Prayer is our way of being present to God - making ourselves available - so that we can develop a deeper relationship. It is not necessarily about words but developing an awareness of God's presence. This page will have some written prayers for your own and communal use and from time to time suggestions for activities that you might find helpful in developing that relationship.
As Methodists at the beginning of each year we renew our Promise to God - our covenant.
The Methodist Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.'
The Methodist Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;
let me be employed for you,
or laid aside for you,
exalted for you,
or brought low for you;
let me be full,
let me be empty,
let me have all things,
let me have nothing:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things
to your pleasure and disposal.
And now, glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours. So be it.
And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.'
Prayer for our Community
God, Lord of all creation, lover of life and of everything, please help us to love in our very small way what You love infinitely and everywhere. We thank You that we can offer just this one prayer and that will be more than enough, because in reality every thing and every one is connected, and nothing stands alone. To pray for one part is really to pray for the whole, and so we do. Help us each day to stand for love, for healing, for the good, for the diverse unity of the Body of Christ and all creation, because we know this is what You desire: as Jesus prayed, that all may be one. We offer our prayer together with all the holy names of God, we offer our prayer together with Christ, our Lord. Amen.
God, Lord of all creation, lover of life and of everything, please help us to love in our very small way what You love infinitely and everywhere. We thank You that we can offer just this one prayer and that will be more than enough, because in reality every thing and every one is connected, and nothing stands alone. To pray for one part is really to pray for the whole, and so we do. Help us each day to stand for love, for healing, for the good, for the diverse unity of the Body of Christ and all creation, because we know this is what You desire: as Jesus prayed, that all may be one. We offer our prayer together with all the holy names of God, we offer our prayer together with Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Praying the Lord's Prayer
Sometimes the words of the Lord's Prayer are so familiar that we can repeat them without thinking about the meaning. Here is an amplified version of the Lord's Prayer prepared by the Anglican Church of New Zealand which you might like to use from time to time.
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples
of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.
Sometimes the words of the Lord's Prayer are so familiar that we can repeat them without thinking about the meaning. Here is an amplified version of the Lord's Prayer prepared by the Anglican Church of New Zealand which you might like to use from time to time.
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples
of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.
Prayers for others and ourselves
Loving God, You are always more ready to hear than we are to pray and give more than either we desire or deserve. We bring these prayers confident of the justice of Your answers.
We pray for those in our Church family who are experiencing ill health, anxiety, problems at school or work, or difficult family situations - we ask that they know your love, comfort and strength, and that we their neighbours will know how to be the body of Christ for them.
We pray for Your guidance when we think about the use of our gifts of time, energy and money; help us to see how these precious resources shared by our Church family can be used to fulfil our vision of a Church caring for each other and our neighbours and sharing the Good News. Help us to face the future with courage and assurance, knowing that nothing can ever part us from Your love. Lord Jesus we offer these prayers in Your name. AMEN.
We pray for those in our Church family who are experiencing ill health, anxiety, problems at school or work, or difficult family situations - we ask that they know your love, comfort and strength, and that we their neighbours will know how to be the body of Christ for them.
We pray for Your guidance when we think about the use of our gifts of time, energy and money; help us to see how these precious resources shared by our Church family can be used to fulfil our vision of a Church caring for each other and our neighbours and sharing the Good News. Help us to face the future with courage and assurance, knowing that nothing can ever part us from Your love. Lord Jesus we offer these prayers in Your name. AMEN.
A Prayer of Susanna Wesley (Mother of John and Charles Wesley)
Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church, or closet, or exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Your presence. So may my every word and action have a moral content.
May all the happenings of my life prove useful and beneficial to me.
May all things instruct me and afford me an opportunity of exercising some virtue and daily learning and growing toward Your likeness. Amen
Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church, or closet, or exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Your presence. So may my every word and action have a moral content.
May all the happenings of my life prove useful and beneficial to me.
May all things instruct me and afford me an opportunity of exercising some virtue and daily learning and growing toward Your likeness. Amen
|
Prayer Requests
If you would like to send us a public prayer request, please email it to: prayers@marlowmethodistchurch.org.uk Your prayer will be forwarded to the minister and to the prayer group. If you do not wish your prayer to be used in the public Sunday service, please put 'Not For Public' at the start of the email. The Saturday morning Prayer group meets in the worship area of the church at 10.30. It is also possible to join via Zoom. For more information please email paddygallaugher@gmail.com. |
|