Further Prayers for Morning Prayer - Wednesday 16th June 2021

Job Rebuked by his Friends, William Blake, 1793

Further prayers written for Morning Prayer at St Stephen Walbrook on Wednesday 16th June 2021, based on readings from Psalm 79, Job 22 and Romans 10.1-10.

From Psalm 79:

 

Their blood have they shed like water on every side of Jerusalem *

 and there was no man to bury them

 

The psalmist laments the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. Let us lament the all too frequent recourse of humanity to violence; praying especially for peace in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia and Sudan.

 

Almighty God,

in whose very nature we see unity in diversity;

help us to live in harmony with all your people,

to put an end to the terror and suffering caused by violence and armed conflict, 

by setting aside our power and living this day only by yours.

Amen.

 

 

From Job Chapter 22:

 

If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brook

 

Eliphaz the Temanite mistakenly believed that God always punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous immediately. Let us, like Job, have faith in God’s love for us but acknowledge the mystery of his divine providence.

 

Almighty God,

whose love for us transcends our understanding;

strengthen the faith of all those who are anxious and uncertain this day;

those for whom it seems life is falling apart, suffering from pain they cannot explain, struggling despite their best efforts to succeed.

We remember by name Tom, Jonathan, Georgina, Shelley, Caroline and Manuelle, Emma, John, Vanessa, Peter, Jennifer, Adrian and family, Melvyn, Ian, John, Jim, Nick, Martin and Sam. We pray for the faithful departed including Jill Thompson, for her family and friends and all who mourn.

Help us all to remember that you are always with us and your loving kindness knows no end. 

Amen

 

 

From St Paul’s letter to the Romans:

 

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

Let us pray for the strengthening of our own faith and confidence to proclaim it to others; remembering in prayer especially all those being ordained in the coming month.

 

Almighty God,

who sent his Son into the world to die for us so that the world through him might be saved,

strengthen us in the knowledge that every minute of the day ahead is overflowing with the Good News of Jesus Christ;

may this form the words of our mouth and fill the thoughts of our hearts;

Remembering always that your salvation is for all people who put their trust in you. 

Amen 

Image : Job Rebuked by his Friends, William Blake, 1793