Prayers

X Celtic New Years' poem

This poem, meant to be repeated first thing on the first day of the year, comes from throughout the Scottish Highlands in many different versions.

God, bless to me the new day,
Never vouchsafed to me before;
It is to bless your own presence
You have given me this time, O God. 

Bless to my eye,
May my eye bless all it sees;
I will bless my neighbor,
May my neighbor bless me.

God, give me a clean heart,
Let me not from sight of your eye;
Bless to me my family,
And bless to me my means.

Ancient Celtic prayer collected by Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912), published in Carmina Gadelica (Edinburgh: Floris Books, 1992). 

Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

X A Prayer for Remembrance

Grant peace, O Lord, across our strife-torn world,
Where war divides and greed and dogma drive.
Help us to learn the lessons from the past,
That all are human and all pay the price.
All life is dear and should be treated so;
Joined, not divided, is the way to go.

Protect, dear Lord, all who, on our behalf, 
Now take the steps that place them in harm’s way.
May they find courage for each task they face
By knowing they are in our thoughts always.
Then, duty done and missions at an end,
Return them safe to family and friends.

Grant rest, O Lord, to those no longer with us;
Who died protecting us and this their land.
Bring healing, Lord, to those who, through their service,
Bear conflict’s scars on body or in mind.
With those who mourn support and comfort share.
Give strength to those who for hurt loved-ones care.

And some there be who no memorial have;
Who perished are as though they’d never been.
For our tomorrows their today they gave,
And simply asked that in our hearts they’d live.
We heed their call and pledge ourselves again,
At dusk and dawn – we will remember them!

Prisons week is 6th - 13th October 2024

Lord, you offer freedom to all people.
We pray for those in prison.
Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist.
Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care.
Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime.
Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen

This beautiful prayer is one I am praying at the beginning of a time of Contemplative Prayer daily. I highly recommend it to you.

Rev Rona

The Cave of the Heart

Teach us,
O Christ,
the quiet way
down
into the silence
of hearts emptied and grown still,
there to wait for your abiding.

As your Spirit
steals gently over the face
of our longing,
give, we pray,
the gift of rest,
and a freedom from those compulsions
which drive us on
and cause again your passion.

Thus shall we know your lightness of being;
and from the dark cave of our hearts
rise up
and live
a strong new day;
instruments of your peace
for the world's joy. Amen.

Written by Patrick Woodhouse, in his book With You is the Well of Life.

The Christian Police Association (CPA) has pleaded with followers of Jesus Christ to fervently pray and support police officers who are dealing with violent confrontations as widespread riots stirred by extremist groups continue to cause mayhem in cities across the U.K.  

“Lord God. At this time of unrest, we ask for your Spirit to bring unity to our communities. For those who feel anxious, scared or intimidated – we ask you to fill them with your peace. For those who feel unwanted, abandoned or alone – we pray that you would fill them with your love. For those who feel in despair – we ask you to bring your hope.

“We pray for all emergency workers at this time. For the police officers charged with keeping people safe and maintaining order; for the paramedics caring for those who are injured; and for the fire fighters responding to acts of arson and vandalism. Protect them from harm. Help them act with courage in the face of aggression and with restraint in the face of hostility. 

“We pray for our politicians and community leaders. That they would have the wisdom to know how to bring our communities together at this time in hope, love and reconciliation.

“We pray for those causing disorder on the streets, that they will turn from darkness and hate, to be responsible upstanding citizens of their country.

“Fill this land with your spirit of peace we pray.”

This prayer was written by a gap-year student when receiving her own results was still fresh in her mind.

Jesus,
Keep reminding me of the bigger picture over the next few weeks,
Keep me in your hands when all other hands disappear,
For I am convinced that neither entry requirements nor exam results,
neither anticipation nor doubts, neither success nor failure, nor any expectations,
neither last minute fears nor anxieties, nor anything else in life, will be able to separate
us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Please, don't let me forget it!
Amen

X A prayer for the General Election 2024

God of grace and truth, in Jesus you embody your choice of us.

Bless all who make choices in this general election.

Clothe your people with gratitude for the right to choose our government,

and turn that gratitude into clear choices.

Give those who vote your spirit of wisdom and understanding.

Uphold all who stand for election: preserve their dignity, and guide them in the path of integrity.

Renew this nation in honour for the stranger, respect for the different, and cherishing of diversity.

When all the votes are counted, show us ways to foster the flourishing of all

and be a blessing to our neighbours.

In the name of Christ and the power of your Spirit.
Amen.

Almighty and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own;
look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger,
homeless and hungry.
Bless those who work to bring them relief;
inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts;
and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. 

Holy God, Three in One,
you are our eternal hope,
our companion in life,
our liberating power.  
Lead us in your mission,
baptizing and teaching  in your blessed name,
so that all may worship you to the end of the age.
Amen

God, gardener of Eden,
who flung stars into space and nurtures the tiniest plant,
lift our hopes and dreams above the loss and damage of our suffering planet, that we might share your long-dreamed vision
which values the pea as much as the plant,
fill us with your life-giving hope
and inspire us with your creative Spirit now,
and in the age to come. Amen 

Father of all mercies, we pray for the families who have fled their homes in fear.
We lift up the mothers and fathers who have escaped with only their children, leaving everything else behind.
Their country has changed, their lives will never be the same and they are afraid of the future.

Lord, you are the God who heals.
Please bring your comfort and healing to those who are hurting.

We lift up the communities who have taken in refugees and displaced people, even though they may be struggling themselves.
We thank you for their generosity and compassion towards those in distress.

Lord, you are the God who provides.
We pray that timely help and support will reach all who are in need.

Father, there is so much pain and conflict across the Middle East.
We pray for leaders throughout the region and ask you to turn their hearts towards peace.
As our leaders and those around the world consider how to respond, please grant them wisdom and insight.

Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace.
We pray for an end to the violence and bloodshed, and ask you to bring a new dawn of peace across the Middle East.
Amen

X A Prayer for Spring

God, give us eyes to see the beauty of the Spring, 
And to behold Your majesty in every living thing -
And may we see in lacy leaves and every budding flower
The Hand that rules the universe with gentleness and power -
And may this Easter grandeur that Spring lavishly imparts
Awaken faded flowers of faith lying dormant in our hearts,
And give us ears to hear, dear God, the Springtime song of birds
With messages more meaningful than man's often empty words
Telling harried human beings who are lost in dark despair -
'Be like us and do not worry for God has you in His care'.
 Amen   

Helen Steiner Rice 

X A Prayer for Easter Eyes

My Lord, Jesus,
You have risen to new life! 
Give me new eyes with which to recognize your presence in the world around me.
Sharpen my vision so that I see beyond the ordinary events of each day and into the extraordinary reality of your grace.
Brighten my view of the world with renewed hope in the coming of your Kingdom.
Soften my gaze so that I view others with the kind of tenderness and compassion you showed to so many.
May each day of this Easter season provide glimpses of your glory.
In your sacred name, I pray.
Amen.

Loving God
I commit this coming season of Lent to you
And ask you to show me what I need to turn away from,
And what I need to turn towards.
Shine your loving light in these dark parts of my heart,
And bring a new life, new hope and new possibilities.
Help me to walk more closely with Jesus,
To know that I am deeply loved,
And to share his love with others.
Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby