Prayer and Lord’s Prayer, inspired by Psalm 37 and John 10: 22-30.
Gracious and ever-present God,
we thank You that we are never alone.
In a world that prizes power,
You invite us into a different way:
a way of trust, of relinquishment,
of finding joy not in outcomes,
but in Your presence.
In Jesus, we have seen what it means to live a life
not shaped by possession,
but by presence;
not by status,
but by love.
To take delight in You,
not in the power we can wield,
but in the grace we receive.
He met each person as a whole,
not as a case to be solved but a soul to be seen.
He showed us that true strength is found
not in asserting control,
but in relinquishing it into Your hands.
And so we give thanks:
for Christ among us,
for the Spirit within us,
and for every moment of holy encounter
when we hear Your voice through one another.
God of presence and peace,
we thank You for the hands and hearts
of those who reach across borders and boundaries,
not to fix, not to manage, not to control,
but to meet, to listen, to honour.
We give thanks for the work of Christian Aid,
for its witness across the world
rooted not in charity alone,
but in justice, dignity, and shared humanity.
Lord, we live in a world where it is easy
to speak in terms of “them” and “us”,
to measure, to manage,
to reduce others to causes or statistics.
In a world so often shaped
by what we can use,
through Your Spirit,
You call us to something deeper.
We thank You for every moment of compassion
that resists reduction,
that embraces the other
not as a cause but as a companion.
We give thanks for those who pause,
who behold the whole person,
who hear the breath behind the story,
who see with the eyes of the heart.
The face of a mother rebuilding her home,
The voice of a farmer reclaiming the land.
In the clasp of hands across cultures and continents:
There, Lord, You are present.
Bless all who serve in places of hardship and hope.
May their witness continue to reflect Your kingdom,
a kingdom of justice and peace.
O Lord God, Creator of all,
Open my eyes to beauty.
Open my mind to wonder.
Open my ears to others.
Open my heart to You.
Thank You, Lord,
for being not a distant answer,
but a present companion.
Lead us forward,
rooted in gratitude,
grounded in trust,
delighting in You.
Introduction to the Lord’s Prayer
In the words Jesus gave us,
we speak not alone, but together,
as His people,
as His body,
as those learning to trust in God’s kingdom,
God’s will, and God’s daily grace.
So let us pray with one voice, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
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