Where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy. (Psalm 65: 8)
God our Father,
We close our eyes in sleep in the knowledge that Your Spirit fills the Universe; that your Spirit sustains the witness of Your Church; that Your Spirit is working in the lives of Your people to comfort, to strengthen, to establish Your Word.
We move into a new day with the prospect of being drawn deeper into Your Love, of extending our understanding of Your ways, of responding to the call to serve.
So draw us closer to Yourself and enable us to sing songs of joy, the praise of a grateful people who know God through Jesus Christ, who have been touched by His sacrifice, renewed by His resurrection and inspired by His promises.
Forgive us that so often we cut off the sources of joy.
Neglecting the Word that keeps us close to You.
Ignoring the promptings of Your Spirit to forgive others.
Setting aside opportunities to support others in time of need.
Father, if You held on to our failure where would be our hope?
But You have assured us in Jesus that sin is not victorious over us, that calling to mind our failure is not a mark of despair but the beginning of renewed aspiration.
So help us to believe that You are on our side as we now go forward to face the challenges of the days ahead.
As we remember Mary Magdalene in her sorrow, confusion and anger, we thank you that in all the negative experiences of life we too can be touched by the Risen Lord.
He knows our names.
He knows our inner lives.
He knows our greatest needs
He knows why we have been called to serve.
His voice speaks out of eternity to secure us in His love, his strength and His peace.
He has given us the assurance of His presence in this life and our completion in the next.
We remember before you now all those who have died in this faith.
We pray that they will be our inspiration in this life and our joy in the great reunion.
God grant your Church to be open to the voice of the Risen Lord as she seeks to be faithful in telling His story and sharing His love.
God grant to the nations a new understanding of life lived in the depths as compassion flows, as justice is established, as peace becomes the motivating force.
God grant the leaders of our nation the resources that are needed at this time: wise counsel, committed administration, co-operation for the good of us all.
God grant the Queen and her family the strength that flows only from our Risen Lord, the guarantee that all those who sleep in death will also be raised.
God grant to our families and friends protection from the virus, renewal for those stricken by the virus, comfort and strength to those bereaved due to the virus.
