Prayers & Meditations

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
lead us to grow in your image
and become more fully human.
Lead us to respect and value
all other people
that we may work together
for justice for all
and the building of your kingdom.
Amen

[majestyjo]

Let’s pray
for those with the disease of leprosy.
Let’s pray, too,
for all who are cut off from others,
for all who are isolated in life,
and for those whose commitment
costs them greatly.
Let’s pray for AIDS victims,
and for all who experience prejudice.
Father,
help us to see and love in others
what you see and love in them.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Lord, I pray for gifts and talents
that will help me and other people.
As I pray for these gifts
I know, too,
that I will need to work hard
at developing them
- to become more patient,
- to grow in wisdom,
- and to be faithful in friendship.
May I be as faithful to others
as you are to me.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Father,
you have made all people
in your own likeness,
and you love all that you have made.
Your Son was born
as a member of a Jewish family,
and was recognised
by wise men from the east.
He rejoiced in the faith
of a Roman soldier
and a Syrian woman,
and he praised Samaritans
for their attitude and good works.
He welcomed the Greeks
who searched for him,
and he was helped to carry his cross
by an African.
Father, may our human family
not become separated from you
by building barriers
of race and colour,
of class and belief.
Inspire us to recognise
that we are all made
in your image and likeness,
so that we may grow
in appreciation of all people,
and encourage each other
to grow in pride
in who we are
and who we are called to be.
May we recognise your Son in our midst,
and live truly as brothers and sisters.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

We don’t know who wrote this prayer, but
we make it our own today:

O Lord, remember not only
the men and women of good will,
but also those of ill will.
But do not remember
all the suffering
they have inflicted on us.
Remember instead
the good things that have come to us
thanks to this suffering -
our comradeship, our loyalty,
our humility, our courage,
our generosity,
and the greatness of heart
which have all grown out of this.
And when they come to judgement,
let all the good things
that have come out of this
be their forgiveness.
Amen

[majestyjo]

Let us pray that we use our time well:
Lord,
it is in this place and in this time
that you want me to grow.
You give me the time I need
to live as you want me to live.
Help me to use
my time and opportunities wisely.
Help me to value and treasure
all the people you put into my life,
and lead me to live in thankfulness.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

The Fear Prayer from the 12 Step Prayer Book:



God, thank You for helping me to be honest

Enough to see the truth about myself.

Thank you or showing me my fears,

Please help me remove them

Help me outgrow my fears,

The fears that have haunted me

And blocked me from doing Your will

Direct my attention to what you would have me be.

[majestyjo]

The Cardinal-Archbishop of Paris was
celebrating Mass with two priest-friends
in the great Cathedral of Notre Dame in
the French capital
6 Let’s spend a moment in silence, praying
very honestly, as we say a few words to
Jesus…
(pause…)

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
We know, Lord,
that there are many radio waves
travelling through this room
at the moment,
but we need a radio
to be able to tune in
to the different frequencies.
Isn’t it a bit like that with prayer, Lord,
“tuning in” to your presence with us?
4 We remember that you said
that you would be with us,
so we do know in our minds
that you are present.
But there’s a difference
between knowing that you’re present
and growing in the faith
that you are beside us
We ask for the power of your Spirit
in our lives each day,
so that we may live more fully
in your presence.
Only then will our attitude
and words and actions
better reflect yours.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands
- to do your work.
I give you my feet
- to go your way.
I give you my eyes
- to see as you do.
I give you my tongue
- to speak your words.
I give you my mind
- that you may think in me.
I give you my spirit
- that you may pray in me.
Above all, I give you my heart
that you may love, in me,
your Father and all mankind.
I give you my whole self
that you may grow in me,
so that it is you, Lord Jesus,
who live and work and pray in me.
Amen

Grail Prayer

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
God our Father,
your love for our world
and for each of us individually
is so great
that you sent Jesus, your Son,
to live fully as one of us.
May he lead us to live in peace
and work well with each other
to build your kingdom
in our world which you love so much.
May your Spirit unite us
and lead us to appreciate and value
all who are different from ourselves.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord shine his face upon you.
May he show you his loving kindness
and bring you peace. Amen.
(Numbers 624)

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
God our Father, open our eyes
to the beauty of your creation.
Inspire us to appreciate
all the wonders of life.
May all that we see lead us to you.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

APRIL

Lead me this day, Lord,
not only to be of service to others
but to ensure
that I find quiet moments
for myself and for you.

Let us pray:
Slow me down, Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart
by the quietening and calming
of my mind.
Break the tensions
of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music
of the singing streams
that live in my memory.
Give me, amidst the confusion
of the day,
the calmness of the everlasting hills.
APRIL

Lead me this day, Lord,
not only to be of service to others
but to ensure
that I find quiet moments
for myself and for you.

Let us pray:
Slow me down, Lord!
Ease the pounding of my heart
by the quietening and calming
of my mind.
Break the tensions
of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music
of the singing streams
that live in my memory.
Give me, amidst the confusion
of the day,
the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Steady my hurried pace
with a vision
of your eternal reach of time,
and restore and heal me
in the hours of sleep.
Teach me the art
of appreciating what is ordinary:
of slowing down
to look at and become more aware
of the beauty around me;
to take time to be with others,
to sit and enjoy music
or a good book
- to give myself time for myself.
Remind me each day
of the fable
of the hare and the tortoise,
that I may know
that the race is not always
to the swift;
that there is more to life
than increasing its speed.
Remind me each day
of the fable
of the hare and the tortoise,
that I may know
that the race is not always
to the swift;
that there is more to life
than increasing its speed.

They must know i need a long prayer for my birthday.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Jesus, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Lord, we ask
that we may have the vision
to see when something is not right
and then try to do something
about it:
- that we may notice
when someone is unhappy
or isn’t well,
and set out to encourage them;
- that we may notice
when someone feels left out,
and then do what we can
to help them feel part of things;
- that we may notice
when something needs to be done,
and then get on with it.
Lord, we ask that we may notice
all that is around us,
and live in a positive
and cheerful way.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Father,
into your hands I place my successes.
Into your hands
I also place my failures,
and I pray that, through your Spirit,
I may face the challenges of life
with courage and determination.
Help me to think anew
and see things more broadly
than in terms of “success”
and “failure”.
Lead me always to trust
and place myself confidently
in your hands.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let’s pray
in the words of St Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument
of your peace:
where there is hatred,
let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning
that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

Let us pray:
Lord, inspire me to give of my best
and make good use
of the talents you have given me.
Show me how to be positive in attitude,
appreciating and valuing others,
always being ready to encourage
and give praise.
Sometimes I draw conclusions
about people
in terms of what I think
is meant by “success” and “failure”,
but the “failure” of one person
might count as a great “success”
of someone with other talents.
Lead me never to judge people
but to accept others as they are,
knowing that it is together,
each with our differences,
that we build up your Kingdom.
Amen.

[majestyjo]

8 Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
you invite each of us by name
and you call us “friends”.
Lead us to show
as much respect and care for others
as we would like them to show for us.
Help us to look for
and bring out the best
in all who share our lives this day.
Amen.