‘Be still and know that I am God’
A Prayer to help us to pray about the conflict in Palestine
O Most High,
Your people rage over the Land,
war and terror engulf those who seek to follow You,
hundreds have died, thousands have been wounded,
and this is just the beginning.
Jesus, Incarnate Word,
give strength to those working for peace in the midst of war;
doctors, nurses, and medics tending the wounded,
fire fighters and rescue workers pulling people from the ruin of their lives,
regional leaders calling for calm.
Eternal Flame of Love,
teach us all the ways of peace;
bring to justice those:
who wage war, violence and terror,
who limit life, steal land, use law to oppress.
Eternal Trinity,
show us quickly how to turn away from violence,
pursue costly justice
and live in peace with each other and with the earth.
Amen. https://urc.org.uk/prayers-in-a-time-of-conflict/
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is very important in the life of a United Reformed Church member. Showing our love and care for each other and our neighbour is part of our service to God. We care for one another and keep everyone in regular contact with one another.
What is Prayer ?
‘Prayer is personal, Prayer is private
Prayer is secret, Prayer is silent’
Yet when believers meet together…
‘Prayer is corporate, Prayer is public
Prayer is shared, Prayer is spoken’
Prayer can be a paradox.
On the one hand, prayer is personal, private and silent; yet every week when we come to worship, prayer becomes a public event. There are times in our Prayer life when words are just not appropriate… only silence touches the deepest prayer need.
Stopping… and being silent can enrich our corporate prayer life, as well as keeping it personal.There are particular prayers which lend themselves to short periods of silence.
Firstly, Prayers of Confession, when we can personally and silently tell God about our sin, selfishness towards others, and our self centredness.
Secondly, Prayers of Intercession, when we can privately pray to God about people we personally know and global situations we are concerned about.
Make the most of these silences, not just in worship, but in the comings and goings of life’s activities. Through prayer we meet God everywhere and in all people; therefore our thoughts, words and actions are a constant prayer to God. However, remember the silence: for it is in the silence tht we utter the unspoken words and touch God with the emotions of our hearts.
Prayers from a retired Minister, Reverend Ruth Dillon
Lord of the seeds,
Blow your seeds of Love and Hope,
Whirl them around by your Holy Spirit
And as the seeds land, bless them
And bless those who will pick them up.
Amen
God
Forgive me for the relationships I have spoiled,
That have brought about hurt and sadness,
Forgive me from the collusions I have participated in
That have brought about vindictiveness and prejudice,
Forgive me for the pollution I have contributed to within your world
That has caused injustice and climate change.
Lord, by your grace
We are restored, healed and a new creation.
By your Son, who lived died and rose again,
We are disciples who strive to walk out as the mundane
and clothe ourselves with mercy,
By your Spirit, who is the intermediary to your Grace,
We are empowered and live in the life and light of your Love.
Amen
Songs that wing heavenwards
Are placed before God.
Then God takes our songs and listens to all of them.
Some painful, others joyous,
Some mourning, others in serenity.
Lord, listen to our songs and bless them.
Let your healing Spirit
guide us into singing new songs
to refresh, to energize and to restore.
Amen
God who sends angels to care for us
We thank you for the many times
small gestures of compassion and kindness
have meant so much to us.
The smile of acceptance,
The gentle touch of reassurance,
The phone call at the ‘right’ time.
Lord we pray,
Even though we may not immediately
recognise your angels,
Enable us to be alert to their presence,
And may you use us to be angels to others.
Amen
Glorious God
Our bodies have been changed
over the years through disease and injury,
Yet you choose to lovingly dwell within us.
Help us to love our bodies that tell the story of the life we have lived,
To sense the delight you have
when we discover new experiences;
And when our Bodies give up on us,
Journey with us
until we become a new creation.
Amen
As the day draws to the night,
I thank you God for the many experiences of today,
the people I have met and
the conversations I have had.
I thank you that yet again
You have shown me your presence,
for you bring hope into a world full of insecurities,
for you bring peace where conflict and challenge prevail.
Lord, bless those who have journeyed with me this day,
those who have laughed with me,
those who have cried with me,
those who have listened to me,
those who have just been happy to be in my presence.
Keep me safe in the stillness of this night.
May you also keep all those who are dear to me secure.
May I rest in your presence while I slumber.
May your angels guard me till I wake.
Amen
Beacon Hill United Reformed Church 