inclusive language prayer

Red leaf floating on lake

Letting Go, moving into death – Cara Heafey

Our bodies are so fragile Our time here is so brief Our lives are but a single drop in the ocean of eternity And yet… We are known We are loved We are held May our fears about our death be transformed And may all our suffering be transfigured. May we discover, within ourselves, a […]

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Racial Justice Sunday

Racial Justice Sunday UK is observed on the second Sunday of February. What is God’s dream? What is our dream today? What is God’s hope? What is our hope? What are we willing to change in our lives to make these dreams and hopes come true? How hard are we willing to persist and push […]

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Confession of destruction — United Methodist Church, USA

God, keeper of the atoms and stars, you made us collaborators in creation, but we have pilfered the secrets of ordered existence and justified their immoral use in the name of ‘security’ and ‘peace.’ We could say then that we didn’t know the consequences. Now we do know, but we are complacent and silent. Have […]

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On Epiphany day — Walter Brueggemann

Note: this piece may be attached to a copyright; apologies if this is the case. We are still the people walking. We are still people in the dark, and the darkness looms large around us, beset as we are by fear, anxiety, brutality, violence, loss — a dozen alienations that we cannot manage. We are […]

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Hold — Sam Goodman, UK

Teach me the habits that love you Show me the visions that ring true Shower on me the light that shines through In all of this hold me Give me the courage to reach out Help me to challenge where I find doubt Let me grow so I am curious about How you are holding […]

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Necessary Fall, autumn prayer – David Long-Higgins, USA

Loving God, Help me savour the season Of foliage falling all around Bearing beauty in dying Slowly turning the green Into yellow, red, and orange A Holy Fire of sense and spirit. Let it pause me into wonder At cycles revealing life large An outer and inner motion Bearing birth and death In constant conversation […]

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Eclipse — Steve Garnaas-Holmes, USA

Womb of light from whom we shine, but whom we cannot see but by looking away, only the unseen hides you, eye of darkness, ring of light, mystery of day’s bright night. We too are you, eclipsed. Let our horror of losing you remain. What conceals you reveals you, but only the merest edges of […]

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River of Life, David Long-Higgins, USA

River of Life, Press your being anew Into the war-torn fabric Of a world gone mad With violence unspeakable Calling forth necessary lament Tearing open the heart For a healing only possible With your grace alone. Let no paralysis of the past Prevent your promised future From taking up residence In our hearts, minds, and […]

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Words of Blessing — Warren Hartley, UK

Adapted from Maya Angelou’s words My wish for you, and God’s wish for you is that you continue… Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humour to lighten the burden of your tender heart. May the blessing of the Ever Present […]

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Vestry Prayer — Ana Gobledale, UK

God, companion and guide, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for accompanying us as we journey together with you and with the companions you send our way in this gathering. Open our hearts to the joy of your presence. Empower us to here your call to action in today’s service, to heed […]

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Induction Prayer — Ana & Tod Gobledale, UK

God, companion and guide, thank you for the gift of faith. Thank you for accompanying us all as we embark upon this new leg of the journey with you and with the companions you send our way along the road. Help us look forward with joy and anticipation, knowing that the past rests securely and […]

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Innermost, be still – Sam Goodman, UK

Be still Let the sound of nothing absorb you Be still Let time be motionless and free Be still Let clouds roll by in an unending sky Be still Don’t let thoughts intrude – let go Be still Grasp the precious freedom of now Be still This is just us, you and I, in communion […]

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Communion table, Warren Lynn, USA

The love you pour in — Sam Goodman, UK

There are two versions of this communion prayer — singular for personal devotion and plural for corporate worship. Version for personal devotion: This time and place is yours I’m your guest You invite me at my worst And at my best You inhabit this thin place And clothe it in your grace This is where […]

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Peace, Watched Word by John Potter, UK

Prayer for peace & illumination — Ana & Tod Gobledale, UK

Dearest Friend, gentle spirit, breath of live, source of our being, from the peacefulness of silence, the silence that preceded Creation, your speaking entered the void and light burst forth. Our hearts are filled with gratitude that your speaking extends to us today, that your light illuminates our world and our lives. Even as we […]

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Prayer in time of chaos — Kay Lowe-Wendling, USA

No matter how bad things get, there’s always hope. Even when things were at their worst for the young Anne Frank, she wrote: ‘The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does […]

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Prayer for Peace — Hereford Cathedral, UK

O God, you would fold both heaven and earth in a single peace: let the design of your great love shine upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows; and give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.  

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Psalm 36 Renewed — Ana Gobledale, UK

Epiphany 2, Year C This prayer is inspired by Psalm 36:5-10     It’s like standing beneath a street lamp On a misty evening. In the light, I see light, But objects appear blurry and obscured, half lit. God, standing in your light, I see light, But the path ahead appears blurry and obscured, seemingly […]

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Gathering Prayer, Mark 13

Written in response to Mark 13:1-2, using elements of a prayer by Louise Gough. For The 26th Week of Pentecost (Proper 28) Loving God, who summoned the world into being, moulded the mountains, bathed the earth in colour and light, and breathed into us the Spirit of life, we gather in your church, your temple, […]

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Garden Blessing for Earth Day — Christine Sine, USA

Originally posted on Godspace     God bless this garden Through which your glory shines May we see in its beauty the wonder of your love God bless the soil Rich and teeming with life May we see in its fertility the promise of new creation God bless our toil As we dig deep to […]

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Prayers arising from Amos 7 — Ana Gobledale, UK

God of the prophets, we lift our prayers to you. Prayers of intercession for Eighth Sunday of Pentecost, Year B Amos 7:7-15 Ready-to-print copy:  PDF Prayers of Intercession – Amos 7,7-15 WORD Prayers of Intercession – Amos 7,7-15 A different responsive line might be chosen, e.g. God of the prophets, we lift our prayers to […]

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Sowing Seeds, Mark 4 prayer — Ana Gobledale, UK

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B 1 Samuel 15:34 – 16:13 Mark 4:26-34 God, your ways continue to surprise and delight us. Thank you for the seeds you have sown in us. Encourage us to nurture them as they grow and develop in our inner being, rather than spend so much time and energy on […]

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Prayer for the New Year — Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, USA

Quietly the New Year slips in. Are we now more fearful, the radio asks? More careful? More tired? Are we now more aware of the suffering, the violence, the inequality, the injustice in our world? Holy God, In this New Year, We seek you As we have always sought you. We need you As we […]

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Home, Luke 2:4 — Amelia Dress, USA

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  — Luke 2:4 We all long to find a real home: the place where our pasts and our futures intersect. As we metaphorically journey through […]

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Prayer response to natural disasters — Meighan Pritchard, USA

When the earth shakes, the lightning flashes, the tsunami rolls across the waters;   when the snow whites out the roads, the floods wash out bridges and homes, the wildfires rage across the ridges;   when the tornados race through town, the hurricanes churn up the coast, the heat waves wipe out crops—   then, […]

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Prayer for peace, Order of St Luke — Tod Gobledale, Australia

Dearest Friend, gentle Spirit, breath of live, source of our being, from the peacefulness of silence, the silence that preceded Creation, your Word entered the void and said, ‘Let there be light.’ This afternoon we sit mindful that we are kin and covenanted to that Word and to your light. We are grateful to you, […]

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Growing peace — Steve Garnaas-Holmes, USA

Let me stand before enemies with love prepared to break soil, to prune branches to do the hard work of growing peace For I will need stout tools to work this rough land well, to bring fruits of justice out of rocky earth, to tend the muscular trees of mercy. Steve Garnaas-Holmes serves in ministry […]

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Global Day for Syria 21/09

Day of Action and Prayer for Syria & Peace 21 September What words can express the horror, the sadness, the hope, the truth? Newest ‘Day for Syria’ posts . . . (images link to posts) Alphabetical archive of all ‘Day for Syria’ resources . . . Words to help us face the situation in Syria…    

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Prayer of Intercession — Lynne Roberts, Australia

God of grace and compassion Our hearts are full of gratitude as we think of the many blessings in our lives: the gift of faith to believe in you, the love of family and friends, for shelter, clean water and plentiful food, for access to education and health care, for the freedom and speech and […]

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