Prayers for use throughout Lent
As we watch and wait for the unfolding of the story of Jesus’ last few weeks on earth and for the journey of Holy Week through to Easter Sunday – it is a good time to think about our practice of prayer. Lent is a time to reflect on how we spend time with God and with others in our Christian community. It is also a good time to begin to think more about what God might be calling us to do.
This week, Bishop Christopher encourages us to spend time with God – and consider what we are being called to do by Him.
Next week (week three) we will be thinking about children who have been orphaned and about communities facing economic challenges, lack of access to medical care and food in Zimbabwe. Here is a prayer for Zimbabwe to use each day of the week:
God bless Zimbabwe;
guard her children;
guide her leaders and give her peace,
for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
In week four we will reflect on the situation for children in Israel and Gaza – many of whom do not have access to medical care and have been traumatised by all they have seen during the conflict. This prayer, taken from the words of Psalm 122, is often used as a prayer for Jerusalem:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels. Amen.
At this time of praying for the people of the Holy Land, we also pray for the whole of the Middle East. We encourage you to use this prayer and extend your prayers and pray for peace in the whole region – to heal those who have been injured and traumatised by all that has happened to them. Pray, too, that the
current ceasefire may hold.
Finally, in week five we will concentrate on the work of Welcare’s CapeAbility project in schools.
Welcare works with children and young people across our diocese to help address the root causes of trauma and anxiety. They support children with their social skills, emotional health, wellbeing and resilience. Here is a prayer for Welcare:
Living God, you have made us in your
own image and we live and grow best in
companionship with others: bless the work of
Welcare with parents, carers and children.
May Welcare staff, volunteers and supporters
continue to provide places and spaces where
trust is grown, understanding enabled,
relationships are developed, new confidence is
found and potential is released. Amen
During Lent, if you have not already got a routine for daily prayer or found a space for space for prayer, take the time to find somewhere you can quietly reflect. Schedule a regular time in your day when you can pray for our chosen projects and the children and young people they support.
You may wish to begin prayer by meditating on the words from Matthew which Bishop Christopher has taken as his inspiration for this year’s Lent Call:
Jesus said:
‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop
them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of
heaven belongs.’ (Matthew 19:14)
Then look through the project sheets, recall the work that is happening and pray for each project in turn.
Pray for all those affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) here and in our Link Dioceses, using the prayers above, together with
your own prayers. Sit quietly with God and ask God to help you to know how you can help in working to alleviate ACEs and raise people’s awareness of the trauma that children and young people experience. Ask God to give you the willingness to do as God would want you to.
As you pray, you may feel moved to pray for others known to you and give thanks to God for all that He does for us.
Close by saying the Lord’s prayer or the Grace.
If you feel compelled to pray like this during Lent, it could be the beginning of a new pattern of daily prayer for you. If you already have an established pattern, then why not incorporate the prayers for these projects during Lent and consider praying for them for longer?
Whatever pattern you use, please pray for and consider giving to the work featured in this year’s Lent Call.
