Prayer for Ourselves and Others, inspired by Psalm 95 and Luke 2:22-32, and prayers by Ewan Aitken and Chris Polhill, in Neil Paynter's 50 New Prayers, Wild Goose Publications, 2012. Also, Spill The Beans, 13th July 2025.
God of joy,
You come not just in the thunder,
but in the whisper,
not just in the miracles,
but in the everyday.
Help us to notice You, today.
In the singing, the silence, the cups of tea and the prayer.
Keep our hearts soft, our eyes open, and our lives full of the quiet joy of Your presence.
We come before you,
with open hearts,
lifting up the needs of the world,
our communities, and our own lives.
You are the God who sees, who hears,
who knows the cries of your people,
and so we come to you,
trusting in your love
that embraces all without exception.
We pray for a world longing for healing:
For those who struggle to find joy in the ordinary,
who feel the weight of life’s burdens pressing close,
may your gentle presence bring comfort and hope,
and may they know that even in the smallest moments,
your love surrounds and sustains them.
For those living amid the chaos of war,
whose days are filled with fear, loss, confusion, and uncertainty,
in Palestine, Iran, Israel, Ukraine and Russia.
We remember India and Pakistan,
neighbours with long histories of tension and division.
May bridges of understanding be built,
and may your Spirit bring healing to communities torn apart by mistrust.
We pray for all who suffer because of conflict, discrimination, or fear in these lands.
Surround them with your love, strengthen peacemakers, and guide all toward justice and unity.
Here in the United Kingdom, we lift up policymakers who carry the heavy responsibility of decisions affecting many lives.
Grant them wisdom, compassion, and courage to choose just and loving paths.
We pray for those impacted by welfare cuts and economic hardship.
Be their comfort, provider, and advocate in times of struggle and uncertainty.
God of compassion, help us to be instruments of your peace,
and to work for a world where love overcomes hate and hope conquers despair.
God of justice, let your kingdom come,
a world where love is stronger than hate,
where generosity overcomes greed,
where all people are seen, valued,
and honoured as your beloved.
We lift up those who are hurting,
those struggling with illness,
whether of body, mind, or spirit.
We pray for the lonely, the grieving,
the anxious, the weary,
may your presence be their
comfort and strength;
for those facing uncertainty,
those wrestling with doubt,
may your peace,
which surpasses all understanding,
be their anchor.
God of healing, let your grace flow freely,
bringing restoration, hope,
and the assurance that no one
is ever beyond your love.
God, you call us to be people of love,
we ask for courage,
courage to live as Christ taught,
to extend kindness,
even when it’s inconvenient,
to stand for justice,
even when it is costly,
to listen deeply and love widely.
Renew in us a spirit of gratitude,
that we may see your presence
in the ordinary moments of our lives.
Help us to be people of joy,
not ignoring the struggles of the world,
but holding onto the hope that love
will always have the final word.
In these few quiet moments, we offer you the prayers that rest in our own hearts.
Silence.
We lift these prayers to you,
the prayers spoken and unspoken,
and the ones we carry in our hearts.
Hold them, answer them in your wisdom,
and guide us in the way of love.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.
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