A Prayer from the Kingston Upon Thames Circuit

At the beginning of each year, most of our churches will be doing their Covenant services, remining ourselves that we have a covenant with God and despite all that we encounter and the losses we face that we are God’s people.

I am going to use the hymn, “Lord , for the years your love has kept and guided” as the basis for prayer today.

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,           

urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,       

sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided,           

Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

Let us give thanks for one time that comes to mind when God’s love has carried us.

Lord, for that word, the Word of life which fires us,           

speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,       

teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us,           

Lord of the word, receive your people's praise.

Let us remember with hope that the word of God can breakthrough and soften the hardest of hearts. Our prayer is that people would hear God’s call and engage and as a church we will be here to help them.

Lord, for our land, in this our generation,           

spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;       

for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,           

Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

We pray for everyone to have  discernment to separate the trivia from the things of real value.

Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt him,           

loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain;       

hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him,           

Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

For those times when our foundation is shaken, when we feel bereft and abandoned by God. We pray for an outpouring of his Holy Spirit and new life and possibilities.

Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us,           

self on the cross and Christ upon the throne;       

past put behind us, for the future take us,           

Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

At the start of 2024, we recommit our lives to God, acknowledging that to serve is sacrificial and knowing that we are people of resurrection.

Amen.