Prayer for Monday 18 May 2020

Listen to or read a short service of Prayer for the Monday after the Sixth Sunday of Easter, 18 May 2020

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

Praise

Risen Christ,
by the lakeside you renewed your call to your disciples:
help your Church to obey your command
and draw the nations to the fire of your love,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Psalm 49:1-5

Alleluia.
O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

Let Israel rejoice in their maker;
let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.

Let them praise his name in the dance; 
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and lyre.

For the Lord has pleasure in his people
and adorns the poor with salvation.

Let the faithful be joyful in glory; 
let them rejoice in their ranks.

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.

Reading

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.  You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

‘I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling.  They will put you out of the synagogues.  Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.  And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me.  But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.

‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.’

John 15:26 – 16:4 (NRSV)

This is the word of the Lord.

Prayers

In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Lord.

Guide the Church, blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, to preach the gospel to all nations.  Give to your people words of power, words of comfort, words of life.  Bless your ministers and all who preach the way of salvation.

God who has spoken to the world, to be heard and praised in many tongues, speak now to a world troubled by divisions and failures to understand.  Break down the barriers that hold people apart, so that your wonderful works shall be known.

May we be granted a share in the gifts of the Spirit bestowed on the Apostles, to guide us in sharing the good news with our families and neighbours and all whose lives touch our own.  Inspire us with the breath of life and the fire of love.

Have mercy on all whose lives are so limited by poverty, suffering or ignorance that they do not know the fullness of life that is your will for them.  May the Holy Spirit come to them, to be their Comforter and lead them into light.

We remember those whose lives were led by the Spirit of God and who now rejoice where human tongues have ceased, to praise him in the harmony of heaven.  May we be led to that glorious life.

Christ, who breathes upon us the Spirit of life, receive our prayers.

Eternal God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life:
grant us to walk in his way,
to rejoice in his truth,
and to share his risen life;
who is alive and reigns,
now and for ever.
Amen.

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

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.

The Conclusion

May the risen Christ give us his peace.
Alleluia.  Amen.