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Prayers for the First Sunday in Lent
By Mrs Margaret Appleton
The bidding today is LORD OF LENT and the response is
RENEW OUR LIVES
Let us pray.
Followers of the way of Christ, let us bring to the Lord the needs of
our times.
Lord Jesus, you called us to renounce evil and we remember today that,
at the start of your ministry, you were tried and tempted by the forces
of evil. You resisted the chance to be popular instead of faithful;
to choose fame instead of service and power instead of sacrifice - but
you set us all an example to follow by choosing the way of the Father.
Teach us how to recognise the approach of evil in all its forms and to
be on our guard against it. You faced temptation in your life and
because of this may we never be ashamed of temptation in our own lives -
but save us from the weakness that gives way to it. Grant us all the
strength to stand up against all that is evil and keep us firm in times
of trial and temptation knowing that your support and love are always
close at hand.
Make us resolute in obeying your will and seeking your kingdom that we
may stay true to you and proclaim your salvation.
Lord of Lent
Renew Our Lives
Lord Jesus, we pray for your blessing on all who confess belief in you
that they may witness powerfully to your unselfish love and humility. We
offer you our thanks that we can meet together in this church and pray
openly to you. We remember and pray for those who are denied this
opportunity and are persecuted for their faith. We pray for all
Christians wherever they may be and may they be strengthened by the
power of your love.
Help each one of us to see our priorities and not be led astray, Too
often we fail to live up to our ideals; we compromise for comfort; we
become too concerned about material things and seek our own glory. We
fail to put our trust in you, trusting only in our own schemes and
plans. During this time of Lent help us more clearly to see the ways by
which we follow you and as we come to you for refreshment and renewal
help us to forget ourselves and find true happiness in serving you. As
we re examine our lives through self discipline and prayer may we enter
your stillness, be sensitive to your call and know your will for us.
Lord of Lent
Renew Our Lives
Lord Jesus, we pray for all people who hold positions of authority that
they do not misuse their power to the detriment of those they are
supposed to be helping. We pray for all the world’s leaders and for our
own leaders who are responsible for making decisions about our future.
We pray that they will be given the insight and integrity to govern
wisely according to your will, being fully aware of the true needs of
the people.
Lord Jesus, look with compassion on all those whose minds are full of
anxiety and bewilderment and for whom everyday is one of despair. We
pray for those who are experiencing severe financial difficulty at this
time; many elderly people and young families trying to exist on very
limited incomes: those people faced with losing their homes and those
who have lost their jobs. We pray that you will turn their despair to
hope and free them from fear and self hatred. Whatever the future may
bring them, may they know that you are the rock on whom they depend and
that your love will help to ease their burden.
Lord of Lent
Renew Our Lives
We pray for all people everywhere in their varying needs. Into the
gentleness of your healing love we bring before you the lonely, the
hungry, those living in poverty and those without hope. We remember all
those who are ill and in pain: those recovering from surgery - giving
thanks for the work and dedication of our doctors and nurses: for those
involved in crippling accidents. Today we pray for the victims, their
families and the survivors of the Amsterdam plane crash and we offer our
thanks for the work of the emergency services throughout the world.
We have in our hearts some people known only to ourselves, some known to
our church and some only through the news who are in need of our prayers
and we remember them in a moment of quiet……………….
May your healing touch support and strengthen them and we pray that you
will remove from them all that hurts, harms and hinders.
Lord of Lent
Renew Our Lives
Lord Jesus, we pray that you will bless and protect our homes, our
families and our friends. Help us to build bridges of tolerance and
understanding between the different generations. May our homes be havens
of peace and rest – a place to call our own and a community in which we
can feel safe and secure.
Help us to be mindful of those who have no homes, families or friends.
Make us grateful for all that we have so that we may use every endeavour
to ensure that every person has a home to call his own and feels wanted
within his own community.
We pray for the children and young people connected to our church
through the various groups and especially for those who are beginning to
sense the wonder, mysteries and difficulties of life. We ask that you
will hold them in your love. May they, through the good influence of
parents, families and the church, grow into a fuller understanding of
your love and purpose. Help each one of us to respond to their needs.
Give us patience and compassion, and help us to offer them our time and
our experience with true sincerity and love.
Lord of Lent
Renew Our Lives
We pray for all those who are mourning the loss of loved ones that you
will comfort and strengthen them in their time of need.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can
quench. We remember before God all those who have died and light a
candle to symbolise the light of Christ, which eternally shines and
brings hope. This morning we pray for and remember…………………………
Confident in the promise that those who believe in you will live though
they have died, we give you thanks for all who have left their earthly
body and now share with you the joys of heaven.
Lord of Lent
Renew Our Lives
Be with us Lord as we go out in your name:
may the lips that have sung your praises always speak the truth;
may the ears which have heard your word listen only to what is good
And may our lives as well as our worship be always pleasing to you.
Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your son, Our
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by saying together the prayer which Jesus
taught us:………………………………….
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our
Saviour, Jesus Christ.
We say together the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father…….
Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen