Mary's Prayer

For a few years now I've been blessed with a wee group of folk who lead intercessions and put them together for a Sunday. They bring different voices and different insights to our worship and I am really grateful for their input. This was Mary Havard's offering on Sunday on the theme of 'change'.

Let us pray

Dear Father we come before you today in prayer for those who are experiencing a change in their lives. Please help them in faith to look forward not back.
What has been is past, opportunity lies ahead.

Change can come in many ways:
loss or change in work,
relocating to a new house
even moving to a new area.
A bereavement,
the arrival of a baby in the family.

Please dear Lord
give courage and support to those in need of it,
for you are always with us.

We all have to adapt to change,
to disappointment and sorrow
and we remember the good things in life,
friendship, companionship and love;
the greatest of these is love.

We give thanks for that which brings joy and happiness.

In the circumstances of world changes which have come due to recession,
we find many changes in our own lives.
We cannot deny that this has been caused by avarice and greed.
Father please help us to be thankful for what we have.

We pray for those who are working for recovery.
For those who have left family and friends
as they bravely risk life and limb for peace in theatres of war.
So often we hear of those who make the ultimate sacrifice,
and  we pray for those at home who are left with the pain of loss.

The hymn “Look forward in Faith”
is a sign post to dealing with changes in life
and reminds us, Lord, that you are steadfastly there for us.

We give you our thanks in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.