Lord Jesus, who saw the crowds and had compassion on them,
we bring our prayers for our anxious world.

We pray for those who are looking for sense and meaning in these times of trouble,
and are trying to work out whose advice and example they can follow.
Jesus, may they find that One in you,
as did the crowds who followed you into the lonely place.

We pray for those who are ill, and afraid of becoming ill.
Lord, comfort them and be close to each one in their anxiety and pain.
Jesus Christ, who had compassion on the many sick people who followed you,
help the health professionals with strength and courage for each day,
as they are your human hands and feet.
Please help the scientists, the researchers, the contact tracers
and those spending hours providing testing.
When they are exhausted, and in despair,
we pray that they may have practical support that gives hope.

We pray for those who are struggling to survive as they lose their jobs
and their businesses in ways they could not have imagined.
We pray for decision-makers with responsibility for the economy
and the livelihoods of our communities.
Jesus Christ, who saw the needs of the hungry crowds and met those needs,
please give wisdom, helpful initiatives and practical solutions
for the health of our society.

We pray for those who feel that their important issues and needs are being ignored
while we all focus on a pandemic and the economy.
Jesus Christ, you saw the women and children as well as the men.
You knew the other things that mattered, not only illness and hunger.
Please give us all eyes to see and act, as we are able,
beyond the narrow focus that sometimes limits us.

We pray for each other as a congregation.
Help us all as we work out the ways in which we may begin to gather again
when it is safe to do so.
Bless us, together and apart, in our homes and in our daily work,
alone or with our families.

We are still the people who come seeking you, longing for answers
and needing your care.

Be with us all, we pray.

Amen

Margaret Reeson, August 2, 2020

Spill The Beans Issue 35

When Jesus heard this…
the news that his cousin had been killed: he wanted time to be alone,
he wanted space to mourn,
but everyone wanted a piece of him.
Often we do not know the back story. We only know our needs,
and our wants.
May we have compassion:
for all the back stories,
that we might never hear,
and may we tread cautiously
in our encounters with others, allowing for the possibility
that we tread on broken dreams, and shattered hope.
May we be gentle,
may we be kind,
making space for one another.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 12

Loving God, you care for all people.
You are deeply aware of the hurts we carry and the fragility of our existence.
Better than we know ourselves,
you recognise that as human beings
we are vulnerable
to the circumstances of life.
That is why you never turn your back on us.
You are always available and we can always find you. So today we seek you, God, ready to share with you
the blessing we have enjoyed, recognising your creativity and generosity and bringing to you our concerns
over those things
that bother or threaten us.
To worship we gather,
in faith we come together,
and in anticipation we wait to be fed. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen..