Prayers at Advent and Christmas

I count the days to Christmas

And I watch the evening sky

I want to see the angels

As to Bethlehem they fly.

I’m watching for the wise men

And the royal shining star.

Please may I travel with them?

Is the stable very far?

I count the days to Christmas

As we shop and bake and clean

And yet deep inside I dream.

That as we tell the story

Of Lord Jesus and his birth,

The things of every day will fade

As heaven comes to earth.

( From The Lion Book of 100 Prayers for children 2010)

Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

When the Song of the Angels Is Stilled
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flocks,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among people,
To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman 1899-1981

 

Oh, now carry us to Bethlehem

To see the Lord appear to men;

Just as poor as was the stable then

The prince of glory when he came.

Calypso Carol

 

 

Lord Jesus, light of the world,

Born in David’s City of Bethlehem,

Born like him to be a king

Be born in our hearts at Christmas

Be king of our lives today.

Be born in us we pray.

Amen

Zooming through Covid

 As we set out this morning to greet this brand new summer’s day; keep us Lord and guide us and show us all the way.

Be thou my inspiration in all I say and do; And let me Lord, remember, the life I owe to you.

Let me share with others the blessings I receive, let me be a guiding light and shine through all the trees

Let us Zoom with confidence that the Holy Spirit will watch, and know that he will zoom with us in our prayers, our lives and love.

Amen

At Ascension when Jesus was taken into heaven…

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

No hands, but yours, no feet but yours…

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good,

And yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.

St Teresa of Avila

 

Prayers for Education Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image from Sue Martin of Christ the King School, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Father, help us to follow our dreams
To learn something new every day,
To explore this wonderful world around us full of diversity,
We can make such a difference to those we meet,
If we follow your word and your teaching.
Amen (Sue Martin)

• Dear God,
Bless our school.
Bless the buildings.
Bless the playground.
Bless the teachers and everyone who works here.
Bless the helpers and everyone who volunteers.
Bless the work we do.
Bless the games we play.
Bless each and every one of us.
May our school be a place of happiness, respect, and love.
Amen (Lois Rock, The Lion Book of 1000 prayers for Children)

• If our school were in heaven,
We would sweep the paths clean.
If our school were in heaven,
We would cultivate its garden.
If our school were in heaven,
We would keep our things neat.
If our school were in heaven,
We would display our work for the angels to see.
If our school were in heaven,
We would treat everyone as a child of God.
So her on earth, we will do these things
And so make our school more like heaven.

Amen (Lois Rock, The Lion Book of 1000 prayers for Children

 

 

VE Day 2020

The silence that says it all…

The lives lost, the lives changed, the lives that would never be the same again.

Seventy-five years on we remain united in isolation, glorious in survival, and thankful for all that we have received.

Because of bravery, courage, determination and spirit we can go forward with joy in our hearts.

Father, we give thanks, we hold honour and strength in our hearts and we let the Holy Spirit work within us to show that same love for each other and our world.

Amen   Rev’d Sue Martin

 

Never Alone

I re-found this prayer at a time when a friend and colleague just really needs some extra prayer help. It was given to me  when I was working as a hospital chaplain, by a priest and brother to a patient, with whom I had spent time.

I will go before you

When life gets tough,

I will be close beside you

When the pathway is rough.

My presence is promised

from the beginning of time,

I will never forsake you

because you are mine.

When you go through dark valleys

you won’t go alone,

When you sail stormy waters

I’ll lead you home.

I don’t promise blue skies,

it won’t always be fine,

But I’ll never forsake you,

because you are mine.

Anon

 

For us all

From all that dwells beneath the skies,

Let faith and hope with joy arise;

Let beauty, truth and good be sung

Through every land, by every tongue.

Amen

A Unitarian prayer

 

 

A Prayer for Unity

As the country moves towards independence from the European Union. we pray for stability and  for a lessening of tension between countries and between peoples of this nation. Let our doors and our hearts be ever open for those who come seeking refuge and friendship.

Amen

 

 

Trinity

I Walk with Beauty

I walk with beauty before me

I walk with beauty behind me

I walk with beauty above me

I walk with beauty around me.

A Navajo Night Chant from The Lion Book of a 1000 prayers for children

 

Michaelmas

Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed

‘Gainst the dragons of anger the ogres of greed;

And let me set free with the sword of my youth,

From the castles of darkness, the power of the truth.

From Jan Struther (When a knight won his spurs in the battle of old)

 

Let me walk with you

Although my steps are small

Sty beside me

Hold my Hand

And never let me fall.         Amen

 

 Lent

I Am

I am Giving

I am Giving you me

I am Giving you me Lord.

I am giving you me in the twinkle of an eye

And the sadness of my sighing;

In the laughter of my heart

And the tears of my soul;

In the rhythmns of my feet

And the silence of my listening.

I am giving you me, Lord.

From   I Am Giving You Me

From Stages on the Way pg. 20-22

© 1997 Wild Goose Resource Group, Iona Community.

GIA Publications, Inc., exclusive North American Distributor

Advent

Lord Jesus, light of the world,

Born in David’s City of Bethlehem,

Born like hime to be a king

Be born in our hearts at Christmas

Be king of our lives today.

Be born in us we pray.

Amen

I count the days to Christmas

And I watch the evening sky

I want to see the angels

As to Bethlehem they fly.

I’m watching for the wise men

And the royal shining star.

Please may I travel with them?

Is the stable very far?

I count the days to Christmas

As we shop and bake and clean

And yet deep inside I dream.

That as we tell the story

Of Lord Jesus and his birth,

The things of every day will fade

As heaven comes to earth.

( From The Lion Book of 100 Prayers for children 2010)

 

Star of wonder, star of night
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading, still proceeding
Guide us to thy Perfect Light

When the song of the angels is stilled

When the star in the sky is gone

When the kings and princes are home

When the shepherds are back with their flocks

The work of Christmas begin

To find the lost

To heal the broken

 There is a Smudge of Bad in all of us…

There is a smudge of bad in all of us,

Something that is there deep inside,

Nagging a space for itself,

Something that can’t be dug out with a spade,

Knocked down by a hammer,

Threatened out with fire.

But it’s there

And it flavours whatever we do.

Michael Duggan (aged 12), taken from Poems and Prayers for a Better World, Lion Publishing 2004

At times the daily grind of our lives takes over and we fail to see the wonders and the path that you have set before us.

We fail to do the things that we should do and continue to do the things that just take our time and not our hearts. Help us to see the path that you have set before us and to walk along it with confidence and courage. Help us to see the rainbow and not the rain.

All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, so thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.

Amen

Rev’d Sue Martin

 

 

 

When the song of the angels is stilled

When the star in the sky is gone

When the kings and princes are home

When the shepherds are back with their flocks

The work of Christmas begin

To find the lost

To heal the broken

To feed the hungry

To release the prisoner

To rebuild the nations

And to bring peace among people

Unity

Posted on November 15th 2015, after the Paris bombing

Dear Lord

Creator of the World

Help us to love one another

Help us to care for one another

As sister or brother.

 

May friendship grow

From nation to nation

Bring peace to our world.

Anon

 

Trinity

Michaelmass Sept 29th

O Lord of Heaven,

you have brought us to the company of angels

And to the spirits of the saints.

As in the food of our earthly pilgrimage

We have shared their fellowship

So may we come to share their joy in heaven,

Through Jesus Christ , our Lord.

Amen

In the stillness

I look for you and I long for you

In my idleness

I watch for you and I wait for you

 

Our lives are interwoven

Use me as you will

We are always together

In you I am strong

Every strand of my life

Is filled with your presence

In your hands, my life

Has purpose and meaning

Hold me close, Lord

With freedom of Love

Anon

God is a cloud forming

An eagle soaring

A voice from the wilderness

echoing through your ear.

Whispering,encouraging-

keep going,seek My glory,

Don’t worry, I’ll keep   Your fears.

Juanita Helphrey

Lent

Lord, today is your gift to me.

Help me to turn into my gift to you

Each today pushes back the past into history

And in the long perspective I can see your hand at work.

For good for my good.

And from that view

I can turn  to face the prospect of today.

From Eddie Askew Conversations and Prayers

 The Nativity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the song of the angels is stilled.

When the star in the sky is gone,

when the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flocks,

Then the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost,

to heal the broken,

to feed the hungry,

to release the oppressed,

to rebuild the nations,

to bring peace among peoples,

And to bring the light of Christ into people’s lives.

Amen

A kite on the ground

Is just paper and string

But up in the air

It will dance and sing.

A kite in the air

Will dance and caper

But left on the ground

Is just string and paper.

Amen

 

The Beauty of God

If we walk through the world

And do not see its beauty

If we cnnot stop for a flower

How can we know you Lord?

You speak to us through beauty

Let us reverence the spotted burnet

And look in awe at the bugloss

Bowing before you in wonder

(from The Glory of Light by David Adam)

The Road ahead. From Lord of the Rings  June 21st  

The Road goes ever on and on Down from the door where it began. Now far ahead  the Road has gone, And I must follow, if I can, Pursuing it with eager feet, Until it joins some larger way Where many paths and errands meet, And whither then? I cannot say J.R.R. Tolkien

Take Time May 16th 

Take time to think It is the source of power. Take time to Play It is the secret of perpetual growth Take time to read It is the fountain of wisdom. Take time to pray It is the greatest power on earth. Take time to love and be loved It is a God given privilege. Take time to be friendly It is the the road to happiness. Take time to be friendly It is the road to happiness Take time to laugh It is the music of the soul. Take time to give It is too short a day to be selfish. Take time to work It sit the price of success. Take time to do charity It is the key to heaven.

The Glory of Light      Feb 9th 

                Lord of glory How can I remain dull When I’m part of your brightness? Let me be radiant With your love and light about me.   Lord of love, fill my life Dispel my darkness Lighten my way As the new dawn breaks Let your sun rise in my heart.   True light of the world Enter the depths of my life Flood the dark and hidden places Overflow my whole being With the light of your glory. Amen    

Set out! You were born for the road Set out! You have a meeting to keep. Where? With whom? You don’t yet know Perhaps with yourself? Set out! Your steps will be your words the road your song the weariness your prayer. And at the end your silence will speak to you.

Set out! Alone or with others; but get out of yourself. You have created rivals you will find companions. You envisaged enemies You will find brothers and sisters. Eglesia Paroquial Arta, Mallorca

      When the song of the angels is stilled When the star in the sky is gone When the Kings and princes are home When shepherds are back with their flocks The work of Christmas begins To find the lost To heal the broken To feed the hungry To release the prisoner To rebuild the nations To bring peace among people And to bring love to the heart Revd Sue Martin

Prayers for Advent

Advent 2

All out of darkness we have light Which made the angels sing that night. Glory to God and peace to men, Now and forever, Amen

Advent 1

Let Us Pray

O God our Father, by whose mercy and might the world turns and brings us to Advent, we give to you our hopes, our dreams and our lives. Open our hearts and minds now to the light of your word, your love and your blessing. Whoever we are, Whatever we face, scatter the darkness of sorrow, fear, doubt and anxiety. Shine in our lives, so that the brilliance of your presence touches every moment of our days   We thank you for all the preparations in church and in our homes and in the schools that make advent a wonderful time. For the Nativity plays, that tell of the birth of Jesus, the pantomines which bring fun, laughter and warmth. For the thoughts of friends and families far away. For the presents and the wrappings that we prepare, gifts from our hearts. A time to get ready and be prepared, A time to welcome in the light of the world, your Son, Jesus Christ. Loving God, open our hearts to all you hold in store, the possibilities that wait to unfold, The new dawn that you alone can bring, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Light of Christ dawn afresh in our hearts, Illuminate our minds, fill our souls and shine out from our lives. In a spirit of waiting, we ask that Advent is slowed down and that we take time to look inwards at our hopes and fears, To look outwards at a world in need of hope And to look to God for confidence in His love and commitment to the world.                       Rev’d Sue Martin

Prayers for Lent 

Prayers, thoughts and reflections gathered together in one diary

 

Part of my Lent project to find space, direction and to follow my call and vocation…

If you enjoy these or find just one prayer that speaks to you it will have been worth the journey.

Rev’d  Sue Martin

Come Away

Come away from the din Come away to the quiet fields Over which the great sky stretches and where between us And the stars, there lies but silence; And there in the stillness, let us listen to the voice that is speaking within us. Jerome K Jerome 1859 – 1927  

A view of the Peddars Way, West Norfolk

Happiness is…

Happiness is to have enough for the days needs with always some to spare for those who have not. It is to possess the love of friends and to have knowledge that all is well with them. It is to live in peace M. Aumonier       Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. Nathaniel Hawthorne  1804 – 1864

Help along the way

            Photo  from Stett Handy Group Make us worthy Lord, To serve our fellow brothers and sisters Throughout the world who live and die In poverty and hunger Give them, through your hands this day their daily bread, And by our understanding love Give peace and joy. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

The Best Way…

The best way out is always through. Robert Frost 1874 – 1963

Greeting

Set out! You were born for the road Set out! You have a meeting to keep. Where? With whom? You don’t yet know Perhaps with yourself? Set out! Your steps will be your words the road your song the weariness your prayer. And at the end your silence will speak to you.

Set out! Alone or with others; but get out of yourself. You have created rivals you will find companions. You envisaged enemies You will find brothers and sisters. Set out! You were born for the road. The pilgrims road Someone is coming to meet you is seeking you, so that you can find him.   In the temple at the end of the road In the shrine at the depths of your heart. He is your peace He is your jo Go, God already walks with you. Taken from Eglisia Paroquial , Arta Mallorca

Belief in whatever is around the corner…   Ourselves “Be true to yourselves and let space for others beliefs.”

Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi

And beyond… “In a world full of sound bytes and increasingly short attention spans there is a benefit in having a thought about eternity.”

Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi

Expectations “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,but that it is too low and we reach it.” Michelangelo 1475 – 1564

Courage

O Lord, give me courage to do good things. Give me courage to do the things I want to do without being afraid of what other people say. Give me courage to be different. Amen A child’s prayer

do different…

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant? Actually who are we not to be? You are a child of the universe, your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. As we let our light shine, we give permission to others to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence liberates others. Nelson Mandela    1994 Inaugural Speech

Prayers at Christmas

A favourite prayer…..

Let there be respect for the earth Peace for its people Love in our lives Delight in the good Forgiveness for past ways And from now on A new start.     At some time in the day or night we need to stop and reflect. To have time to think about the day, the week, our family and friends, let alone the much time given to work and relationships. Time on our own, whether its in the car driving home, on the crowded underground, or in a quiet spot at home; it’s good to find some space and stop. We all live busy lives, complex and full of turmoil. Prayers are even better. Sometimes we ask too much, sometimes it must be like a jungle of flack in the air that God receives the messages through. But still He listens. He doesn’t always respond in the way you hope for or not even at the right time, but don’t give up! It does work. A quotation from Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi… “ In a world of sound bites and increasingly short attention spans, there is a benefit in having a thought about eternity.” ———————————————————————– Not everyone can get to our buildings every week. You can read this web page from the comfort of your home, or even further afield, if you too are on a journey. You can leave a message for our church below. If you would like a prayer said, or a person remembered, then send us the details by way of reply. The thoughts of our congregation and our community will be with that person. Sue Martin. ————————————————————- [si-contact-form form=’2′]