PRAYER
Prayer is at the core of who we are. In a world where there's a growing call for intercession as creation cries out, we want to be part of this movement as a church and as individuals. We aim for our lives, our homes, and our church to be places where seeking God in prayer comes first.
Remember in your Prayers this week
For God’s peace and justice in all war-torn places of the world, especially Ukraine, the Middle East, Sudan and the many forgotten wars
For all refugees and people displaced by natural and man-made disasters
For the bereaved; especially the loved ones of Tom Westacott and Patrick Hobbs, giving thanks to God for their lives
For the sick, in mind, body or spirit
For young people leaving home to go to college or university
Need Prayer?
We believe prayer is both a privilege and a source of hope. No request is too big or too small - Jesus welcomes every prayer with love and compassion. If you or someone you know needs prayer, send us your request. A dedicated group of prayerful members will lift it up for you, keeping your information confidential and praying faithfully on your behalf.
Monthly Prayer Focus: September
For the Beauty of the Earth: Learning to See Again
September marks the beginning of the Season of Creation – a time when Christians around the world are encouraged to celebrate the wonder of God’s creation, give thanks for all that it provides and reflect on our responsibility to care for it.
It also provides the backdrop to our new sermon series, For the Beauty of the Earth. Over five Sundays we will journey from wonder at the beauty of creation, through brokenness and renewal, to gratitude and, ultimately, hope.
Perhaps our prayer this month can begin with something very simple: help us to notice.
It is surprisingly easy to move through life without really seeing what is around us. The changing seasons, birdsong outside the window, the food on our tables, the countryside surrounding our villages and the people with whom we share our lives can become so familiar that we barely notice them.
So this month, pray that God will help us to see his creation afresh – not simply as the backdrop to our lives, but as a gift to be received with wonder and gratitude.
But looking more closely also means noticing where creation is hurting. Across the world, people and communities are experiencing the consequences of environmental damage, extreme weather and the loss of habitats and species. Closer to home too, there are choices we make individually and collectively which affect the world around us.
Pray that we will have the courage not to turn away from these things, but neither to become overwhelmed by them. Instead, ask God to show us where change and renewal are possible, and where each of us might play our own small part.
As we celebrate Harvest later this month, pray especially that gratitude for what we have might lead to generosity towards others – recognising that the gifts of creation are not ours alone, but are there to be shared.
Above all, let September be a month in which we pray with hope. Christian hope does not ignore what is broken. It trusts that brokenness is not the end of the story.
Perhaps during September, take a few moments each day to stop and notice something in creation. Give thanks for it. Pray for somewhere in the world where creation is suffering. And ask God one simple question:
How would you have me care for the world you have made?
Prayer for the Month
Creator God,
Thank you for the beauty and abundance of the world you have made – for the changing seasons, the places we love, the food we enjoy and the countless signs of your goodness that surround us each day.
Open our eyes this month to notice your creation afresh. Give us hearts that are filled with wonder and gratitude, and help us never to take your gifts for granted.
We pray for our wounded world: for places damaged by pollution, changing climates and the loss of habitats; for communities whose lives and livelihoods are threatened; and for all those working to protect and restore the natural world.
Show us where our own choices can make a difference. Give us wisdom to live more thoughtfully, courage to change where change is needed, and generosity to share what we have with others.
As we journey through this Season of Creation, renew our hope. Remind us that this world belongs to you, and help us to become faithful carers of all that you have entrusted to us.
May our gratitude become action, our concern become prayer, and our prayer lead us towards lives that honour you and cherish your creation.
Amen.