Sparsholt Parish Council

Sat 30th May 2020

‘Tomorrow is Pentecost when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles tells us :

‘In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’

And so, thinking of that gift, the Holy Spirit that empowers us all, we pray the Collect for Pentecost :

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
Ignite in us your holy fire;
Strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
Revive your Church with the breath of love,
And renew the face of the earth,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen’

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Fri 29th May 2020

We are all focused on the virus and have been for several months and we have prayed for those affected, those who have died and those who mourn and those whose selfless efforts care for us all in a whole variety of ways, the world in all its usual madness goes on. There is still conflict, there is still violence - family tragedy, injury, death, cruelty, oppression, loneliness, hunger and thirst. This prayer, from John O’Donohue, prays for peace.

As the fever of day calms towards twilight
May all that is strained in us come to ease.

We pray for all who suffered violence today,
May an unexpected serenity surprise them.

For those who risk their lives each day for peace,
May their hearts glimpse providence at the heart of history.

That those who make riches from violence and war
Might hear in their dreams the cries of the lost.

That we might see through our fear of each other
A new vision to heal our fatal attraction to aggression.

That those who enjoy the privilege of peace
Might not forget their tormented brothers and sisters.

That the wolf might lie down with the lamb,
That our swords might be beaten into ploughshares

And no hurt or harm be done
Anywhere along the holy mountain.

Amen’

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Thu 28th May 2020

‘I was listening to the dawn chorus this morning – what a beautiful way to begin today, a beautiful reminder of God’s gifts and his presence in our lives – if only we would notice ! This prayer might help in that regard ……

Just for today, Lord, help me to remember that my life is a gift,
That my health is a blessing,
That this new day is filled with amazing potential and
That I have the capacity to bring something wholly new and good to the world.

Just for today, Lord, help me to remember to be kind and patient
To the people who love me and to those who work with me.
Teach me to see all the beauty I so often ignore and
To listen to the silent longing of my own soul.

Just for today, Lord, help me to remember you.
Let this be a good day, Lord, full of joy and love.

Amen’

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Wed 27th May 2020

‘Lord, thank You for loving me,
Thank You for walking with me and
For caring about the smallest details in my life.

Fill me with Your grace, Lord
That I may have the positivity to face whatever today will bring.
Fill me with Your love, Lord
That I may show that love to those who do not yet know it.
Fill me with Your mercy, Lord
That I may do Your will to the benefit of others.

Amen’

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Tue 26th May 2020

‘This canticle comes from a Celtic Daily Prayer service from the Northumbria Community. Used as a prayer, it asks, very beautifully, Jesus to be with us and with those we meet in every which way.

Christ, as a light, illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield, overshadow me.
Christ under me; Christ over me;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
In the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Amen’

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Mon 25th May 2020

‘We give you thanks, O Lord,
For all those who help bring peace and healing to a troubled world.
May the church be seen as an instrument
Of Your peace and of your love for all peoples.
May all who are distressed and disturbed
Come to know the peace of Christ and His love.
We ask Your blessing on Jax and her ministry team and
All those who work to further the growth of Your kingdom here on earth.

Amen’

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Sun 24th May 2020

‘As well as being the Seventh Sunday of Easter, today also brings Mental Health Week to a close and we particularly think of those who are finding all the strains and stresses of Covid, the lockdown and isolation difficult to deal with. The collect for today is completely apposite to this and asks God not to leave us comfortless but to send His spirit to our comfort and strength.

O God the King of glory,
You have exalted Your only Son Jesus Christ
With great triumph to Your kingdom in heaven:
We beseech You, leave us not comfortless,
But send Your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
And exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
Who is alive and reigns with You,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.

Amen.’

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Sat 23rd May 2020

‘‘Protect them by the power of Your name, the name you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.’ (John 17: 11)

In these few words, Jesus is asking God that the disciples be united in harmony and love just as the Father Son and Holy Spirit are united. This was Christ’s intimate prayer then and it is His prayer for the church today: that we continue in His love.

Lord of light, Lord of love
Pour down Your passion, Your love and Your strength on Your church today.
Instil in us, as a church and as individuals,
The strength of purpose and the desire to work with our brothers and sisters in Christ
In our village, in our Benefice and across the Diocese,
For the benefit of those who need help and support in these challenging times.
Bring us closer together in spirit,
Bring us closer together in our knowledge of You,
Bring us closer together in our experience of You,
Bring us closer together in our efforts for You.

Amen’

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Fri 22nd May 2020

‘ Thy Kingdom Come’ is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension Day (21 May) and Pentecost (31 May) for more people to come to know Jesus. Praying for people to come to know the love, hope and peace found in Christ is at the heart of Thy Kingdom Come. This is the collect prayer for this special time.

Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit
and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,
that all who hear your Word
may be drawn to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.’

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Thu 21st May 2020

‘Today is Ascension Day when Jesus was taken into heaven, marking the end of a 40 day period since His crucifixion and resurrection.

O Almighty God,
Whose blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
Ascended to the heavens that he might fill all things on earth,
Mercifully give us faith to see that, according to his promise,
He is with, us, his Church on earth, even to all eternity,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, in glory everlasting.

Amen’

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Tue 19th May 2020

‘A prayer that was found on the bookmark of St Teresa of Avila, a 16th century nun. It might well calm challenged nerves and fears as we live through current times.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing;
God only is changeless.
Patience gains all things.
Who has God wants nothing.
God alone suffices.

Amen’

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Mon 18th May 2020

‘One of the set readings for yesterday, the sixth Sunday of Easter, is from Peter’s first letter which was written in about AD 60 and was intended originally for Jewish Cheristians driven out of Jerusalem and scattered across Asia. Peter talks about ‘the how’ of practicing our faith – he says we should do good, fear not and be ready to give an account of the hope that is in us with gentleness and reverence.

Almighty Father, in these difficult times,
Help us to treat all we meet and all we have dealings with,
With gentleness and reverence.
Many are finding the current restrictions on our lives extremely challenging, stressful and painful -
They are missing contact with family and friends.
As we start a new week, fill us with Your hope
And the opportunity to show that hope to others
So they may see Your glory and Your grace
And so see beyond the troubled now to the bright future.

Amen’

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Sun 17th May 2020

‘We celebrate Ascension Day on Thursday and I hope that this prayer acknowledges Jesus as our Lord in one sense rising up to the heavens and leaving us but also remaining with us in our lives and in our hearts always.

Risen and ascended Lord,
We rejoice that You are with us in our homes and our daily lives.
May we be at home with You in all senses.
We remember all those whose homes are not warm, comfortable or full of love.
We pray for the them as we pray for the homeless
And for any who are dealing from emotional turmoil or broken relationships.
Bring them Your hope and strength and calm
As they work through their troubles.

Amen

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Sat 16th May 2020

‘Tomorrow is the last Sunday of Easter, that period of our church calender when we read about, and mark, the Last Supper, Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, the betrayal, the crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and the recognition of Jesus by the disciples at different times in different ways and in different places – all extraordinary events that lie at the heart of our faith.

Lord of the broken bread and the blessed wine,
As we pray and come to your table in our hearts,
May we know the recognition and
The blessing of Your presence experienced by the disciples.
May you share the life that is in You and available to us.
May you give us the confidence, even in these challenging times,
To invite others to Your banquet by our witness,
Through Your love and grace.

Amen’

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Fri 15th May 2020

‘We are asking so much of our leaders, politicians and officials at the moment – criticism is rife, expectation is high and empathy for them, as they struggle with a host of problems, is low.

Father God, we pray for our leaders and all the leaders around the world as they shoulder huge responsibility,
Take momentus decisions and lead us through our current challenges.
Give them strength, insight, energy and health to fulfil their role effectively and with a care for others.
We are unlikely to understand the strains and pressures they experience but pray that
With Your help and presence, they are able to give of their best,
Accept the advice and expertise of others and act wisely.
We ask this in Jesus’s name.

Amen’

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Thu 14th May 2020

‘As we come towards the end of Easter this year, this short prayer can be used to pull all our prayers together as we reach out to God and seek His presence in our lives.

Almighty God, You are the resurrection and the life
And we are Your Easter people.
Take our prayers and answer them in Your own good way
In the power that flows from Your risen presence.
We ask this in the joy of our Easter faith.

Amen’

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Wed 13th May 2020

‘Jesus says ‘I will be with you always…….’

Lord Jesus, be with Your church, the divided church, the joyful church, Your human church.
Be with the leaders of the world, with the nations of the world as they work together for the common good.
Be with the weak who need Your strength, be with the unwell, lonely and anxious who need Your hope.
Be with those we name before you who need Your love and grace ………………………………
Be with me, striving day by day to live up to Your example.

Amen’

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Tue 12th May 2020

‘Lord of our journey with You,
As You opened the scriptures to the disciples on the Emmaus road,
Open them to us.
Help us to listen to the good news of the bible,
To read, learn and inwardly digest Your meaning -
Inspire us with the vitality of Your word
And the truth we will find in scripture.
Let us hear Your story,
Straight from the empty tomb of Easter.

Amen’

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Mon 11th May 2020

‘As I listened to Churchill’s words played to us as part of the VE Day celebrations, I was reminded of the importance of strong, insightful and morally sound leadership. We need that today as we face the many and various challenges thrown up by Covid19. These lines are the last part of a blessing from John O’Donohue’s book, Benedictus, which is for all leaders, special people, people of whom we ask a good deal and so who we must lift to God for His support.

May you treasure the gifts of the mind
Through reading and creative thinking
So that you continue as a servant of the frontier
Where the new will draw its enrichment from the old,
And you never become a functionary

May you know the wisdom of deep listening,
The healing of wholesome words,
The encouragement of the appreciative gaze,
The decorum of held dignity,
The springtime edge of the bleak question.

May you have a mind that loves frontiers
So that you can evoke the bright fields
That lie beyond the view of the regular eye.

May you have good friends
To mirror the blind spots.

May leadership be for you
A true adventure of growth.

Amen’

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Sun 10th May 2020

‘A more general prayer of intercession on this 5th Sunday after Easter, pulling together many of the threads of our prayer life as we ask God to be central to our life, central to the lives of His family and, particularly, central to the lives of those in need of His strength, love and hope.

We pray for God’s people, that they may faithfully proclaim Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
May the leaders of nations and all who hold authority and power, work to the common good.
May those living in darkness hear and respond to God calling them into light and life.
We pray for all who are distressed, grieving or despairing,
That they may hear Jesus saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” and know His peace.
We pray for ourselves and the communities in which we live, work and worship,
That we may share Christ’s love with all those we know
And see His presence in all those we meet, both friend and stranger.

Amen’

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Sat 9th May 2020

‘Father, thank You for Your grace to stand strong
No matter what I am facing.
I choose to stay in faith.
I choose to keep praying.
I choose to keep believing
Knowing that I rest in your love and hope.
In Jesus’s name, we pray.

Amen’

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Fri 8th May 2020

‘On this 75th anniversary of VE day, we thank God for all our service men and women, for those who provide support services for them and for their families who support them as they train and deploy on our behalf.

Almighty God, we pray for the men and women of Her Majesty’s armed forces.
Keep them safe as they defend us around the world and
As they support civil ministries here in UK
As they are doing currently for the NHS.
Bless all those who support and enable their work and
Bless their loved ones who wait for their safe return when they are away.
Give them strength and courage to fulfil their task with compassion and fairness,
In the knowledge that they do your will.

Amen’

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Thu 7th May 2020

‘The disciple Thomas often gets a bad press for doubting the risen Jesus and for asking for proof – ‘We don’t know where you’re going, how can we know the way’ he asks Jesus. Jesus responds, in one of the seminal moments in the gospels, with words that both open and challenge our understanding - ‘I am the way and the truth and the life’. How amazing is that !

Father God, thank You for sending your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ
To be the way and the life for us in Your truth.
We pray that, through our daily lives, we find that way,
Aspiring to follow Christ by contributing to His kingdom here on earth.

Amen’

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Wed 6th May 2020

‘Last night I watched a news item about a group of people with a variety of physical challenges and how they came together, virtually connected, to sing and make music over the internet. It was very moving and totally inspiring.

Almighty Father, we pray for those people
With any sort of physical or emotional challenge.
We thank you for their strength, their love and their drive.
We thank you for those people who support them,
Who work with them to enable their lives,
To help them achieve and fulfil ambitions and wishes.
May their lives inspire us all to come together with others
For the individual and common good,
Sharing your love and your grace.

Amen’

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Tue 5th May 2020

‘Lord, bless our homes and our families
With the joy of your presence.
May our homes always be open to You and Your love.
We remember all those who suffer - from ill health,
From poverty, from homelessness.
We ask your blessing on all those who live in fear, in socially challenged areas
And so who find lockdown particularly challenging.
Bring them Your hope and strength in the coming weeks and months.

Amen’

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Mon 4th May 2020

‘Lord, may nothing separate me from You today.
Teach me how to choose only Your way so each step will lead me closer to You.
Help me walk in life by Your word and not my wishes or feelings.
Help me to keep my heart pure and protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions.
Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity.
Lord, help me to forever remember what a gift it is to sit with You.

Amen’

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Sun 3rd May 2020

‘ Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory through the victory of Jesus Christ.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, health, love, and peace.
We thank you for your presence with us on our journey together,
for our time together and for all we have received from your hand.
Enable us to carry your healing presence to our brothers and sisters
and ever to walk with you, until the day of your appearing.

Amen’

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Fri 1st May 2020

‘Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life,
Raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness
That we may seek those things which are above,
Where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.

Amen’

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Wed 29th April 2020

‘It’s an ongoing sadness that our church is closed and that we are not meeting together to worship on a Sunday and then also not meeting as friends and fellow villagers in the course of our normal lives. This prayer talks to that and our faith and fellowship.

Blessed are You, Lord God,
For You love us with an everlasting love.
We rejoice that nothing can separate us
from that love and knowledge of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We give thanks for the fellowship of Your church and
Pray for our fellow Christians here in Sparsholt and the Downs Benefice,
Even though we do not physically see each other in the same way
Our love for each other, in You, remains strong.
We pray for all those who bring our faith to us and
Remember all who ae seeking to grow
In love and knowledge of You.

Amen'

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Tue 28th April 2020

‘Almighty God, from whom every gift derives,
We come before You wherever we are in these uncertain times
To worship You today.
We come to You in thanksgiving and praise,
To know that You are God and to place our lives anew into Your hands.
Hold up before us the vision of Your kingdom,
A kingdom of justice and mercy, truth and compassion.
Help us to grasp the meaning of the gospel which You have entrusted to us, and
Give us Your grace to live by it.

Amen’

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Mon 27th April 2020

‘It is increasingly likely, as the pandemic continues, that we will know someone who has the virus and is self-isolating, someone who has the virus and is being treated, possibly in hospital, or someone who has had the virus and is recovering. This morning, we bring all those people and anyone particularly on our hearts, before God.



God of love,

We ask for Your blessing on those who are ill,

those who are vulnerable,

those who are worried about themselves

and those they love.

Bring them Your strength in their adversity and Your hope of lasting recovery.

In a moment of personal quiet,

we name before You particular people known to us ..……..

We especially bring Justin to mind as his treatment continues.

We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord.



Amen.

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Sun 26th April 2020

‘God of peace, we remember before you continents, countries and places where there is violence and oppression.
Under the guidance of your Holy Spirit, help all people, and leaders with power and influence
To put aside bias and prejudice, so we may all understand that diversity and tolerance is part of the richness of our common humanity.
Help us, therefore, all to become more compassionate, cultivating the habit of caring and neighbourly love and service across the world.

Amen’

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Sat 25th April 2020

‘A prayer to celebrate the new life and growth in nature this Spring and to ask God to create that same growth and newness in us.

Father, thank you for fresh starts on this Spring morning today.
Thank you for the renewal that spring represents to us in the natural world.
You create new life and I am excited and expectant of your goodness in this Spring season.
Prepare me for all the new and wonderful things you have in store for my life.
Help me to let go of the old things that hold me back, the things that do not bring me life,
The things that keep me living in the past.
Help me hold firm to the newness in me, to my new life in Christ!
Help me, this Spring, to keep growing anew on my journey with you!

Amen’

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Fri 24th April 2020

‘A prayer for this week, the week of the Third Sunday after Easter ……

Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord,
Give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and
Serve you continually in righteousness and truth,
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen’

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Thu 23rd April 2020

‘I read something by Terry Waite recently. He talked about his time in isolation in Beirut 30 years ago and the strength he found and nourished in his faith and in himself. It resonated with me at this strange time.

Almighty Father, There is so much that is good in our world, Your world -
So much to celebrate, so much to smile about.
In the trying moments, help me to live my life as fully as possible and
To help others to live their lives as fully as possible.
In the quiet moments, I pray that I develop a greater acceptance of myself and
Work towards a deeper inner harmony and relationship with You.

Amen’

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Wed 22nd April 2020

‘As I looked out over the fields and listened to the birds, with Eastertide still in my mind and even in these difficult times, I was struck of the wonder of life, around us and in us - our gift from God.

Father, Thank You for the miracle of life,
Abundant life here in nature and eternal life with You in Heaven.
Help me celebrate that life every day as I seek You to understand Your plan for my life.
Today, I join with the Apostle Paul in saying,
“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?” and
I pray for ways to show others the life you give.
I ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen’

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Tue 21st April 2020

‘St Stephen, the patron saint of our village church, was the first martyr. He was one of the first seven deacons ordained by the apostles. In a life full of example to others, he and his ministry, were extremely unpopular with the Jewish Sanhedrin and he was stoned to death in the year AD 33. Fun fact - he is the patron saint of bricklayers ! This prayer is in praise of his life and his example in loving and forgiving others.

We give you thanks, O Lord of Glory
For the example of the first Martyr
Who looked up to heaven and prayed
For his persecutors, to Your Son, Jesus Christ,
Who stands at Your right hand,
Where He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, in glory everlasting.

Amen’

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Mon 20th April 2020

‘St Frances of Assisi was an extraordinary man, probably best known by most of us for his love of, and affinity with, animals. This beautiful prayer, though, seeks God’s help for us individually in our daily lives and is one that, it is said, he used every day …..

Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily;
to lean on your great strength, trustfully, respectfully;
to wait for the unfolding of your will, patiently, serenely;
to meet others, peacefully, joyfully;
to face tomorrow, confidently, courageously.

Amen’

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Sun 19th April 2020

Second Sunday of Easter

‘Lord Jesus, Friend and Brother
As you came to the disciples in the upper room,
Come to us, undeserved and unworthy.
As you breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit,
Breathe on us and imbue us with the Holy Spirit.
As they saw you and gloried in Your resurrection
Help us to see you, to know you and to love you.
In Your name we pray.

Amen’

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Sat 18th April 2020

‘It was announced this last week that lockdown would continue for another 3 weeks – not great news but I’m sure we understand the necessity of that.

This is a blessing taken from John O’Donohue’s book Benedictus and, whilst written over a decade before Covid19 came along, does I think speak to those who are struggling with this unsought isolation and feelings of solitude ………...

May you recognise in your life the presence, power and light of your soul.

May you realise that you are never alone ,
That your soul in its brightness and belonging
Connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.

May you have respect for your individuality and difference.

May you realise that the shape of your soul is unique,
That you have a special destiny here,
That behind the façade of your life
There is something beautiful and eternal happening.

May you learn to see yourself
With the same delight,
Pride and expectation
With which God sees you in every moment.

In the name of Christ, Amen’

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Fri 17th April 2020

‘God of Easter Hope, we thank you for all the good things in our world
For the inspiring things, for the beautiful things …..
For Captain Tom and his remarkable efforts and for all those who supported his walk;
For all those who volunteer in our village and who work on behalf of others;
For the privilege of living in the beauty of rural Hampshire.
We remember those living in city communities without the green and new life of nature in springtime.
We look forward to lockdown conditions being relaxed but, in the meantime, we thank you
And pray that the message of the resurrection gives us all
A positive hopeful faith for the future to bring light to those darker moments.

Amen’

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Thu 16th April 2020

‘Lord Jesus, Your angels invited the women into the tomb to see for themselves that You had risen,
You invite me to come and see you, to meet you every day.
Forgive me for sometimes being too busy to listen to You, to Your Word and
Fill my heart with longing for you so that I always make time –
To hear You, to discern your will and to do Your work.

Amen‘

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Wed 15th April 2020

‘Lord, in these challenging times, bless your church
That it may reveal your presence and the power of the resurrection.
May our church community
Be fed by the Holy Spirit and show joy in you.
Even through these times of isolation,
May we feel the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we seek to bring others to know and love you.
We ask your blessing on all who are seekers,
On those who are new in faith and those who struggle
To see your presence in all we are experiencing now.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
Our Saviour, He who brought life and light to the world.

Amen’

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Tue 14th April 2020

‘Perhaps you, like me, have been missing taking Holy Communion in these locked-down times. This prayer is taken from Justin Welby’s service two day’s ago, on Easter Day, and talks about that loss and prays for God’s help in dealing with it. I found it helpful.

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits you have given me,
For all the pain and insults you have borne for me.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother
May I know you more clearly
Love you more dearly
And follow you more nearly, day by day.

Amen’

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Mon 13th April 2020

‘This prayer poem, called Easter Love, has been written by Carolyn Morrissey, Reception Class Teacher at Sparsholt Primary School. It beautifully captures the impacts of the virus on our lives at this time in the context of the love Jesus showed in giving himself for us on the cross.

You wouldn’t have believed me if I told you.
No-one was ready for what was to come.
Lose your freedom to save others,
Give us this day our kingdom come.

Like a shadow it swept across the nations.
Darkness fell on the old and the sick.
The sign of the cross we recall your stations.
But no-one expected or predicted it !

Jesus gave his life to save us.
The cities cry out from London to Rome.
To save your sisters and your brothers
We must all stay safe and stay at home.

Into Holy Week we enter,
On Good Friday you gave your life,
As a world we must pray together
But stay apart is our sacrifice.

On Easter Sunday we celebrate your resurrection,
Reunited up above.
We live in hope and faith before you
And thank you for such an act of love.

Amen’

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Sun 12th April 2020

Easter Sunday
‘With the whole church throughout the world
We rejoice, for Christ is risen.
Let every Christian rejoice,
Let every heart rejoice, for Christ is risen.
We ask your blessing this day on all
Who celebrate the resurrection.
We particularly, though, pray for all those
Who doubt the good news and all those who are seekers.
In the name of Him who died and rose again.

Amen’

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Sat 11th April 2020

Easter Saturday
‘Lord of Life
You were broken on the cross to make us whole,
Be with all who are suffering at this time.
Come as light to those who walk in darkness and,
In these challenging times, are lonely or depressed
Come as joy to all those who have lost confidence in the future and
To those whose faith in you is shaken.
Come as hope to all those who are unwell and
Fearful for their health in the coming weeks and months.
Come as yourself, our Lord and Saviour.

Amen’

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Fri 10th April 2020

Good Friday
‘Jesus Christ, Son of God, saviour, friend,
Today we remember your sacrificial love
Shown to us through your death on the cross -
Love that shines light into the darkness
That brings life from death
That reveals hope out of misery
That grants forgiveness for our sins.
Thank you that we can now walk in the light of your life,
In that hope, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life
This day and everyday.

Amen’

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Thu 9th April 2020

Maunday Thursday
‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you’ - Jesus’s words in John 13 vs 34 as he talked to the disciples at the last supper which we celebrate on Maundy Thursday.

You call us to love those whom you would love,
and give us the words to say.
You call us to bring wholeness to lives that are broken,
and give us the words to say.
You call us to bring comfort to those who are grieving,
and give us the words to say.
You call us to bring good news to those who are seeking,
and give us the words to say.
Almighty God, help us hear your call and hear your words.

Amen’

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Wed 8th April 2020

‘Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you
For all the benefits you won for us,
For all the pains and insults you bore for us.
Most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
May we know you more clearly and
Love you more dearly, day by day.

Amen. ‘

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Tue 7th April 2020

Almighty God
As we walk the way of the cross
May our pilgrimage draw us closer to you
The way, the truth and the life.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen’

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Mon 6th April 2020

‘Almighty God, whose son went not up to joy but first He suffered pain and
Entered not into glory before He was crucified;
Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross
May find it none other than the way of life and of peace
Surrounded by His love and grace.
We ask this in the name Jesus Christ, His son and our Lord.

Amen’

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Sun 5th April 2020

‘Blessed are you, Lord of all creation,
You have created us out of your love and for your love.
Help us to welcome you with songs of ‘Hosanna’,
Knowing that you are our strength and shield.
At the beginning of this Holy week and in these challenging times,
Help us to welcome Christ into our lives
As our Lord and Saviour.

Amen’

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Sat 4th April 2020

‘Lord, help me to be fully alive to your Holy presence.
Enfold me in your love and
Let my heart become one with yours.
You created me to live in freedom and
Mostly I take this gift for granted.
Inspire me to live in the freedom you intended,
with a heart untroubled and with complete trust in you.
Lord, you are present in all things
And when I take time to simply sit and be with you
Help my mind rest and feel your peace.

Amen’

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Fri 3rd April 2020

‘A prayer from St Columba, an Irish abbot and missionary in the 6th century

Almighty God
Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me,
Be thou a smooth path below me,
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today - tonight - and for ever.

Amen’

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Thu 2nd April 2020

Lord Jesus,

Who in your earthly life
Bore our grief and carried our sorrows,
Stand with us, we pray,
In our fear, distress and uncertainty.

Draw near to all who are suffering:
Strengthen those who care for them;
And guide those involved in research.

Lead us all, through the depths of the cross,
To the height and joy of resurrection.

Amen

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Wed 1st April 2020

‘Lord of our uncertain and frightened world, help us keep a sense of perspective.
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who can work from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health and earning their rent.
May we who struggle with isolation at home remember those who have no home.
May we who are losing our savings in the tumult of the economic markets remember those who have no savings at all.
And during this time when we may not be able to physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.

Amen.

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Tue 31st March 2020

‘Lord of our world, I woke to the music of bird song,
Today Hampshire’s beautiful countryside will surround us,
The animals, the trees, the bushes and the flowers.
Thank you for our natural world and we pray today for all our efforts
To sustain it, to manage its beauty and maintain its part in our lives.

Amen’
30th March 2020
‘Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they see the light of this world.
But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.
John 11 : 9-10

Eternal God, we pray that Your light enters and brings life to our world,
Shining into the dark corners of our troubles and concerns,
Showing us the joys and opportunities that emerge from them.
Thank you for the time to reach out to long neglected family and friends
For the time to reflect on life’s priorities and balances and in that
We pray that Your light shines through us to light the lives of others.

Amen’
29th March 2020
A Prayer from St Augustine for Today, the 5th Sunday of Lent –

Look upon us, O Lord,
Let all the darkness of our souls vanish before the beams of Your brightness.
Fill us with holy love, and open to us the treasures of Your wisdom.
All our desire is known to You, therefore perfect what You have begun,
and what Your Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek Your face,
turn Your face to us and show us Your glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.

Amen’
28th March 2020
‘From St Theresa of Avila

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world
Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good
Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Help us to be that body, those eyes, hands and feet.

Amen’
27th March 2020

This morning’s prayer includes 2 verses from John O’Donohue’s poem ‘A Morning Offering’ from his book of blessings, Benedictus.

Almighty Father, in these anxious times, fearful, uncertain
Thank you for the rest of the night, re-energising us, refocusing us,
Leading us to a new day.

I bless the night that nourished my heart
To set the ghosts of longing free
Into the flow and figure of dream
That went to harvest from the dark
Bread for the hunger no-one sees.

All that is eternal in me
Welcomes the wonder of this day,
The field of brightness it creates
Offering time for each thing
To arise and illuminate

Lord of life, as we arise this morning, we pray you illuminate our day,
fill our hearts with knowledge of the love of Christ and so a instil in us a positive outlook,
shining in us and through us as we tackle the day.

Amen ‘
26th March 2020
‘Lord of All, we pray for all those who are providing services and support to us through the virus crisis - For all those in the NHS caring for us, themselves often at risk, for those who provide our food, for those providing transport, For those who provide our medicines, for the men and women in the police, for our Armed Forces now supporting the NHS and other providers, For those who provide the news and keep us informed, for our government and politicians as they seek to lead us safely out of the crisis, For those who volunteer, dedicating their skills and time to the service of others. We pray that You keep them safe and well, give them Your strength and the knowledge of Your love in their giving.’

25th March 2020
‘Almighty Father, it is sometimes difficult to see Your purpose in times of trouble,
Help us find Your hope and strength as we deal with the virus to the best of our ability in the circumstances of our own lives.
As we live with the measures imposed on all of us, help us to know You are with us
and Help us to find a way to help others less able or fortunate than ourselves even in some small way.
Amen’
24th March 2020
Here is a simple prayer you might care to use :
Almighty Father, bring comfort to those who have lost loved ones,
Healing to those who are sick,
Strength to those who are caring for them
And wisdom to those who are organising the response.
In it all, help us, Your people, to trust in You
and be carriers of hope & reassurance,
healing and peace in every situation.
We ask this In Jesus’ name.
Amen

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