Category: Prayers

Prayers for the outpouring of God’s Spirit

13th June 2026

I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. Genesis 17:17 

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Deuteronomy 8:6-9

Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper.

As at the beginning, Lord God, 

you made us in your image 

and wrought with us a special bond, 

an everlasting covenant of faith and love.

Continue to breathe your Spirit 

into our hearts 

that we may truly return that love.

As at the beginning, Lord God, 

you have provided us good rich land, 

overflowing with the good things of creation – 

plants for food, water to drink.

Continue to breathe your Spirit 

into our hearts 

that we may be generous in caring and sharing this gift. 

As at the beginning, Lord God, 

you created all manner of creatures

 – our kith and kin – 

for companionship and teamwork.

Continue to breathe your Spirit 

into our hearts 

that we may be faithful friends with all.

As from the beginning, Lord God, 

you have filled the world with signs 

and words of wisdom 

so that we may learn and live well. 

Continue to breathe your Spirit 

into our hearts 

that we may be attentive to your instruction.

As from the beginning, Lord God, 

you have created a world of harmony 

and flourishing 

that all may live lives of fulfilment. 

Continue to breathe your Spirit 

into our hearts 

that we may be at one with all creation.

As from the beginning, Lord God, 

you have a created your world 

as a place for joy and love to thrive 

and where happiness will abound.

Continue to breathe your Spirit 

into our hearts 

that we may ever rejoice and praise your glory. 

Amen. 

How long O Lord?

My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long? Psalm 6:3

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace

A reading from Hosea 5:15-6:3

Thus says the Lord: “I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour: ‘Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.’

How Long O Lord?

How many heat waves?

How many droughts?

How many floods?

How many lost coast lines?

How many before we admit our error?

Before we recognise the crisis?


How many lost penguins?

How many missing polar bears?

How many extinct butterflies?

How many disappearing swifts?

How many before we admit our error?

Before we recognise the crisis?


How many car journeys?

How many air miles? 

How many beef steaks?

How many tonnes of cement?

How many before we admit our error?

Before we recognise the crisis.


Creator God, we admit our error

and recognise the crises we have caused. 

Grant us the wisdom and determination to make amends:

To change the way we live,

To change the way we see things,

To have care for the future.

Amen.

Tune our senses to God’s wisdom 

30th May 2026

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:1-2 

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8 

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:17

Listen; attune your ears – what do you hear? 

The excited chatter of children,

and the chatter of jackdaws,

wind rustling the leaves,

and feet tapping the road.

Or the drone of cars – too much!

Or the whine of planes – too many!

Look; focus your vision – what do you see?

a lacework of branches against the sky,

and curvaceous clouds,

the green patina of leaves,

and the tight curl of a snail shell.

Or traffic crawling bumper to bumper – too much

Or discarded tatters of plastic – too many!

Stretch; bare your skin – what do you feel?

The warm caress of the sun, 

the gentle frisson of the breeze,

the prickle of grass,

the textured bark of a tree.

Or the rasp of exhaust in your throat – too much!

Or the scratch of particulates in your eyes – too many!

Sniff; breathe deeply – what do you smell?

The aroma of fresh coffee,

and the zest of orange juice,

the fragrance of the rose,

and the warmth of ground spices.

Or the reek of petrol – too much!

Or the sting of pesticides – too many!

Savour; let it linger on your tongue – what do you taste?

The fresh acidity of an apple, 

and the earthy satisfaction of bread,

the squishy sweetness of banana,

and the melting delight of chocolate.

Or the fake sweetness of green wash – too much!

Or the gall of climate injustice- too many !

Merciful God, 

bring us to our senses.

Help us rebuild a world 

of right experiences.

Amen. 

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17

Holy God, 

in the hour of our stupidity, 

guide us with your wisdom. 

Help us to understand afresh 

the intricacies and interconnectedness 

of the world you have given us.

Holy God, 

in the hour of our need, 

repair the damage we have caused 

to your world 

so that we might all be saved.

Amen.

Prayers for Pentecost 

23rd May 2026

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

Holy Spirit, you are the breath of life:

reinvigorate us with new growth.

Holy Spirit, you are the inspiration for knowledge:

refresh us with your wisdom.

Holy Spirit, you are the wind of change:

redirect us to the right path.

And let this be to the glory of the kingdom of God.

A reading from Isaiah 32:14 -17  (The Message)

The royal palace is deserted,
    the bustling city quiet as a morgue,
The emptied parks and playgrounds
    taken over by wild animals,
    delighted with their new home.

Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured
    down on us from above
And the badlands desert grows crops
    and the fertile fields become forests.
Justice will move into the badlands desert.
    Right will build a home in the fertile field.
And where there’s Right, there’ll be Peace
    and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust.
My people will live in a peaceful neighbourhood—
    in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
The forest of your pride will be clear-cut,
    the city showing off your power levelled.
But you will enjoy a fortunate life,
    planting well-watered fields and gardens,
    with your farm animals grazing freely.

.

Pentecost Spirit, 

taking  breath over creation, 

drawing life out of chaos. 

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

Pentecost Spirit, 

riding on the storm clouds of anger, 

turning the world upside down. 

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

Pentecost Spirit, 

dividing the waters, 

cutting through the bonds of slavery.

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

Pentecost Spirit, 

raising up whirl winds 

yet drawing us into the still centre of calm.

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

Pentecost Spirit, 

that comes from we know not where, 

yet reveals to us all truth.

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

Pentecost Spirit, 

a sudden gale that rocks the boat, 

yet challenges us to hang onto our faith.

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

Pentecost Spirit, 

a gentle evening breeze,

that refreshes the soul when the day’s work is done.

Inspire us with a vision of the world as it could  be.

Fill our hearts with active love.

The Grace.

After the king’s speech

16th May 2026

You Lord are the bread of life;

feed us with your wisdom.

Our nourishment is to do God’s will;

guide us in all we do

Whenever we eat or drink

Let it be to the glory of the kingdom of God.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 23:22

A reading from Luke 1: 49-53

The Mighty One has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

Her mercy is for those who fear him

    from generation to generation.

She has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

She has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

    and lifted up the lowly;

She has filled the hungry with good things,

    and sent the rich away empty.

A response based on verses from Psalm 68

Sing to God, sing praises to the one 

who has ascended to Heaven.

Rejoice aloud!

May your kingdom come 

on Earth as in Heaven.

Hear the words of our King:

To the orphaned, be as good parents.

To the widowed, be as loving siblings.

May your kingdom come 

on Earth as in Heaven.

Hear the words of our King:

For the homeless, provide a place of safety,

For the prisoner, a place of freedom.

May your kingdom come 

on Earth as in Heaven.

Hear the words of our King:

Where rain is scarce, ensure live-giving water,

Where the soil is depleted, refresh its wellbeing.

May your kingdom come 

on Earth as in Heaven.

Hear the words of our King:

For the poor, provide positions of value,

For the hungry, provide a place at the table .

May your kingdom come 

on Earth as in Heaven.

Hear the words of the King:

For all who seek wisdom, make known the Gospel

For all who seek peace, make known the love of God.

May your kingdom come 

on Earth as in Heaven.

Amen. 

Love overcomes hate

9th May 2026

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Matthew 5:43-47 (The Message)

 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. She gives her best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Hate or love?

Hate smoulders and burns.

It reduces cheer to ash and clinker..

Love soothes the flaming rage,

And untangles twisted thoughts.

Hate rides roughshod over compassion.

It disregards the truth.

.

Love reads between the lines,

And hears the hidden words of hope..

Hate erects rigid boundaries.

It ring-fences every option.  

Love sees beyond the corner,

And stretches out new horizons.

Hate casts an evil guise over every action.

It masks every sign of joy.

Love lifts the veil, 

And finds the hidden virtue.

Hate feeds on anger. 

Its rapacious appetite knows no limit. 

Love expands with humility, 

And grows with easy care.

Hate is all consuming – 

Till nothing true remains.

Love is all consuming – 

Till only truth remains. 

Prayers

Holy God of love,

Heal the wounds where hate festers.

Renew our trust in one another.

Holy God of love,

Remove the log that blinds the eye. 

Restore our vision of the world aright.

Holy God of love,

Open the ears that are stopped.

Retune our understanding of forgiveness.

Holy God of love,

Cut through warfare and  vengeance –

In streets and cities in the UK.

In Palestine and in Isreal.

In Lebanon.

In Iran and in the USA.

In North  Sudan.

In Ukraine and in Russia.

Cut through war and vengeance –

wherever it is found.

Replant the seeds of peace,

Water them with  love,  

with compassion, 

sustain them with justice,

and feed them with vigorous determination. 

The Lord’s Prayer

In praise of May 

2nd May 2026

From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. Genesis 27:28

The month of May owes its name to the Greek goddess of fertility, Maia. For many May is the month dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Queen of  May. It is certainly the month when spring growth is at its most abundant. 

Glory be to God for the May tree –

 the happy hawthorn:

Decked in  white blossom, 

she serves a feast for insects – alleluia! 

Glory be to God for the mayfly – 

ephemera vulgate:

Older even than dinosaurs, 

they surrenders their underwater life 

for one brief air born day of delight – Alleluia! 

Glory be to God for the maybug – 

the cockchafer:

Four years toiling as grub underground, 

she emerges 

a chestnut gilded member of the scarab family – alleluia!

Glory be to God for the may flower – 

the cuckoo flower, Cardamine pratensis:

Pink flowers veined with purple, a dainty plant 

that feeds the caterpillars of orange-tip 

and  green-veined white butterflies – Alleluia!

A reading: Genesis 1: 29-31 

And look! I have given you the seed-bearing plants throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.  And I’ve given all the grass and plants to the animals and birds for their food.”  Then God looked over all that he had made, and it was excellent in every way. This ended the sixth day.

God of all creation,

May we cherish what you have created, 

respecting each plant and animal, 

bird and insect,

as both unique and irreplaceable.

May we honour with reverence 

what spreads out before our feet, 

what flies in the air above, 

slides through the water 

or creeps in the soil below.

May we temper our lives 

to make space for others, 

ceding priority to the vulnerable 

and encouraging the faint- hearted.

May we listen with our ears, 

see with our eyes 

and comprehend with wisdom 

the harmony of your Kingdom here in earth.

Amen.

The Grace 

Psalm 23 – a retelling

25th April 2026

Trust in the Lord and be doing good;  dwell in the land and be nourished with truth. Let your delight be in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desire. Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, and he will bring it to pass.  (Psalm 37:3-5)

You Lord are the bread of life;

feed us with your wisdom.

Our meat is to do the Father’s  will.

guide us in all we do.

Whenever we eat or drink

Let it be to the glory of God.

A reading from Micah 4:3-4

He shall judge between many peoples,
    and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
    and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,
    and no one shall make them afraid;
    for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. 

A canticle based on Psalm 23


The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;

Year by year, the earth produces fresh food,  

enough to feed  10 billion people. 

He leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.

River waters flow through all the earth’s  continents –  

volumes of fresh water but unequally apportioned.

He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake. 

Your word shows us where truth lies, 

your wisdom guides us.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;

Rather amongst business leaders and politicians, 

autocrats and diktats do I tremble. 

but you are with me;
   your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 

As you comfort and protect us, so may we 

comfort and protect all who live in fear.

You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;

May we be peace makers, 

generously sharing the abundance we have.

you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows. 

May we bring health and well being

 to all our brother and sisters in creation.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,

May we all dwell in the house of the Lord 

all the days of our lives.

The Grace .

Prayers for Earth Day

22nd April 2026

The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A Reading Psalm 8 (The Message )

God, brilliant Lord,
    yours is a household name.

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
    toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
    and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous,
    your handmade sky-jewelry,
Moon and stars mounted in their settings.
    Then I look at my micro-self and wonder,
Why do you bother with us?
    Why take a second look our way?

Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods,
    bright with Eden’s dawn light.
You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
    repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
Made us stewards of sheep and cattle,
    even animals out in the wild,
Birds flying and fish swimming,
    whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord,
    your name echoes around the world.

Today  is Earth Day – a globally recognised  event calling on everyone to focus on the needs of the earth. 

“This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods… together, we must Invest In Our Planet.”  https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/

And as Paul writes, ‘As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,“In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.’ 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Glory to God,

Let the earth be glad, and the sea resound: 

Let all that is in it rejoice.

We praise you!

Glory to God, 

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
 Let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

We praise you!

The law of the Lord is perfect,
making wise the simple.

Yet we have done our own thing  and despoiled the environment. 

Lord have mercy. 


The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

Yet we have hidden your ways under the cloak of greed, making life dark for our fellow beings.

Now is the time! 

Teach us once more to seek your wisdom for the earth.

Now is the time!

Teach us once more how to live in harmony with creation.

Now is the time!

Teach us to be mindful in what we use  and generous in what we give. 

Merciful God, 

forgive us and heals us, 

restore our world to its former glory.

Amen.

The Grace

If you love me (discourse)

11th April 2026

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

You Lord, are the source of all good things: 

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation: 

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives: 

May we live together in peace.

A reading from John 14:15-17 

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees her nor knows her. You know her, because she abides with you, and she will be in you.”

Response:

In the  warm sun, the aroma  of coffee, the embrace of a friend, 

 God is my comforter.

In the fresh air in my lungs, the soil beneath my feet, the push of the wind, 

God is my strength.

From the contentment of the cat and the playfulness of the otter,

God is my guide.

In the  midst of strangers, in the face of opposition and contempt,  

God is my advocate.

In the  blue of the sky, the green of the leaves, the love of neighbour,

God is my truth-teller.

In rise of the hills, the flow of the tide, the song of the bird,

God is my inspiration.

Holy  God, I thank you that you are the ever-abiding presence 

that brings new life. 

May I in turn share that good news with all whom I meet.

Amen.