Gracious spirit of love and peace,
we bring to you our prayers for the world and ourselves.
May they help to prepare your way in our lives and in the lives of those whom we pray.
Spirit of love, we trust in you.

We give thanks for the work of charities, local and global.
Thank you for the passion and commitment of volunteers and staff, lights shining in the darkness of our world.
We celebrate that through prayers, gifts, energy and commitment, such a mighty force of generosity and care extends your life-giving embrace around the globe.
Spirit of love, we trust in you.

We pray for  the people of… [include nations in strife] Sudan, Syria and Ukraine.
We pray especially for Palestine, facing atrocities we find it difficult to even imagine, facing threats of terror and annihilation.
We pray for relief workers tending the wounded and bereaved, pulling people from the ruins.
Shower your mercy upon those persistently providing water and access to food and shelter.
Show us all the path of justice, reconciliation and peace.  Empower us to not falter in our aid.
Spirit of love, we trust in you.

We pray for this church community, for our minister, [name], for our church leaders and all our church family.
We lift up  [names].
In this moment of silence, hear our prayers for those who are sick and infirmed, and in special need of prayer.
Silence
Spirit of love, we trust in you.

Through your holy spirit, in this our time of need, help us keep calm to hear your voice.
Help us carry on.
Reveal the path that we must follow if we are to fulfil your purposes, to create a new earth where the wolf and the lamb will feed together.
Spirit of love, we trust in you.

God of our world and of our hearts, thank you for hearing our prayers, spoken and unspoken, and for renewing our hope.
Spirit of love, we trust in you.

Artwork:  ‘Peaceable Kingdom’ By Edward Hicks – National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., online collection, Public Domain