Prayer Page

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY
The Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference, shares a prayer for Holocaust Memorial Day, marked on Monday 27th January.

Loving God, holy and immortal
may we always remember and mourn the six million Jewish children, women and men,
murdered at Auschwitz- Birkenau, Treblinka, Chelmno, Belzec, Sobibor, Majdanek, Babyn Yar and in so many other places.

Loving God, holy and immortal
may we never forget all those murdered by the Nazi regime,
those with disabilities, gay women and men, communists and other political opponents, Roma and Sinti people, Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Loving God, holy and immortal,
on this day we remember and mourn those killed in genocides
across the globe, Darfur, Rwanda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Cambodia.

We pray for peace and an end to all war and violence,
help us to see one another as you see us,
all your children, precious and beloved.

Amen.

GAZA CEASEFIRE
As a ceasefire is agreed, we share this prayer:

God of Love,
We are thankful for the work that has been done to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and pray that it may be implemented and lead to a lasting peace in the region.
With grateful hearts we celebrate the promised release of all those held against their will and pray for their recovery and recuperation as they are reunited with family and friends.
We pray that we never see such death and destruction in this region again.
May justice reign, justice that establishes peace, promotes hope, frees people from fear, encourages neighbours to love another and brings an end to the seemingly endless cycle of injustice, violence and death in the region.
This we ask in the power of your spirit,
Amen.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international ecumenical celebration observed from 18th to 25th January. Find resources from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland here.

Almighty God,
Accept our praise and thanksgiving for what already unites Christians in the confession of and witness to Jesus, the Lord.
Strengthen our hearts in expectation and hope as we work for unity and together seek the harmony of all creation.
Hasten the hour when all churches will recognise each other in the one communion you willed, and for which your Son prayed in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hear us, you who live and reign now and forever.
Amen.

Inter Faith Week
Takes place 10-17 November 2024. You can find resources here. The Revd Steven Cooper, Connexional Ecumenical Officer, shares this prayer.

God of mercy and love,
source of all life and peace,
by the gracious sacrifice and glorious resurrection of your Son,
you have broken every barrier down.
As we mark this Inter Faith Week,
in this world of conflict and disunity,
help us to follow his example:
to be good neighbours,
to be friends to all,
to stand with those who are marginalised and persecuted, of every faith;
to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Enable us to learn of others’ faith,
and to share our own with grace.
Fill us with your love,
and show us how to serve the neighbours we have from you.
This we ask, in the name of Christ,
and in the power of your Spirit.
Amen.

A PRAYER FOR PEACE:
Creator God,
Today in a fractured world we pray for peace and justice,
your peace, not built on our broken promises and failing courage,
but your deep peace, embodied in the service and sacrifice of Jesus.
May we follow Christ, seeking your justice, acting in solidarity and hope,
even when the way seems unclear and the powers of our world don’t reflect your kingdom,
your peace or your justice.
In Jesus name we pray
Amen.

A Prayer following the recent unrest

God of love,
We pray for your Spirit of peace to move in our communities,
that those who are targets of hate might be safe
and that people of good will might work together in love and respect.

We pray for your Spirit of healing,
that those who grieve, might be comforted
and those who are injured might be made well.

We pray for your Spirit of hope,
that those who despair might see a way ahead
and those who live in fear might find sanctuary and freedom.

Soften the hearts of those motivated by hate
and help us all to love our neighbours as those made in your image.
In Christ’s name.

Amen

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE
This Saturday, 24 February, is the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
To mark this, the below prayer has been written by a Ukrainian family who are being hosted by the Black Country Methodist Circuit.

Lord God of power,
You alone work miracles, so be kind to all and hear us.
Help us God, our Saviour, and deliver the people of Ukraine from persecution.
Come to our aid and destroy the intentions and unrighteous boldness of those who go to war against our people.
Calm those who oppose your commandments.
Grant us all peace, salvation and joy in our hearts.
For you are protection and salvation for those who trust in you.
We give you glory, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and forever.
Amen

PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:
This Sunday is International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The Vice-President, Deacon Kerry Scarlett, has written this prayer to mark the day.

Loving God
In Jesus, we see you recognise and affirm the value and dignity of women and girls
Challenging those who sought to diminish or harm our flourishing
We pray for women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence.
We give thanks for those in government, in our communities, in our own churches, who challenge the cultures and systems through which misogyny and violence thrive.
We ask forgiveness for the times when we have not listened, have not learned, have not stood in solidarity with women experiencing violence and discrimination.
Give us the courage and strength to listen, to learn,
So that all may flourish, knowing we are precious in your sight

Amen.

PRAY FOR ISRAEL AND PALESTINE: As the violence in Israel and Palestine continues, we may feel helpless in the face of such death and suffering. The Methodist Church has published resources, prayers, background information and reflections to help us pray for all those affected and for peace in the region. Find the resources here.

A PRAYER FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF CONFERENCE

God of peace and compassion,
We pray for all impacted by the escalation in conflict in Israel-Palestine
For all who are mourning
For all who are fearful, today, and for what may lie ahead
For all traumatised and re-traumatised by what they have experienced.
Enable us to stand in solidarity with people of peace
May your Spirit bring peace and healing to your troubled world

Amen

PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

A prayer for Ukraine in the week of the anniversary of its independence and six months since the invasion.

 Colossians 3 15 ‘And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.’

Oh Great God, you call us to Peace. As we mark six months of war in Ukraine, call us back to be peacemakers. Strengthen all those working in the region for justice and for peace.

We cry to you to restore the people of Ukraine to a life of freedom and wholeness. And we thank you for the resilience of our Ukrainian sisters and brothers, for all who have opened their homes and churches, and most of all for your deep love and grace in which we trust even in the midst of earthly conflict. Amen.

ALL WE CAN - PRAYER FOR PEACE

Prince of peace,
Lord of light,
God of grace,
As we hear of war and invasion,
We pray to you for peace.
In a world of conflict and violence,
We pray for all who live in fear,
Especially today the people of Ukraine.
We lament with you,
And pray for peace.
Prince of peace,
Lord of Light,
God of grace,
Show me how to pray for peace today.

Amen

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

Holy and Gracious God
We pray for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia; for their countries and their leaders.
We pray for all those who are afraid; that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear.
We pray for all those who have the power over life and death; that they will choose for all people life, and life in all its fullness.
We pray for those who choose war; that they will remember that you direct your people to turn our swords into ploughshares and seek for peace.
We pray for leaders on the world stage; that they are inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ.
Above all, Lord, today we pray for peace for Ukraine.
And we ask this in the name of your blessed Son.
Lord have mercy.

Amen

A knotty prayer

Dear Lord, Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart, and my life.
Remove the have nots, the can-nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart.
Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all, I pledge that I remove from my mind, my heart and my life all the 'am nots' that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.

Amen.

Deborah

Reflection written by Pope Francis:

Tonight before falling asleep
think about when we will return to the street.
When we hug again,
when all the shopping together will seem like a party.
Let's think about when the coffees will return, the small talk, the photos close to each other.
We think about when it will be all a memory but
normalcy will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift.
We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us.
Every second will be precious.
Swims in the sea, the sun until late, sunset, toasts, laughter.
We will go back to laughing together.
Strength and courage.

A Prayer for the Diocese of Cuttack in India 

A Prayer for India that has been prepared for us by Deborah Kirk.  

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7.

God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace.
We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty.
For those people who are worried about attending worship.
For those needing to make decisions in order to care for other
For those who will feel more isolated by not being able to attend.
Grant us your wisdom.
Holy God, we remember that you have promised that
Nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you.

Amen