Please come and pray for our new curate, Jane, her ordination and our new chapter together in the life of our parishes and seek God’s guidance. This will take place in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’.
The Nicene Creed course This Sunday there is no Nicene Creed sermon. The Tuesday morning group will meet this week (30th June) and the Thursday group continues with week 3 on 9th July.
Father, we thank you for the cool churches where we are worshipping today. Thank you for the thick stone walls which keep much of the sun's fierce heat outside. We are starting to think about our part in the causes of abnormal World warming. Guide us as we think and vote and pay extra for the wise capture of solar energy. Protect us Lord from our folly and forgive us for our sins. In particular, we pray for protection against accidents or misfortune involving unexpected risks due to hot weather. Bless this world that you have made, bless your peoples' preparations to cope with extremes of climate. Protect all those for whom we have responsibility and grant ingenuity of thought to climate scientists, inventors and governments. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Father we pray for protection for this land from those known as the 'King's Enemies'; countries trying to solve their problems by attacking their neighbours or coveting their resources. Our dear Lord Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies, so now we pause to mention silently to you, those countries or terrorists we regard as our enemies. Bless them Lord, bless the people of these lands, especially those who call on your name, as we continue to put our faith and confidence in You, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Lord we thank you for Jane Collins coming to the Benefice as our Curate. We pray that Her ordination on the 4th July will be a wonderful time of affirmation of your call to ministry and of enduement with the power of the Holy Spirit. We honour this change of career and the sacrifice involved. We ask you to shepherd her gently through the changes to her everyday life. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord Jesus, look mercifully upon those of our family and friends who are tackling ill-health at this time, or are worrying, or are distressed by the heat. We mourn together for those who have died recently. Be a very present comfort to their families and meet their needs in practical ways. We look back now and remember with thanksgiving the lives of those who died about a year ago. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.