Good News from St Hildeburgh's

Gracious Lord, we dream of a world free of poverty and oppression, and we yearn for a world free of vengeance and violence. we pray for your peace. When our hearts ache for the victims of war and oppression, help us to remember that you healed people simply by touching them…, and give us faith in our ability to comfort and heal bodies and minds and spirits that have been broken by violence. When the injustice of this world seems too much for us to handle, help us to remember that you fed five thousand people with only five loaves of bread and two fish…, and give us hope that what we have to offer will turn out to be enough, too. When fear of the power and opinions of others tempts us not to speak up for the least among us, help us to remember that you dared to turn over the tables of money changers…, and give us the courage to risk following you without counting the cost. When we feel ourselves fill with anger at those who are violent and oppressive, help us remember that you prayed fo

  O loving Lord, Here I am before you even though I feel far away. I want to get closer, but at the same time I resist. Is my heart wounded? Am I’m afraid to let it all go into your hands? Deep down my soul cries out, “Save me! O merciful Lord”. Let this moment be a time of inner growth. May I learn and understand the deeper mysteries of faith. May the Spirit of Christ show me the heart of Jesus. May I love despite the struggle, beyond the silence. Purify my heart, O Lord. Reveal to me your most excellent way, the way my Savior loves me, even alone on the cross, glorifying you in heaven. In the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.

 O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others Open my ears that I may hear their cries; Open my heart so that they need not be without succor; Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, And use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. - Alan Paton,   

  Father God, many of us need healing. I need healing for past hurts, random physical pains that I allow to waylay my days and Spiritual healing for various reasons. I reach up to You to receive this healing so that I may be whole and that I may be able to then minister to others in a way that brings You fullness of glory. How wonderful to be able to worship You without stain or blemish and to be totally healed. Show others Your healing power so that they may also be healed and walk in wholeness. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen!   - Dawn Mast  

We are moulded, each one of us, in the image of God, and within our souls there is a fingerprint none can erase. We pray for those who have no regard for anyone but self, who put no value on human life. For nations and individuals who abuse and kill. We are not called to be judge or jury, but we are called to be agents of change, and if the butterfly that flaps its wings should be our attitude to others then so be it, Lord, and may the hurricane this generates somewhere within the world reach into the hearts and souls of those for whom we pray, and reveal to them how precious are those for whom they have no love, and how precious are they who now bring tears to the eyes of God. Amen                                                   - by John Birch

Heavenly Father,   I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope. There are times when I fell helpless, There are times when I feel weak. I pray for hope. I need hope for a better future. I need hope for a better life. I need hope for love and kindness. Some say that the sky is at it’s darkest just before the light. I pray that this is true, for all seems dark. I need your light, Lord, in every way. I pray to be filled with your light from head to toe. To bask in your glory. To know that all is right in the world, as you have planned, and as you want it to be. Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory. In your name, I pray, Amen.  

 We see signs of summer's passing in golden leaves, shortening days, misty mornings, autumn glow. We sense its passing in rain that dampens,   winds that chill, Harvest's bounty placed on show. Creator God, who brings forth   both green shoot and hoar frost,   sunrise and sunset,   we bring our thanks   for seeds that have grown , harvests gathered, storehouses filled, mouths fed.   And, as your good earth rests   through winter's cold embrace,   we look forward to its re-awakening   when kissed by Spring's first touch. Amen

Everlasting God, we pray for our new King. Bless his reign and the life of our nation. Help us to work together so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness flourish among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

  O Lord our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, by whom kings reign and princes decree justice: We remember before thee our late Sovereign Lady QUEEN ELIZABETH, in thankfulness for the blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us by her reign; for the example she set of unwearied devotion to duty; for her steadfast courage; and for the love and loyalty borne to her by a great family of peoples in all parts of the world. And we beseech thee to give us grace that, having these thy mercies in remembrance, we may with one heart and one mind set forward the welfare of this land, and hasten the coming of thy kingdom of peace and goodwill among men; through Jesus Christ our Lord AMEN

  A Prayer for Ukraine God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

 A Reflection for January 2022:

 

All-loving God, Your hands have fashioned every lovely corner of this treasured planet, and the beautiful land of Afghanistan is as precious as every other place Your children call ‘home'. By its rivers and mountains, its fields and gardens, its busy towns and ancient villages, it is the heart's desire of its people and the place where their lives and loves are nurtured. We grieve today with those who grieve over Afghanistan, the people who call it home indeed, the people exiled or suddenly having to leave, and the men and women from other countries who have made sacrifices in recent years in the cause of that country's future. We remember with renewed sadness the loss of lives of military personnel during the years of this country's involvement in Afghanistan, conscious of the questions that must today be troubling the minds of those in our community who were bereaved, those who were wounded on operations, and those who were forever changed by experiences suffered ther

Loving God, We praise your name with all you have created. You are present in the whole universe, and in the smallest of creatures. We acknowledge the responsibilities you have placed upon us as stewards of your creation. May the Holy Spirit inspire all political leaders at COP26 as they seek to embrace the changes needed to foster a more sustainable society. Instil in them the courage and gentleness to implement fairer solutions for the poorest and most vulnerable, and commit their nations to the care of Our Common Home. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Amen (Prayer Source: CAFOD)

Lord, in November, We call to mind all those whose lives are done. We thank you that their time, now completed, however short or long, sad or joyful, is gathered up, looked on and known by you.  We offer up remembrance: those whose absence we feel daily; those who have shaped us; those who have nurtured us; the people we are grateful to have walked with; all those we hardly knew but wished we’d known better. We give thanks for all they gave and all the future owes them. Lord, your love embraces every person  who has ever lived; you promised that you lost none. May your Spirit make us always thankful for all our gifts of love and cherished memory.   AMEN. (Source: The Church of England)

Lord,  We thank you for the Saints now gone before us whose faith defined their living and their dying; those who loved you more than their own lives; those who are still mirrors of your love. We celebrate the saints who walk among us rejoicing while they walk in your footsteps, making your name known in a fractured world, against injustice, prejudice, hatred, evil. We stand with those who sacrifice themselves to bring about your kingdom here on earth. Lord, your grace shines in the lives of Saints. We thank you for their example, their holy words. Your Spirit inspired them. Come Holy Spirit inspire us to be saints in your Church now. Amen

  Autumn Months A Prayer O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons. As we welcome the autumn months, may the earlier setting of the sun remind us to take time to rest. May the brilliant colors of the leaves remind us of the wonder of your creation. May the steam of our breath in the cool air remind us that it is you who give us the breath of life. May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given and bounty we are to share with others. May the dying of summer's spirit remind us of your great promise that death is temporary and life is eternal. We praise you for your goodness forever and ever.    (Anonymous)

"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and - the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." -  Hebrews, chapter 1 I’d like to try and paint three pictures in your mind, without PowerPoint, if possible! Please do bear with me.  The first starts with a question!  Have you ever seen a partial eclipse of the sun? You know, when the moon moves across the sun and it looks like someone’s taken a bite out of the sun itself. It’s usually a big thing, predicted for weeks ahead with lots of publicity and TV coverage. If the weather is good and it’s a clear day, you can see the passage of the moon really well. I remember looking at several over my life, one in Cornwall in mid-summer, which was quite amazing, one in the back garden here on the Wirral, six or seven years ago, and one when I was at school.  The thing I recall most about that one was that the teachers distributed black plastic photographic film. We had to hold the film up against the sun