Time giving Father
It was from you all ages were set in motion
yet your deepest longing was to send time with us, your people, surrounded by your wonderful creation
We praise and thank you for simply wishing us to spend time with you, as a loving Father of his children
We think of parents, and fathers in particular, who cannot spend time with their children, through separation or through working away from home or long hours to provide for their families
Grant them peace and release them from any guilt they may feel,
that when they do spend time with their children, they are freed to enjoy one another’s company
and enable us, neighbours, friends, relatives of hard working Dads and Mums to free them up to be with their families unburdened with other responsibilities
Sustaining Lord
Through 40 days you nurtured your Son, Jesus Christ
Like us, he endured hunger, loneliness and temptation
It is a blessing to us to know he experienced these too. He understands how hard it is to resist the pressures of the world
but the pressures of the world are, for many, so hard to resist.
Newspaper columns criticising women for not dressing well, not wearing make up, not being a perfect size.
Magazine covers depict perfectly toned bodies, which young men feel they should aspire to 6 packs
a culture where people are defined by what they do rather than who they are
It is so hard to break free of the world, for many of your people, Lord God.
Grant to them resolve to be confident in who they are
and courage to deviate from the expectations of society
And may we, in all the ways we can, as your church together revolve to show the world a different way of living, where all are valued for who they are, loved unconditionally and nurtured to become the individuals you long for them to be
Christ our King
we pray for your church, scattered across denominations, traditions, theologies. It’s so easy to think we’re right and they are wrong. Remind us all which unites us and assist us to work with your brothers and sisters, to your glory and honour, so the whole whole may know your redemption
Amen