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Listen to or read a short service of Prayer for Thursday 25 June 2020, the Thursday after the Second Sunday of Trinity.
Preparation
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Praise
Faithful Creator,
whose mercy never fails:
deepen our faithfulness to you
and to your living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Psalm 79.1-9, 12
O God, the heathen have come into your heritage;
your holy temple have they defiled
and made Jerusalem a heap of stones.
The dead bodies of your servants they have given
to be food for the birds of the air,
and the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the field.
Their blood have they shed like water
on every side of Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.
We have become the taunt of our neighbours,
the scorn and derision of those that are round about us.
Lord, how long will you be angry, for ever?
How long will your jealous fury blaze like fire?
Pour out your wrath upon the nations that have not known you,
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name.
For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his dwelling place.
Remember not against us our former sins;
let your compassion make haste to meet us,
for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and wipe away our sins for your name’s sake.
Let the sorrowful sighing of the prisoners come before you,
and by your mighty arm
preserve those who are condemned to die.
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:
‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”
‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’
Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7.21-29
This is the word of the Lord.
Prayers
For wisdom and constancy in all people, let us pray to the Lord.
Keep the Church firm on the foundation of her Lord and Saviour, that she may hear his words and fulfil the works of faith. Let your people not be broken in the time of trial or found wanting in the time of judgement.
Give the strength that comes from you alone to the world where many build on weak foundations, trusting in riches, in position, in their own capacity. Grant that those who have the duty of planning for the lives of others may be guided with wisdom and foresight.
As we try to plan our own lives, help us to remember that nothing is secure that does not rest on the foundation of faith. Be with those in positions of responsibility in this community, especially those concerned with housing and welfare.
Comfort those who have seen their hopes frustrated, who have built up careers or personal relationships that have fallen into ruin. Give them courage for a fresh start in the knowledge of the only sure foundation.
Have mercy on those who have come to judgement trusting in their own words and deeds. As they pass through the high waters of death, bring them to safety on the rock of salvation.
May our prayers be accepted through Jesus Christ, the eternal rock of our faith.
O God our protector,
by whose mercy the world turns safely into darkness
and returns again to light:
we give into your hands our unfinished tasks,
our unsolved problems,
and our unfulfilled hopes;
for you alone are our sure defence
and bring us lasting peace
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.