Zandile Tshabalala, Untitled, 2021
Further
Prayers written for a service of Choral Evensong at St Giles-in-the-Fields
based on text from the hymn ‘O Perfect Love’ by Dorothy F. Gurney (1883), Psalm
119.46-64, Proverbs 31.10-31 (‘The Valiant Woman’) and Matthew 6.19-34.
Words from our opening hymn: “O Perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
Lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne."
Almighty
God, we kneel before you in prayer as your church,
brothers
and sisters created by and striving to return to your Perfect Love.
Forgive us
for the times we have not loved others as you love us.
Help all
those who find it difficult to receive your love unconditionally.
May your
Perfect Love be revealed in all places of suffering and strife, remembering
especially this night the people of Morocco, Ukraine, Yemen, Sudan and
Afghanistan.
Lord in
thy mercy
Hear our
prayer
From Psalm
119: “Thy statues have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”
Living
God, bless all who walk in the love of your name,
including
those who have returned this week from Saint-Gilles and all who celebrated our
patron saint here at home.
We ask for
your blessing on all those beginning their pilgrimage of faith. For Sunny,
baptised this morning, his parents and god parents.
And we
give thanks for the example of those who are nearing the end of their earthly
pilgrimage and those whose years mind falls at this time.
Lord in
thy mercy
Hear our
prayer
From the
Book of Proverbs: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the
law of kindness.”
Loving
God, we ask for your blessing on the valiant women who have shaped each of our
lives;
through
their wisdom, kindness and their service to you and to your world.
We pray
for the relief of all women who disproportionately bear the burden of
responsibility in work, in family and in community life.
Help us to
become more aware of the prejudice and inequalities within the systems and
structures that we support through what we say and do.
Grant us
the courage to play our part in bringing about a world where all are free to
become the people you made them to be.
Lord in
thy mercy
Hear our
prayer
From the
Gospel according to Saint Matthew: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also."
Generous
God, you have taught us not to fill our hands with earthly possessions;
clinging to power and status, but to empty them; opening our arms as wide as
your Son on the cross, so that we may be ready to receive the unfailing
treasure in heaven. We pray that all those in positions of authority and
influence may do likewise, modeling their lives on His life; that of a servant
king.
We give
thanks for all who are working to support those at the margins and on the edge
in this parish, this City and the world, remembering especially in this parish the
work of our linked charities - Showerbox and Street Storage. Give us the
courage to support them in prayer and action, for where our treasure is, there
our heart will be also.
Lord, in
thy mercy
Hear our
prayer
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment