Prayer Page
Prayers for the week 9 March 2025 – Lent 1
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God, whose touchstone is the desert and the cross, draw near with your ancient strength which we experience but do not understand, know, but never see. Accompany us throughout the weeks of Lent, that we may face the demons, fantasies and fears, which beset us; so that, journeying with Jesus in desert places, we may by your mercy renew our commitment to the life of Christ and our vocation to the way of the cross.
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You, Lord Jesus, knew great power, to heal, to transform, to proclaim the reign of God. So, you met great temptations. The wrong way, glittering and possible, was open; you could rule if you chose, in majesty and wonder, more victorious than Alexander, more imperial than Caesar. But you said No, simply decisively, for ever, for us.
Holy Spirit of God, enable us to respond to temptation with the strength of your word within us, so that we may hold firm to our calling and take your better way in faithfulness. Renew us, clear out the wastelands of our lives, and prepare us for life in the awareness of Christ’s coming when the desert will sing and the wilderness will blossom like the rose.
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World
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Lord, we confess when we hear much of the news right now, we are tempted to either throw our hands up in despair or place them firmly over our ears and live in our own bubbles of existence. Help us to remain faithful in prayer as we pray for wholeness in a fractured world. Help us to consistently pray for all the major players in the political dramas playing out right now on the world stage, particularly with the war in Ukraine and the fragile peace in the Middle East in mind. And so, we place before you Presidents Trump, Zelensky, Putin, Prime Minister Netanyahu, Hamas and anyone else brought to our attention this week. We bring before you those wielding power who are tempted to use their power for their own narrow ends or take easy options, and we pray that in this moment, and in what seems to be a crucial point in world history, your love and your Kingdom values will seep into discussions and decisions made in the next few weeks. And we pray for lasting and just peace to blossom in the present desert of pain and suffering in Ukraine, Gaza and all the other areas of world conflict.
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Church
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We pray for the Circuit meeting on 12 March, that there will be a spirit of love and belonging amongst people attending, and that wisdom and sound judgment will be exercised in any decision-making.
We pray for St Paul’s, as it prepares for its next Messy Church this month; that youngsters and parents continue to come and that the team is empowered to effectively use the materials provided and be able to discern what is best to change.
We pray for those at Bangor and Holyhead involved in the Open the Book group going into different schools this week, that the messages contained in the stories told will give blessing to those who hear them and that the teams will find the joy of the Lord gives them strength.
We give thanks for the steady progress being made at Amlwch with the recently revived Churches Together, and pray for those a involved in the weekly ecumenical study groups which start this week and throughout Lent. We particularly pray for the group and for John in his role as Anglesey Lay Worker with the sad news that Rev Jenny from St Eleth’s will be moving on to a different posting after Easter. We pray for her that she will be blessed in her ministry in St Asaph and pray that whoever comes to replace her, will be keen to work as closely with the other churches as she has. We also pray generally for the Bro Eleth area, that those committed to the churches there will not be disheartened by this news but look to the future with optimism.
We pray for those members of our church family and extended connections who are unwell or recovering from operations at this time and in need of our thoughts and prayers. Let us focus on each and ask God to bless them with an outpouring of love and wholeness.
Lord, we pray that we might avoid the temptation this week to seek to wield power over others and pray that rather we might gladly receive our neighbours into our lives and in doing so meet you, the God of all grace. Shape us, Holy God in and through our neighbours this week. Surround us with your free and generous love. Amen
