'We will pray daily'

​Prayer is foundational to our faith. It's how we communicate with God, and it is the fuel that powers our evangelism, mission and discipleship. It's the sunshine that brings a smile to our face and brings light to hidden places. And yet, for many people, it is one of the hardest things about being a follower of Jesus. Just as clouds can cover the sun, all sorts of things get in the way of us and Jesus. But just as clouds bring refreshing rain that prevents the sun from drying everything up, these can also be opportunities for growth and refreshment.

Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
Accepting your open invitation, we come into your presence and lay down our baggage.
We don’t even have to unpack, for all of it is known to you:
The pain we have felt
The pain we have caused
The difficult conversations
Our regrets
Our fears
The hopes we daren’t speak aloud
We give you thanks, for you offer to share the load,
In the peace of this moment, may we hear your words of forgiveness, feel your comforting
arms around us, and simply know you are near
Accepting us as we are
Loving us as we are
Holding us
Giving us a place of safety, just to be,
Gently challenging us to keep moving forwards, strengthened by your spirit.
Lord Jesus Christ, we love you
Amen.
Opening prayers written by Emma Dobson

StF – 40 Blessed be the name of the Lord

Readings - 1 Timothy 2:1-6

StF – 530 to be in your presence

Message - Rev Christine Fox

StF 519 Father I place into your hands

Blessing
Heal me, heavenly Father, 
And show me how to be a person of healing and wholeness and peace in your world.
Here I go, fill me, by your Spirit, Lord.
Amen.
Blessing by Tim Baker

Prayers and Prayer Pointers for the Week
Monday 19th September
Pray for the Royal Family and those close to them at this time.
(You could use the list you created as part of the response to the readings to help shape these prayers).
Loving God, I pray for those close to me 
– those in my own family or friendship circle
– who I know are in pain this day. Those suffering from grief, illness, loss, mental ill health or another source of pain and difficulty. You know their challenges, and are with them in their sufferings.
- Comforting God, who walks alongside those in pain, come, by your Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday 20th September
- God of all blessings,
Thank you for the gift of food to eat,
For the flavours and the smells,
The energy and enjoyment I can get from the food I eat.
- I’m sorry for all the times I’ve taken for granted the food on my plate, the ingredients in my fridge, the ready meals in my freezer.
And for all the other blessings I have received that I often overlook or forget to be thankful for. Amen.

Wednesday 21st September
(You could use the list you created as part of the response to the readings to help shape these prayers).
- God of all grace, I pray for those who are far afield – people I don’t know and situations I can’t pretend to fully understand. I pray for those affected by war and famine and drought, for those living in pain and disease.
Come, Prince of Peace, and bring hope in a broken world.
Amen.

Thursday 22nd September
- This day, your prayers could be for our planet and the world we live in.
This day, may you say sorry for all the ways you hurt and pollute the Earth.
- This day, you could use your times of prayer to reconnect with nature and to commit again to climate action, climate campaigning and climate justice.

Friday 23rd September
- (You could use the list you created as part of the response to the readings to help shape these prayers).
- Loving God, today I pray for relationships – for the people I know and their relationship to me, and the people I know whose relationships are strained and under pressure.
In the midst of division and doubt, come, God of love, God of healing, God of hope.
Amen.

Saturday 24th September
- (You could use the list you created as part of the response to the readings to help shape these prayers).
Living God, as we head into this weekend, I pray for all the people and situations that have been on my mind this week. The stories known to me personally and the ones I’ve picked up on the news and from elsewhere.
- I pray that I may know what it is that I am called to do as part of the response, and how I can enable and equip others to respond too.
- Show me what is mine to do, Lord God. Amen.

The material is from Vine at Home and is compiled and produced by twelvebaskets.