14 mins
Prayers for 2021
Loving Lord, I’m guessing you must be up to your eyes in it right now? It’s probably one of your busier times in the year anyway and from what I’ve read, apparently the pandemic has caused many more folks to reach out to you than is usually the case.
So I’m wondering if you have time for me or if you’d rather I came back later? Do you need me to make an appointment? It’s really no big deal and I don’t want to be a nuisance. No doubt there will be other people with greater concerns and bigger worries than mine so I’ll happily wait my turn.
It’s just that I’m struggling a little with the uncertainty of not knowing what 2021 is
going to be like. It would be good to know some details so that I can make plans. I’d just like to know if the virus is going to be pushed back and if it will be safe to live normally again? I miss my friends. I can see that my grandchildren aren’t sure if they can come near or should keep their distance. I’m worried about my daughter’s job. My brother is very frail and I can’t help thinking the worst of what would happen if he caught it.
I’m sorry for being selfish. You must be thinking I’m very self-centred to be bringing my worries to you when there are many others who are in stickier spots than me.
And yet as I was sitting quietly this morning, a tune came into my head. And I found myself humming it, then singing the words that go with it. It was:
Jesus loves me this I know; for the bible tells me so.
So that’s why I’m speaking to you now, Lord. I guess you do have time for me. That’s what love looks like, right?
And you know that helps a lot. Knowing that you love me is enough - and better than knowing what the future holds.
I love you, too, Lord.
Prayer from the Moderator of the General Assembly in 2020/21, the Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair
TREASURES NEW AND OLD
Matthew 13:52. (Times of crisis reveal the relevance of our faith: even those resources we set aside when all seems well)
Jesus, our Friend, we are so treasured; lifted up and honoured by your friendship, conversation, on our troubled way… with friends, not just as harmless doves, but, serpents, crafty too! (And that’s good)
You bless our eyes wide open: reading signs that stare us in the face; whilst fellow creatures also teach (if we but ask!)
With you alone, we are not drowned by worry for what lies ahead: To best prepare tomorrow (AKA the Age to Come) we engage, wholehearted, with today.
Lord, come quickly, take away our fear of urgency: may we even find our home there!
Take us outside harmless niceness; out into the subversive joy (yes, joy, enjoying God for ever) where hoping, without cause, except for faith, is bold to cry, empowering: “Hallelujah anyway!”
Now, with your incitement, we can scour, for jewels, the dusty mantelshelves of faith; and in the wildness, bite down boldly, giving even blandest manna benefit of doubt, that some new wine the Spirit sends might still refresh and cheer.
Give us spades with which to dig for treasures new and old: Give blessed recklessness to blow our savings on those fields with pearls.
And find our part, fed, by life-cycles of your Kingdom, with justice to transform.
Feed us, if need be, with soft stuff: flowers and lambs and mountains high.
Yet, Lord, wean us to account as species and stability depart; perceiving with maturity’s own eyes how poverty and climate crisis share a cause; and every action for the Earth however small, is prayer.
The Rev David Coleman Environmental Chaplain, Eco-Congregation Scotland
Christ, be our light. Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Help us, God, in dark times.
When people are angry or afraid, when they are sick or hungry, when they are grieving or broken, stay near us.
Give us hope, God, in dark times.
Hope to see the glimpses of your kingdom breaking through. Hope to see that, even in dark and difficult times, there is a prospect for a better tomorrow.
For those who struggle daily against poverty and exclusion, our prayer is that our society will be a place where the poorest and most marginalised are at the centre.
For God’s created world, spoiled and polluted by humanity’s greed, our prayer is for a planet where our environment is renewed.
For the employers, business and everyone involved in wealth creation, our prayer is for a just economy that enables the flourishing of all life. PRAYER FOR A NEW YEAR And Jesus says, ‘Come and do it with me…’ It’s music to our ears, Jesus When we’re enthused, when we’re energised, determined, When we can see, feel, even taste the prize! When we’re surrounded by voices singing in harmony, Our internal band strikes up and we’re ready to march with you. ‘Of course, we’ll come and do it with you, Jesus. No sheet music needed, We know this one by heart!’ And Jesus says, ‘Come and do it
For victims of conflict and survivors of abuse and exploitation, our prayer is for a world which actively works for peace.
For our leaders and for those in positions of influence and responsibility who have the power to shape our lives and communities, our prayer is for a politics characterised by listening, kindness and truthfulness.
For those displaced from their homes by conflict, climate change or poverty, and for communities that receive migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, our prayer is for a society that welcomes the stranger.
God, give us hope for these things to come to pass, and the strength to act to make them a reality.
For the year ahead, we pray particularly for scientists, medics and all those working to support healthcare in the search for treatments and vaccines against disease. with me…’ ‘Change the tune, Jesus. Can’t you just do it and let us watch?’ This song is on repeat, a broken record, stuck on the same old line. When setback after setback turns ‘possible’ into ’pessimism’, We start to tire of the same chorus. When other voices drown us out or sing in a different key (how rude!), We retreat into silence. We feign apathy just to cope. ‘Jesus, couldn’t you just up your tempo, Belt out that solo, Give us a rest?’ And Jesus says, ‘Come and do it with me…’
For businesses, employers, workers, and trades unions, for the economic impact and how our economy recovers.
For politicians, candidates, journalists and campaigners proposing ideas, creating debate and seeking votes in the run-up and aftermath of the Scottish Parliament elections.
Diplomats and leaders of Governments who will gather in Glasgow to negotiate a new international framework related to the climate crisis
Christ, be our light. Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Amen.
David Bradwell, Associate Secretary (Global Justice and Public Awareness), Faith Impact Forum
PRAYER FOR A NEW YEAR
And Jesus says, ‘Come and do it with me…’
It’s music to our ears, Jesus
When we’re enthused, when we’re energised, determined,
When we can see, feel, even taste the prize!
When we’re surrounded by voices singing in harmony,
Our internal band strikes up and we’re ready to march with you.
‘Of course, we’ll come and do it with you, Jesus.
No sheet music needed,
We know this one by heart!’
And Jesus says, ‘Come and do it
with me…’
‘Change the tune, Jesus.
Can’t you just do it and let us watch?’
This song is on repeat, a broken record, stuck on the same old line.
When setback after setback turns ‘possible’ into ’pessimism’,
We start to tire of the same chorus.
When other voices drown us out or sing in a different key (how rude!),
We retreat into silence. We feign apathy just to cope.
‘Jesus, couldn’t you just up your tempo, Belt out that solo,
Give us a rest?’
And Jesus says, ‘Come and do it with me…’
Life together is a symphony, not a solo.
Pick up your instrument, clear your throat and listen carefully.
There may be a different drummer marking the way.
Gather your choir and your orchestra, tighten the strings and bang the drum.
We have music to share and there is much more to hear and to learn:
Dignity, equality, justice and love.
The songs of the prophets echo down through the ages.
Come and sing along.
Sally Foster-Fulton, Head of Christian Aid Scotland
‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…’ (Opening lines from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens)
‘Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’ When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you….So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.’ (Genesis 45:4&8) Almighty God, our loving heavenly Father, we praise you that our days are known to you.
A PRAYER ASKING GOD TO GIVE US INSIGHT AND COURAGE TO SEE OUR LIVES ARE IN HIS HANDS
We often experience life as a rollercoaster, and it can feel as if we are out of control.
We can doubt your presence or your care - or both!
As we walk into and through this next year, help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who walks with us and has gone ahead of us.
Please grant to us each day an experience of your presence.
Pour your love into our lives that we may show love to others.
Shower us with your grace and mercy so that our hearts are full towards you.
Reassure us of your forgiveness and help us to forgive those who hurt us.
Overwhelm us with your kindness so that we learn to treat others kindly.
Speak your comfort deep into our inner beings so that we become a comfort to others.
Draw us closer to you in the months ahead and help us to point others to you as the source of our hope and joy.
Elaine Duncan, chief executive of the Scottish Bible Society
Heavenly Father, with thanks in our heart we stand before you now, looking back to the previous year and looking forward to this coming year. We are grateful that you kept our lives and helped us through 2020. Among the sorrow, pain, solitude and bleakness, we all had moments of joy, something that kept us going. It was not always easy to find tranquillity or patience, but we knew, “Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace - in peace because they trust in you.” Dear God, this is our hope for this next year as well.
We pray for your care and blessings. Let us feel your presence in our daily activities. Help us find you as the source of refuge for our deepest fears and uncertainties. And help us look at you also in the moments when we are grateful, when we feel that our life is on the right track.
So we stand before you as your body and pray for the elderly, pray for their safety and for companionship in their loneliness. We pray for those who struggle for their daily bread and have to fight to live another day due to the different calamities that happen in our world and affect their lives. Problems can pile up and difficulties lead to heartbroken destinies.
In the difficult times we live in, we especially pray for the ill and for our leaders all around the world who struggle to find a good and balanced way for their nations. Grant them wisdom.
We pray for our global church community. You see the challenges of gatherings, the difficulties of not being able to be together as ‘one’ in your name. We pray for wisdom that leaders of congregations should find the best way to reach out to those who are in need and are thirsty for your word. We pray for ministers, elders, deacons and for all those who can and are able to help.
Lord, we ask for your protection and providence.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Bertalan Józsa, Reformed Church in Romania
Lord of the past, we give you thanks for those pioneers of the faith who paved the way for us, who have shown us you through their actions what following you means. We are sometimes in awe of the ways in which they challenged injustice, prejudice and inequality and brought about real and lasting change. Help us to draw strength from that heritage and enable us to leave a similar legacy for those who will follow us.
Lord of the present, we know that you are walking with us, even when things are difficult. We thank you for those who are working so hard to keep in touch with Guild members, who are encouraging those who feel alone, who are supporting those who have been ill or bereaved and who are holding together our groups and organisations through this time of change.
We give you thanks too for the work of Guild partners across Scotland and in other parts of the world who are supporting the isolated and lonely, developing the faith of our young people or getting alongside seafarers who come to our shores. In further away places they are challenging and changing attitudes to those who are marginalised and giving them hope for the future. They are working to overcome the injustice of climate change and build a sustainable future for communities. They do this because of the commitment shown by their staff and Guild members across the country.
Lord of the future, help us to be confident about what lies ahead knowing that you have gone before us and prepared a path for us. We look forward to when we are able to share in worship and fellowship with our friends. We look forward to living in a world where no child wakes up hungry nor an older person dies alone, a world where all are treated equally no matter their background, and where peace and justice reign.
Lord of all things encourage us to keep moving forward, going the extra mile, keeping our eyes fixed on you, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Mabel Wallace, National Convener, Church of Scotland Guild
CrossReach services change lives. You help make that positive difference whenever you pray for us. General prayer is welcome but we thought you might like to consider this small selection of prayer points offered by our people. Please join in and be part of a CrossReach prayer revolution this year.
May the Lord bless the new Advocacy service within Dochas, inspire and guide the worker as she reaches out to rural Lewis and Harris. Bless the agencies and colleagues who work alongside the service. Substance Use.
May all who enter our home know Your strong and gentle presence and may Your love be shown in the care delivered. Thank you for the gifts You have blessed us with. Give us strength to do our jobs and anoint our work so we may honour You. The Bungalow - Learning Disability.
Thank you for our new Distance Counselling capability, allowing people access to support via video and phone with a trained counsellor. We pray for the children of Sunflower Garden, affected by parental drug or alcohol use; may they be seen, heard and protected.
We give thanks for the churches who give valuable support in thoughtful ways. May the families who come to the centres benefit from their time there and feel nurtured before their visit to the prison. Prison Visitor and Support Centres.
In times of stress, hardship and pain may those who offer comfort be blessed with the Lord’s guidance, taking strength from knowing they do His work: bringing hope, charity and love to all. Older People Services.
Thank you for the wonderful care I receive at Bellfield and for all the lovely staff who always have a smile for me. (Resident). Bellfield Care Home.
Thank you God for the beauty of art, for amazing creativity and talent unlocked by artists taking part in the classes. Bless the carers and volunteers whose love, commitment and free-time are given to support those with a diagnosis of dementia. Heart for Art.
Viv Dickenson, CEO CrossReach
This article appears in the January 2021 Issue of Life and Work
If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive
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