Heavenly Father,
You have loved us first! Thank you for bringing us into your communion: the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We come before you busy – a lot to do, many concerns, pressured, and we want to pause to gaze upon You. (Pause)
You have chosen to abide with us, to give us Your Spirit. You love us well. Make us sponges that are able to receive the depth and truth of Your love, and when life squeezes us, we pray that as we allow You to fill us up, Your love is what comes out under pressure.
Lord, the world is anxious about the coronavirus. People are grieving. In addition to washing our hands, we want our demeanours to be washed in Your love. Perfect love, which only You have, casts out fear. So we receive Your deep, abiding love, and we ask for courage to show Your love to others.
Lord, we pray for health officials in China, Iran, Italy, here, and everywhere because there’s a pressure to manage and fix some things that no human can. We ask that you prepare Your people to serve, support, encourage, and be present to the sick and dying.
Lord, we celebrate today as International Women’s Day, and thank you for women who gave birth to us, who instruct us and model a sincere faith, and who lead us. We pray that all women will live into the potential You have created us with and that we would be women after Your own heart. For women who carry a heavy load, we ask that burdens will be lifted. For those whose bodies are exploited, we cry out for justice. For those ignored and unseen, we pray that they will receive the respect, consideration, and opportunities needed to help them flourish.
Lord, we cast down all of our anxieties on You because You care for us and because You are capable of dealing with them.
We receive the Spirit of Jesus and choose to trust You and to walk in love.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Please join me in praying the Lord’s prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
Prepared by Ellen and Craig O’Brien