Prayers

Prayers about the Virus outbreak: Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake. Amen. God of compassion, be close to those who are ill, afraid, or in isolation. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light; through him who suffered alone on the cross, but reigns with you in glory. Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For those who are ill Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain knowing that, whenever danger threatens, your everlasting arms are there to hold them safe. Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. From someone ill or isolated O God, help me to trust you, help me to know that you are with me, help me to believe that nothing can separate me from your love as revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For hospital staff & medical researchers Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick, and your wisdom to those searching for a cure. Strengthen them with your Spirit that, through their work, many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For our community We are not people of fear: we are people of courage. We are not people who guard our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety. We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity. We are your people God, giving and loving, Wherever we are, whatever it costs, For as long as it takes, wherever you call us. Amen. We encourage you to sit in stillness for ten to fifteen minutes and open your heart to receive God’s gift of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual exercise will deepen your awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart and give you confidence that the Spirit will be with you in everything you do to make Christ known. 1. Centre yourself; sit upright, two feet firmly on the floor; breathe rhythmically with deep breaths, in and out, from the abdomen; clear your mind of all preoccupations. 2. Bring yourself to bodily stillness. 3. Now welcome in your heart this gift that Jesus has for you: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27). 4. Quietly repeat those words of Jesus and hand over to him all worries or trouble. 5. You may find it helpful if you name to God a specific area where you need healing or forgiveness. 6. Now be still for some time in the presence of God as you welcome the Holy Spirit into your heart. 7. As you are about to finish your time of prayer, focus again on your breathing while you relax in God’s presence. 8. Bring yourself gently back to your daily concerns. May you receive that peace of Christ each day. Exercise excerpt taken from Talking about Jesus