Prayers

Prayer of Commitment (inspired by Matthew 5: 14-16)

Lord Jesus,

you have said that your followers must be the light to the world. Light propagates itself, dispels darkness.

It sows rays of joy and hope. It is life-giving. Help us, Lord, to be a light to this world, so that our lives radiate your message of love, hope, and joy. May we be your beacons leading to You those who seek truth. You also said, Lord Jesus, that your disciples must be the salt to this earth. Salt gives taste to food. It retards spoilage. It is also a healing agent.

Lord, may we be the salt that takes away the blandness in the routine of living, that prevents the rottenness of hatred and greed from expanding around us, that brings compassionate healing to anguished souls we encounter. Lord, help us to be “worth our salt.” And infuse your “saltiness” in us, so that we do not become “flat” and useless. Amen.

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Prayer inspired by Luke 15:1-10

I confess, dear Lord, that like the Pharisees and scribes, I have at times looked upon those who falter and stray with judgment rather than compassion. I have failed to recognize that every soul and sinner is precious in Your sight. Forgive me, O God, for those moments when my heart has been hardened, when I have complained about the company of those whom You sought to embrace. Grant me a heart that mirrors Yours, that I may long for the company of the broken, the lost, and those in need of Your redeeming grace. Inspire me to seek out the lost, to extend a hand of love and a word of hope to those who feel abandoned and alone.

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Prayer inspired by Luke 14:7-14

Dear Lord, Thank you for the parable you have shared with us, about choosing the best seats. Help us to remember that true humility and kindness are more important than seeking recognition or status. May we always strive to serve others and put their needs before our own. Guide us to be mindful of our actions and to treat everyone with respect and love. Amen.

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Prayer Reflecting on Luke 12:32-40

Gracious Father, your Son Jesus told us that you are pleased to give us your kingdom. Let your rule in our hearts transform us from people who live to serve self to obedient subjects of you, our King, ready and willing to serve.

Lord Jesus, you told us to be dressed and ready for service. Clothe us in your righteousness and in your power. Transform our wills so that we are willing, able and ready to do the tasks you have given us, and to fulfill the roles you have given us.

Holy Spirit, with your gift of faith in the Word, promise, and command of God, you make us ready: ready to praise, ready for service, and ready for our Master’s glory. Move us to open this Word before our eyes and hear it with our ears and take it to heart so that our faith may have its food and fuel to trust and to act, to will and to do your good, gracious and perfect will.

Most Holy Trinity, we live in a world where we see self-service, self-indulgence, and anger everywhere, even within our own hearts. Remind us daily that you have called us out and set us apart to be your own to live, love, and serve as your servants and your children. Make us heralds and witnesses of your Word and instruments of your peace.

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Prayer inspired by Luke 12:13-21

Spirit of Abundance, let us not be possessed by our possessions.

Our life span is short, at any moment to be taken from us.
Free us from greed, and fill us with generosity.
Release us from insecurity and restore us to contentment with the treasures of your realm.
Strip us of our fear and strengthen us to love one another as you have loved us.

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Prayer inspired by Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20

Loving God, we come to you as a people who know your love.
For that we give thanks and praise.
But Lord, we know there are many men and women in our world who don’t know you.

We bring before you those who are lost,
who feel alone, abandoned, and hopeless.
Some live in our own neighbourhoods, our own city.
We pray that we may be able to reach them with the message
that through your grace they might know a different life,
in which restored and renewed, loved and fulfilled,
they might in turn go on to reach others.
Amen.

~ written by the Rev Dr Philippa Horrex

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Prayer Based on Luke 9:51-62

God, You know there are days when we see others not following you and we want them to be punished. We see people spreading hate and fear and know this isn’t your way. We see people mistreating each other and we are angry. We understand why James and John asked, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” And we know just like Jesus rebuked the disciples, you would tell us this is not your way. Forgive us for wanting to repay hate with hate and violence with violence.

God, we promised to follow you. And yet, so many other things pull at our time and attention. We will follow you as soon as our to do list is tackled, our house is clean enough for company, and we’ve cared for our family. Forgive us God, for not putting you first in our lives.

God, we ask that you give us righteous anger at the injustice in the world and that you help us to have our priorities in order, so we may follow you. Amen.

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Prayer for Luke 8:26-39

We intercede today, Loving Father, on behalf of Your sons and daughters chained hand and foot – both those literally chained in modern-day slavery or unjust systems and those spiritually chained in the darkness of hatred and other sins. We pray against the evil one who drives Your sons and daughters into those solitary places that lead to suicidal and self-harming thoughts. In the name of Jesus, the Son of the Most High God, we beg You to break the chains binding Your lost sons and daughters held captive by guilt, fear, and shame – in our neighbourhoods and throughout Your world.

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Prayer inspired by John 16:12-15

Lord God, our Father, You are not far away from any of us, for in You we live and move and exist and You live in us through Your Holy Spirit. Be indeed with us, Lord, send us Your Holy Spirit of truth and through Him deepen our understanding of the life and message of Your Son, that we may accept the full truth and live by it consistently.

We ask You this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer based on John 10:22-30 by Lisa Degrenia
Good Shepherd,
You call me by name, so I can know you
You prepare the way, so I can follow
You call others, so we will have companions
You lay down your life, so we may live
Glory to your grace

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Prayer (inspired by John 21: 1-19)

Lord, save us from ourselves.
We continue to do the same things over and over, expecting different results.
Lord, save us from doing too much.
We go fishing every day, not noticing you waiting with a meal on the beach.
Lord, save us from doing too little.
We say we love you, and yet so often we neglect your sheep.
Lord, save us from ourselves.
Help us to hear and respond when you say, “Follow Me.”

~ written by Rev. Nathan Decker

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Holy Week Prayer for Spiritual Renewal

“O God, as we enter this Holy Week, renew our minds and spirits. Let the story of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem inspire us to welcome Him into our hearts anew. May we renew our commitment to follow Him more closely, to live lives of service and compassion, just as He taught us. Guide us through this week to the joy of Easter morning. Amen.”

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Prayer for Easter (inspired by John 20: 19-31)

Lord, We find ourselves in the locked doors of ourselves just as the disciples were behind closed doors. We too are afraid, perhaps for a different reason than theirs. But we too need the breath of the Holy Spirit to take away our fears so that we can come out from behind these locked doors.

Lord, we are like Thomas with our questions and our doubts. We sometimes need to see in order to believe, we need you in order to have faith. Lord, we too need the peace you bring because our world is fraught with violence, and unrest. Lord, just as Thomas confessed you are his Lord and his God, we boldly claim for our lives. Lord we thank you for the blessing you have given us, the ones who believe without seeing.

Lord, may the doors of our churches be open to all and that doubters be welcomed here.

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Palm Sunday Prayer

Prayer for Spiritual Renewal

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Prayer: Teach Us (St Ignatius of Loyola)

Teach us Good Lord;
To serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labour and to ask for no reward,
Save that of knowing we do your will.

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Prayer Luke 3:21-22 Baptism of Jesus

Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed Him to be Your Son, anointing Him with the Holy Spirit: grant that we may be faithful to our call as Children of God, listening to you, guided by Your Spirit, to fulfil our unique and definite purpose. Amen.

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Christmas Eve Prayer

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. – Robert Louis Stevenson

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prayer for Luke 1 39 45

Give us courage to obey Your commands and to respond to Your promises in faith. Thank you for the gift of life, and all the blessings you showered upon us. We may be like Mary and Elizabeth ready for the mission to spread Your good news to all people. This we pray, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

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Here is a prayer based on Luke 3:1-6

Almighty God. We give praise and thanks to you for our lives. Allow us to do the best that we can do for our community. Give us strength and wisdom in ourselves to be able to carry out our duties and responsibilities

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prayer inspired by John 18:33-37

Prayer for Christ the King: Jesus, King of all past empires, Lord of all present rulers, Master of all that is to come, Lord of kingdoms great and tiny, Teach us to hold lightly on to the reins of our supposed power, Remembering that all aspects of our life and loves, our work and worship, our time and treasure are under your rule, And that in all things, You are king, Amen.

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Offering Prayer

Forgive me, Lord, when I am not a faithful steward of the resources you have entrusted to me. Thank you for the example of the widow and her “mites.” May she inspire me to give as I am able. Help me, Lord, to know what it means for me to give generously and sacrificially. Amen.

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Prayer inspired by Mark 10:35-45

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise that your Son, the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve. Help me to follow in his footsteps and serve others with a humble heart. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice he made by giving his life as a ransom for many. I claim this promise and ask for your guidance and strength to live a life of service and sacrifice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Prayer inspired by Mark 10:17-31

God of justice and love, help us to be in solidarity with those less fortunate than ourselves. May our Christian witness, in church and in the wider society, be one that shows the alternative values of your upside-down Kingdom, where there is a radical reversal of rich and poor, powerful and weak. Amen.

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A prayer that we may see God in others. Teach us, Lord, to seek your face in those who think they are faceless; your word among those who are voiceless; and your transforming presence among those who feel powerless. Draw us to yourself that we may be active contemplatives in the heart of your world, discovering afresh the presence of Jesus wherever it is disguised and honouring you in the face of the neighbour, the lowly appearance of bread and wine, and the walk of daily service, that we might follow where you lead and respond with warmed hearts and active hands. Amen.
Inspired by Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Karl Rahner

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Prayer inspired by Mark 9:30-37

Let us pray that God will give us the grace to be humble, to serve others with love, and to become more like children in our trust and dependence on Him. May we always remember that true greatness lies in serving others, and may we strive to live our lives in a way that honours this truth.

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Prayer inspired by Mark 7:24-37

“Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit and inflame my heart with love and compassion. Make me attentive to the needs of others that I may show them kindness and care. Make me an instrument of your mercy and peace that I may help others find healing and wholeness in you.”

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Prayer inspired by Mark 7:1-8:

God help us to humbly obey your word, to teach your word, to pass on your word, far more than we would pass on any tradition, no matter how good that tradition may be. Lord, we pray that your Word would be central in our lives and in our mouths and how we live and what we teach and what we pass on to others and what we pass on to the next generation.

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Jesus the Bread of Life Prayer John 6:24-35

Lord, thank you for being the Bread of Life. with the joy of salvation. We come to you with gratitude for all that we have. Open our eyes and the eyes of all to see you as the only Bread for spiritual hunger but, also, to see your presence in the faces of all who have physical hunger.

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Jesus the Bread of Life Prayer John 6:24-35

Lord, thank you for being the Bread of Life.
You are the One who satisfies our soul’s deepest desire
with the joy of salvation. We come to you with gratitude
for all that we have.
Open our eyes and the eyes of all to see you as the only
Bread for spiritual hunger but, also, to see your presence
in the faces of all who have physical hunger.
Give us openness of soul and courageous, willing hearts
to be with our sisters and brothers who hunger for so
much. For when we care for them we, in fact, care for
you.
We ask this in the name of the One whose mercy is
endless, Jesus, the Lord. Amen.

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Trust and Act, a prayer inspired by the boy who shared his food, John 6.1-21 by Lisa Degrenia

Miraculous One,
Our own needs and the needs of our world overwhelm us
We question if anything can be done
We become paralyzed with despair and fear
We numb and do nothing

Thank you for the nameless child
He trusts and acts
He has little, but in your hands, it’s honoured
it’s more than enough

Grant us his generosity and willingness
Help us trust you beyond what we can see or imagine

We ask this in your strong name, Jesus
You are the one who makes all things possible
and all things new. Amen.

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Prayer for the busy caring people

We need rest and time to recharge the energy and love of the heart; but at times the needs of others will take over. Prayer can unite both – the prayer of our action and the prayer of love.

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John the Baptist Prayer

Almighty God, who called your servant John the Baptist to go before your Son our Lord both in life and death; Grant that we who remember his witness may with boldness speak your truth and in humility hear it when it is spoken to us, through Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, who with you and the Holy Spirit Amen.

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Prayer: Mark 6: 1-13

God of grace and powerful weakness, at times your projects were ignored, rejected, belittled, and unwelcome. Trusting that we, too, are called to be prophets, fill us with your Spirit, and support us by your gentle hands, that we may persevere in speaking your word and living our faith. Amen.

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Prayer inspired by Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm

Heavenly Father, please quiet the wind and subdue the waves that threaten our stormy lives. Holy Spirit make us bold to pray for the stillness to listen for the healing words of the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Prayer for the parable of the mustard seed. Mark 4:26-34

Lord, our world is blighted by the destructive seeds of greed and oppression. But deep down there are also small seeds of justice, peace and reconciliation peeping out. May I help them to grow. Like the seed in the earth, the Kingdom of God does not come all at once.

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Sabbath Prayer

Teach us, Lord of the Sabbath, how to rest. And in our rest, may we learn how to do good for others by sharing your healing love. Let us be instruments of your healing with the people in our lives, even and especially on the Sabbath. Amen.

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Prayer of renewal

Holy Spirit of God, invisible like the wind, we do not see you moving among us, but the effect we see, come to our hearts,
that we may be renewed and reborn.

Open our minds,
that we may perceive your kingdom.
Lift up our eyes to where the cross of Christ stands for our healing:
so may we believe,
and in believing not die
but have eternal life;
through him who
in your love for us
you sent into the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ written by Michael Saward.

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Pentecost prayer. God of all, you sent your Spirit to be with the disciples, filling them with joy, peace and courage. May we also be filled with your Spirit, be brave and share your peace in our world. Amen.

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All glory be to your name. Oh God of love, you are love and we pray that your love would mark our lives today and every day. God, we pray that you would help us to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as ourselves.

Inspired by John 15:9-17

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O Lord, for you are the vine, to nourish us. May we, the branches, draw our strength from you and grow in harmony, unity and love. May we find nourishment through our rootedness in the life, teachings and love of Christ. Receive the fruits of our worship and be glorified.

inspired by John 15:1-8

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