Caring and Compassionate God
we thank you we can rest in the safety and security of your love
that, no matter what life may throw at us
no matter what the future holds
keep us safe in your dwelling
and turn your face to shine upon us
in your infinite graciousness to us
Gracious One
fill us with compassion, we pray
for there are many in your world who do not know compassion
children whose parents have been taken from them too soon
those caught in the cycle of poverty
those caught in the cycle of violence
where they are known to us
may we thank you we can be bearers of your compassion
where they are unknown to us
may compassion be sent to them
through aid agencies, government bodies and the actions of your faithful
where policies of governments are cruel
melt the hearts of policy makers and shapers
so your will may be done on earth as in heaven
Heavenly Christ
we thank you for laying down your life
for our protection
and the protection all God’s children
we acknowledge, with pain and sorrow
the church has sometimes failed in her sacred duty to be seen as the place where everyone can know protection, care, compassion
assist us to show a different way
to show Christ’s love
as Christ longs for us to show it
and open the hearts of those who need, pine for, desperately seek your compassion and love
to be able to find it
to be able to know the shelter under the shadow of your wings
Mothering God
we praise and thank you for being our place of safety and security in times of trouble
and pray for the places which need that safety and security
Ukraine
Yemen
Syria
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
homes living in fear of domestic abuse
families torn apart by war, addiction, money worries
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord God
Father, Son, Spirit
we thank you we can bring our prayers and worship before you, and now pause in the quietness of this place
to bring the prayers which lie on our hearts, for which we cannot find words
[pause]
Lord
in your mercy
hear these all our prayers, spoken and wordless
offered in faith and trust
in Jesus Christ
Amen