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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God, I’m trying — Louise Gough, UK

God loves a try-er or so ‘they’ say. And God, you know that I’m trying. But somehow I never feel good enough. There’s always something just beyond my reach; something I can’t get right. And somehow I always seem to let me – and you – down. Living Spirit uplift me, I pray. Breathe a […]

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Prayer — Farai Chirisa, Zimbabwe

God, we give you thanks for sending Jesus to give us life. In the midst of wealth we are crushed by poverty, and while we are offered Christ-life in all its fullness, we are surrounded by disease, death and destruction. We are tempted to despair, and yet keep hoping, knowing that you care. At times we […]

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Striving, a prayer for today — Lynne Roberts, Australia

Loving, embracing Spirit We strive and we fall often, straight into the safety net of your compassionate embrace. We pick ourselves up and try again, secure in the knowledge that you will always be there for us, and that we are so much more than our successes and failures. Help us to learn from our […]

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I Dream a World — Langston Hughes, USA

Though the original words are exclusive, the sentiment is eternal. The bracketed phrases have been inserted to include everyone…   I dream a world where [each person] No other [person] will scorn, Where love will bless the earth And peace its paths adorn I dream a world where all Will know sweet freedom’s way, Where greed […]

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Beautiful Diversity, responsive reading — Ben Saunders, USA

Call and Response One: Humans of God’s creation, we are diverse. Many: We are beautiful. We are unique. We judge each other’s differences, yet our diversity is an illustration of the infinite mystery of God. All: The God in me sees the God in you. One: Humans of God’s creation, we are political. Many: We […]

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John 1:5, Come, shine in the darkness — Cara Heafey, UK

God, you are not distant from us You came to us in vulnerability You offered yourself as a gift of love. We pray today for those who are in the midst of darkness The darkness of poverty The darkness of loneliness The darkness of grief The darkness of despair Wherever shadows threaten to overwhelm Wherever […]

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Spring — Ross Kingham, Australia

Spring We should celebrate This wildest Erupting In Spring. With colours recklessly Splashed everywhere In this the season of new Daily episodes Of wonder And delight. Autumn is turned on its head: Not the richness the life’s ebbing, But buds bursting Hearts thirsting Green shoots on grey branches Marking Not the end, But a million […]

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Prayer and Action — World Day of Prayer

World Day of Prayer (formerly Women’s World Day of Prayer) highlights the connection between prayer and action. ‘Informed prayer flows into prayerful action.’ Click here for resources on Prayerful Action from the World Day of Prayer International Committee

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Renew our Lives, a prayer — Bernard Thorogood

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of God You are Love. Fill our hearts so that we may know how to forgive.  How to understand. How to cherish and how to let go. Holy Spirit, you are truth. Teach us the way of Christ. Expose all falseness in our values and cleanse us from prejudice. Give us […]

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Mystery of matrimony: a daughter marries — Ana Gobledale, UK

The mystery of matrimony “Who brings this woman to be married?” We do. To be married To be coupled To be knotted, twisted together Today tomorrow to death Joining a heritage of still-married Great grands through alcoholism and a debilitating stroke The hospital bed at living room centre Year after year Today tomorrow to death […]

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Winter Words

Brittle chilled branches Revealing sacred presence streaked with winter sun –haiku by Ana Gobledale Words for worship and reflection during the winter season: Free images of winter: All photos posted on the Worship Words website may be used for worship and devotional purposes. Please acknowledge the photographer/artist.

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Prayers for South America — World Council of Churches Prayer Cycle

We pray for Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, especially for the Programme of Ecumenical Accompaniment in Colombia which works to support communities affected by the Colombian conflict between government and the FARC rebels.  We pray for the farmers of the Finca Alemania co-operative and their children also affected by the current political situation.  Amen. The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle […]

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Isaiah 61, Prayer — Christian Aid, UK

O Christ, you lived as an ordinary man not in style but simply, yet still you caused uproar, and questions everywhere; you drew the expectations of hungry crowds, and brought buried conflicts to the light. May we, who are sometimes swayed by the crowd’s approval, and who often avoid conflict for fear of its cost […]

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