Join us for prayer as we begin Passiontide

30th March 2020

Pray with us today, press play:

You may wish to light a candle and have some reflective music playing in the background.

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. God is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1.7

Opening Sentences

O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.

Pause for reflection as you offer the day to God.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever. Amen.

Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Bible Readings

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; ♦
from where is my help to come?

2 My help comes from the Lord, ♦
the maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer your foot to stumble; ♦
he who watches over you will not sleep.

4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel ♦
shall neither slumber nor sleep. R

5 The Lord himself watches over you; ♦
the Lord is your shade at your right hand,

6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, ♦
neither the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall keep you from all evil; ♦
it is he who shall keep your soul.

8 The Lord shall keep watch over your going out
and your coming in, ♦
from this time forth for evermore.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14.1-6

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger; order us in all our doings and guide us to do always what is righteous in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Using our hands to pray

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.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.