innocent civilians caught in this brutal war, and those thousands who are bearing the pain of bereavement . Discredit we pray all voices of extremism, exposing the folly of hatred and division. including those in our own country May your Holy Spirit work to bring about justice and understanding among the nations. AMEN
Shall we have a brief time of reflection as we consider the international aspects of our prayers?
We move now to some other aspects of ‘Peace.’
A prayer for industrial relations in the UK from Michael Botting.
We pray Creator God, for the complex world of employment within our Nation, we remember the delicate balance of relationships and the heavy responsibility of Trade Unions and Management. For many people, the often monotonous and repetitive work, and the ever-present fear of redundancy and unemployment.
We pray that harmony may reign throughout all areas of employment, and that the creative skills with which you have endowed humankind and may be used to your glory and the well being of society.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
A prayer for our inner peace from Canon Frank Colquhoun
Lord Christ, eternal peace and bond of all peace,
Who gave and entrusted to your Disciples that peace which you wish each of us to maintain here on earth.
Pour into Our hearts the gift of the Holy Spirit that as the Holy Spirit dwells in us , disputes may die, discord vanish, anger take flight, and love seize hold of all that is ours, now and forever. In Jesus name we pray AMEN.
A prayer reconciling us to God by Christian writer Janet Morley
O God giver of life bearer of pain, maker of love you are able to accept in us what we cannot even acknowledge, you are able to name in us what we cannot bear to speak of, you are able to hold in your memory what we have tried to forget, you are able to hold out to us the glory that we cannot conceive of. Reconcile us through your Cross to all that we have rejected in ourselves, that we may find no part of your creation to be alien or strange to us. That we ourselves may be made whole . Through Jesus Christ our lover and friend. AMEN
A prayer for the healing of broken relationships
Lord you long to draw us together as a family. Thank you that your kingdom provides us with the framework for unity and the channels for forgiveness. And yet, sometimes we find ourselves at a difficult time in relationships., sometimes we freeze and lose the way., help us we earnestly pray to have the love, grace and wisdom to pursue reconciliation. Please give us that certain hope to know that through your Holy Spirit we can move into a new season, free to walk closely together again along with those from whom we have fallen apart. AMEN
A prayer for inner peace.
Lord we pray for your peace in our lives, where we have strayed and we are asking for forgiveness, when life seems so joyful that we may not fail to remember your love for us, when sadness, hurt, disappointment, grieving or suffering of any kind afflicts us. In all these circumstances Lord we pray that the Holy Spirit will be our strength comforter and guide to help us find that inner peace with you, are ever loving Father. In Jesus’ name we ask this. AMEN.
A prayer of reconciliation from Caryl MIcklem. (Abridged)
Christ died that we might be reconciled to you, Father, and to one another. People cannot believe in reconciliation with you unless there are human reconciliations which reflect it. And so we pray for the healing of the broken bonds of human life. We pray for the reconciliation between races, especially in countries where different races live side by side May the principle of equal; citizenship and equal opportunities be accepted everywhere. May the different races learn to speak the truth in love to one another.
We pray for reconciliation between generations, typically pensioners and those younger. It is hard for parents to realise that their authority is not absolute and that their authority may be questioned. It is hard for young people to accept that they may well lack experience.. So it is especially hard Lord when one generation is granted opportunities and choices that the other does not possess.
Grant Lord that both may learn from each other, and that the common problems may be faced together.
We pray for the continuing reconciliation between our genders. We pray Lord that you will help both men and women to recognise the ways in which their roles have changed and may continue to change, and to work together on equal terms and mutual respect..
May Christ who broke down the walls between Jew and Gentile slave and freeperson continue to break down any remaining walls between our sexes. AMEN.
A prayer for peace attributed to St Francis of Assisi.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
A few moments for our own silent prayer
Shall we say the Grace.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.
Thank you for being with us whether at home or in Church and so contributing to our prayers for Peace. Our next Prayer Group will be on Wednesday 3rd September.
After the prayer meeting in church, there is a short Holy Communion service which begins at 10.30am and lasts about half an hour. There is no pressure to stay, but you would be most welcome! There is also the added bonus of coffee and fellowship in a local cafe after the Holy Communion service!
Roger.
Church and Home prayer group meetings are usualluy held on the first Wednesday of each month and are advertised on our website and in our church magazine.
We would very warmly welcome your support.
