Prayer
Prayer Resources
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WEEKLY INTERCESSION LIST-SUNDAY 21st DECEMBER
INTERCESSION LIST
Special intentions: The Worldwide Church, The Anglican Communion. Peace of the world. Rural Post Offices & communities. The McCann family.
Those married yesterday: James Kemp & Celia Wood.
Those in any need: Tony French, Thomas Long, Dillys Wynn-Jones, Joyce Fields, Tony Billett, Lee Baker, Gill Osler, Pippa, Daphne Daniels, Dave Allen, Penny Sellars, Paul Callow, Doreen Revell, Malcolm Jolly.
The Departed: Margaret (Robin) Parks, Evelyn Ebbinson.
Year’s Mind: Brian Howard, David Wardill, David Poole, Mary Preslin, Stan Hughes, Rosa Field, Maurice Cornish, Robert Vere, Phyllis Harvey, Mary Frere, Ted Jones, Dave Davey, Ruby Speechley, Betty Hoskins, May Ion, June Josling, Ivy Thorndyke.
Sunday 28th: The First Sunday of Christmas. Bishops Graham, David & James. The leaders of our sister churches in this area. Our readers, Al, Gladys & Richard. The clergy, Diss Churches Together. Diss Christian Aid. All who live, work or worship in our parishes.
Monday 29th: Holy Innocents. Thomas Becket, Martyr. Rob & Jan. The Children’s Society. Our MPs & MEPs. The Church Army. The Churchwardens, PCC & People of N. Lopham. The Street. King’s Head PH-George & Angela, Simon & St. Andrew’s School. The Post Office in N. Lopham-Robert. Kenninghall Surgery. Chemring EOD.
Tuesday 30th: Rowan. All Funeral Directors. Richard Bowettt & all at Diocesan House. Our Refuse Collectors. The Churchwardens, PCC & People of Fersfield. The Street. Hill Garage. The Strenneth.
Wednesday 31st: John Wyclif, Reformer. Reg & Pam. All Servicemen & Women & their loved ones. Our County, District & Parish Councillors. The Churchwardens, PCC & people of Roydon. Horner Close. Roydon School. The White Hart-Nigel & Hilary. The Garage & Shop-Adrian & Gavin. Local Bed & Breakfast Residencies. Diss Health Centre, our GPs and Nurses.
Thursday 1st: The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. All Retired Clergy & spouses. Michael Palmer & the Bible School in Kagera. David Hayden. Our Farmers & agricultural workers. The self employed and those who work from home. The Churchwardens, PCC & People of S. Lopham. Low Common. The White Horse PH-Sonya. Botesdale Health Centre. John Pill Garage. Nimbus Trees. Rob & Jan as their Sabbatical begins.
Friday 2nd: Basil & Gregory, Teachers. Seraphim, Spiritual Guide. Vedanayagam Azariah, Evangelist. Ben & Rene. The Community at Ditchingham. All families. Our Postmen & women. For our organists, Adrian, Archie, Geoff, Jennie, Myra and our Choir. The Churchwardens, PCC & People of Bressingham. Common Road. Bressingham School. The Shop in Bressingham-Ray & Christine. Chequers PH-Debbie. The Mill. Bressingham Engineering. Blooms.
Saturday 3rd: Tony (RD). Those who live alone. The Shrine at Walsingham. High School & Hartismere School. Those who are separated from their loved ones.
PRAYERS FOR YOUR USE
New prayer for current financial situation published on CofE website
Lord God, we live in disturbing days across the world, prices rise, debts increase, banks collapse, jobs are taken away, and fragile security is under threat. Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer: be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands, and a light in the darkness; help us receive your gift of peace, and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for broken marriages
God, this was not meant to happen.
It was not like this when we imagined being together for ever.
Now marriage seems like a sentence, not a word.
This is worse, not better,
Poorer, not richer,
Sick, not healthy.
Forgive me, forgive us - for all the pointless, hurtful words
That spat like knives from our mouths,
And wounded deeply, painfully, unbearably.
Forgive too,
The choices badly made,
The paths wrongly taken,
The betrayals easily lived with.
Somehow, God,
If there is a way,
Show us.
If there is a hope,
Light the path.
If there is a safe place,
Lead us there. Amen.
Piers Lane
The prayer below opens and closes with the same phrase. Each clause in between comes in two parts: 'release' and 'receive'.
In the 'release' section, turn your palms downward and rest your hands in your lap as you breathe out all the negativity, pain and hurt you feel into Jesus' care.
In the 'receive' section, turn your palms up and lift your hands out of your lap as you breathe in all the goodness Jesus has prepared for you. Spend as much time as you need to release or receive - try not to rush it!
'Loving Lord, by your Spirit, make your word live in me.
I release my disappointment and I receive your consolation.
I release my anger and I receive your peace.
I release my confusion and I receive your clarity.
I release my haste and I receive your time.
I release my sorrows and I receive your comfort.
I release my hurts and I receive your healing.
I release my hatred and I receive your love.
I release my bitterness and I receive your forgiveness.
I release my despair and I receive your hope.
Loving Lord, by your Spirit, make your Word live in me. Amen.'
Sarah Bingham
Lord, make your name known in our day and cause your revival fire to burn within me. Help me to seek you unceasingly and unashamedly until I find you. Infuse your life into me and break the spiritual lethargy that is making me to be indifferent to the needs of the world around me. Glorify your name in my life, Church, country and world in Jesus name. Amen.
Lord God, I acknowledge all the times I have used words as weapons.
Forgive me for the sarcastic or critical comments that have crushed and wounded others,
Forgive me for intimidating others with shouting or swearing,
Forgive me for causing hurt with insults disguised as 'friendly banter',
Forgive me for grumbling and complaining, gossiping and judging others,
Forgive me for every word which has not brought honour and delight to you.
Lord God, Create in me a pure heart.
Fill me with your generous love, that I may love others as you love me.
Throughout this day help me to speak kindly and gently.
Prompt me to encourage and build others up.
Set a guard over my lips so that every word I utter will bring honour to your name.
Lord, take me into that deeper place, where trust becomes love, and love becomes a fire.
Let me be silent before you, and simply learn to be.
Let me be holy for you, and humbly learn to live.
Let me be still for you, and gradually learn to love.
Forgive my frantic plans to please you;
my failed schemes to seduce you;
my flimsy will to win your approval.
God, who knows me, love me.
God, who sees me, forgive me.
God, who calls me, live in me.
An incredible video that all Fathers should watch-it perhaps explains our relationship with God
Prayer for the Church
Lord, I pray for your Church. Thank you for this global body of people that you have gathered together to make known your wisdom, beauty and love.
Lord, we ask for your blessing on the local expressions of church that reach out to the world in love, truth, service and your Spirit's power.
Lord, your Church is not what it should be. There is too much division, too much confusion, too little of your character, too little of your love. I confess my own failings in this. I am as responsible as anyone else.
Lord, I pray that your Church responds to you. That your Church will rise up with an expression of love, truth and power that the world has never seen. May we embody your righteousness, faithfulness and peace.
Lord, I pray that the world will see you and know you through your Church. Amen
Meditation on The 23rd Psalm (Flash Player needed)
Prayer is a very important part of our Christian Discipleship, it is our very lifeblood not only in asking God for those things we think we need but also in thanking him for what we have.
I am sure that all of us pray far more than we realise because prayer is a conversation with God, a continuing dialogue.
When I look back through my life I can see various times and places where my prayer life has grown and matured and some of those have been in unexpected places and circumstances.
Although our structured liturgical prayers are very important, especially in our services and our formal gatherings, it is quite often the case that God surprises us in our informal and less structured prayers. It is here that God speaks to us as individuals, it is here that our personal relationship with God is nurtured and matured.
Prayer comes in all different types because we are all different, unique people but the most important thing is to do it in whatever way that fits with you. Look for simplicity and a way to sustain a regular pattern of prayer. If you are unsure about your prayer life ask your parish priest they will be able to advise you and help you in your pilgrimage of prayer.
Don't be like the priest who on his one hundredth birthday said to God: "Father, I have spoken to you for nearly one hundred years and I no longer know what to say."
In the silence that followed God spoke to him: "My son, for so long I've wanted to speak to you but I've not been able to get a word in edgeways!"
Speak to God but also give him room to speak to you and you just might be surprised.
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With all Christian love and prayers
Rob Mellowship
Rector of The Upper Waveney Benefice.
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