Prayers

Lord God we pray for all the people who believe they are alone in isolation

Lord we know that they are not alone as you are with them offering strength, courage and comfort

Close their minds, hearts, ears and eyes Lord to fear, anxiety and solitude

Open their minds Lord to unlock your love and allow them to cast all their anxieties on to you

Open their eyes Lord and allow them to see your presence

Open their ears Lord and allow them to listen to your message of hope

Open their hearts Lord, uplift them and strengthen their faith so that they shall not be afraid

Lord God give them this courage and comfort in your name

Amen

George Lloyd

Heavenly Father, we thank you that the students are able once more to go back into our schools, to work, learn and play together.

We are grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make our schools safe for this to happen. Despite unprecedented challenges faced with COVID-19.

We pray that school leadership, parents, and students will have amazing learning and growing experiences and they will come to appreciate one another as never before.

We pray that challenges will become opportunities to learn not only academically but to discover new life lessons as well.

We pray that hearts will turn to Jesus Christ and find in Him their source of joy, peace, and fulfilment. May we seek ways to bless and encourage one another throughout the school year and be carriers of God’s love and presence.

Thank you in the name of Jesus,

Amen

Loving Father, we thank you for your presence during these troubled times. We ask that you guide us and help us to reflect on the part we can play in accepting that the life and society we thought we enjoyed is now subject to fundamental change.  May we take this opportunity to focus on new directions.  May we adapt and prepare ourselves and our communities for whatever lies ahead.  Thank you for those who use their skills to care for others.  May we, too, in whatever way we can, spread your love and care to those around us.  Grant wisdom to our decision makers and may they be guided by your ways of compassion, truth and justice. Amen

Barrie

Heavenly Father, thank You for all those caring for, protecting, and serving our communities, our families, and us. Thank You for all those people daily risking their own health and safety for others.

Gracious God, we pray for their protection. Please give then the courage and strength to deal with the demands made upon them.

Please provide everything they need, both for the people they are serving and for their loved ones. Help us to support them and their families as they care selflessly for others.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

May we who are  inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.

May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.

As fear grips our country, let us choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.

Amen.