Prayer

Based on Isaiah 61:1-3

Our Father who is in Heaven

Display your splendour

In us, your Church

As another year turns 

Transform us from fallen acorns 

Into oaks of righteousness

See what sits before you 

A dream in ashes 

A people in mourning 

An atmosphere of despair

And do what only you do best 

Sweep away the ash 

And crown your Church with beauty

On bitter, cracked, dry grief 

Pour oil greater than relief 

Even gladness, even joy!

Replace our default despair 

With tenacious praise 

May every word of worship 

Displace dissatisfaction

A year lies behind us 

And many more before them 

Stories of how it was 

Glories of days gone by

And in more recent recollection 

Hollow spaces 

Tearful faces 

Pale reflections of old colour 

Dim views, dim hopes 

Dim hearts

A year lies before us 

And this we pray for it: 

That the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD 

Fall upon us!

Open up great wells within us 

That we never knew were there 

So inspire vivacious life 

That we are filled to go and share

That this shall be the year 

Of the favour of our God 

Broken hearts bound and healed 

Poor made rich in true good news 

Let it be undeniable 

That the LORD is bringing life 

In 2025

Let the old leap with hope 

That they are glimpsing God’s next move 

Let the young stand up 

And move when God says: ‘Now!’

Let this be the year 

Of the vengeance of our God 

Darkness loosened in its grip 

The power of gangs and tyrants broken 

The life-robbers terrified 

By the coming of the light 

The terrible and overwhelming sight 

Of Christ’s Church re-becoming 

For the Spirit of the LORD 

Is upon us

Amen