With hearts full of love and spirits encouraged with praise, we offer our thanks to you
our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel
thanks for those voices calling our names bring us deep, deep joy
thanks for those who inspire us to be better people
thanks those who named us and shaped us and the special meaning our names have in the ears and hearts of others
thanks to you God, your faithfulness and for calling us into fellowship with Christ Jesus
that we, with all who call upon his name
are his Holy people
one church, one body, throughout time and space
[pause]
Christ Jesus
as members of the one body
we thank you we are joined to our siblings in you throughout the world
as we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
we thank you for the other churches in this area
from our own denomination and others in the area
we thank you for the richness this diversity brings
and long for the day where we are truly united in service of you in and for the world
may they be filled with your spirit, as they eagerly wait on the coming of the Kingdom of God
[pause]
Kingdom Building One
you call to us “come and see”
may we see your kingdom, we pray
for the world seems so in need of it
tensions in the middle east bring worry for us all, but especially for service personnel and their families
draw near to them, we pray
Hard working staff in our local NHS feel let down and overlooked by management, but continue their committed work for the benefit of us all
draw near to them, we pray
farmers and crofters worry what the future holds for their livelihoods in the coming months and years
draw near to them, we pray
people in our communities who lovingly care for the elderly, disabled, struggling relatives
day in, day out, sometimes with no help
draw near to them, we pray
those who feel they do not matter, they are a burden
draw near to them, we pray
[pause]
Loving, Eternal One
we trust you to hear our prayers and, to these spoken, we also offer the places, people and situations which lie heavy on our hearts this day
[silence]
God
Accept all these prayers, spoken and unspoken
offered in and through Christ Jesus, our Lord
Amen