prayers
These prayers may help share your own prayers
- Prayer of thanksgiving (from the Book of Common Prayer)
- Prayers about the outbreak (from the Church of England)
- Prayer for those struggling (from the Evangelical Alliance)
- Prayer for the world (from Tearfund)
- Prayer for the persecuted church (from Open Doors)
- The Lord's prayer
- The Church of England's prayer for today
Lord Jesus, when you walked on earth
you healed the sick and stilled the storm;
We look upon our world and see its frailty and weakness.
We ask that you would look kindly on us,
Please help all who are sick and all who are confined
Please help all medical teams and care workers,
Please comfort the afraid, and those worried for their loved ones
Give us all faith above fear.
As we weep at sickness on earth,
May it remind us we are made for a new creation with you.
Amen.
Prayer of thanksgiving (from the Book of Common Prayer)
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all people. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful, and that we shew forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives; by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.
Prayers about the outbreak (from the Church of England)
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught us to love our neighbour,
and to care for those in need
as if we were caring for you.
In this time of anxiety, give us strength
to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick,
and to assure the isolated
of our love, and your love,
for your name’s sake.
Amen.
God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O God,
help me to trust you,
help me to know that you are with me,
help me to believe that nothing can separate me
from your love
revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer for those struggling (from the Evangelical Alliance)
“As the deer pants for streams of water so my soul pants for you my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God my tears have been my food, day and night?” (Psalm 42:1-2)
Gracious God, we pray for those who are struggling emotionally and spiritually, those finding it hard to experience your presence, those who can’t see you through the tears and the anguish.
Thank you that even when we are struggling to have a vision of you. You are with us. You have promised to never leave us, and you have said when we seek you we will find you.
Thank you that you enter into our sorrow and pain, you journey with us in our questions and our doubts. Bring comfort strength and hope we pray.
In Jesus’ name
Amen
Prayer for the world (from Tearfund)
Lord God, you made the world and declared it was ‘very good.’ And yet, we have not treated the Earth and our fellow humans with the care and respect they deserve. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness.
Give all of us the courage to keep raising our voices about the climate emergency, which affects people living in poverty the worst. And may your Spirit of peace be in the hearts of all people, so that conflicts end with peace, and relationships are restored. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer for the persecuted church (from Open Doors)
Lord Jesus Christ
You, who hugged the leper and healed the lame,
Be with all those who are reaching out to You at this time.
We think especially of all who already pay a high price for following You:
those who are poor, and running out of food,
those who are hated by their community and are always the last to receive help – if they receive it at all,
those to whom the fear of Covid-19 is just the latest in a long list of fears which they must carry every day
Encourage and protect the pastors who lead their flocks,
and the Open Doors partners who bring help.
Bring courage to those who are afraid,
Strength to those who are weak,
Comfort to those who mourn,
and hope to us all.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen
