Dear Lord, we pray
for those who have been touched by crime and violence,
experiencing physical and mental anguish, pain and fear. Grant
them courage to overcome their fears and re-establish an
acceptable quality of life, despite their circumstances, and
show forgiveness, so avoiding bitterness setting in.
We pray, too, for those
involved in crime, that they may realise there is a better
way. May we each live in such a way that we impact positively
for good and provide an environment where evil is patently not
acceptable, with truth and love triumphant.
The wicked man flees
though no one pursues,
but the righteous are as bold as a
lion.
Proverbs 28:1 NIV
-------------------
Thank you for being there
when I need you and for answering my prayers, even if I do not
always understand your answer. Thank you for allowing the Holy
Spirit into my life. I know what life was like without you and
I now know the joy of being filled with your love. Lord, there
are times when I let you down - thank you for understanding my
failings, please guide me towards the standards you expect of
me.
I ask that you let me see
more clearly the role you have planned for me and I will try
to be worthy of the trust you place in me.
I offer my prayer through
your Son and my Saviour, Jesus Christ.
I call on you, O God,
for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my
prayer.
Psalm 17:6 (NIV)
----------------
Come, Lord Jesus, our
guest to be
And bless these gifts
Bestowed by
Thee.
And bless our loved ones everywhere,
And keep them
in Your loving care.
------------------
Our
Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of
gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for
this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for
life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other
blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for
health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You
would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ,
Our
Heavenly Father.
- Harry Jewell
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O God of all
Creation: You have cared for the earth, and have filled it
with your riches. Abundance flows in your steppes, through the
pastures and wilderness. You provide for our land, softening
it with showers, bathing it in light, and blessing it with
growth.
The hills sing with joy;
the meadows are covered with flocks; the fields deck
themselves with wheat; and together they glorify your
name!
On this occasion of our
Thanksgiving, we as a nation take rest from our labors to
consider your many blessings. We thank you for our freedoms,
and for the opportunity to contribute our skills, our
attributes and our values toward the good of society.
We thank you for the
mixture of our cultures, blending us into one people under
God. Help us to be a light unto other nations, and to further
the cause of freedom and justice all over the world.
We remember those who are
less fortunate than we. We lift up in prayer the victims of
poverty and racism, and all those who suffer from forms of
political and economic oppression. Let the word that goes
forth from our mouths speak of your peace, and let us proclaim
our hope in Christ as Savior of all humankind.
We pray that you will
bless all those who gather here, as we have come to experience
your presence among us. Give us your guidance, O God, and
empower us for your work. For we claim nothing for ourselves,
but return all honor and glory unto you, and offer our thanks
and praise. Amen.
From "Prayers for God's
People"
Thomas P. Roberts,
editor
-----------------------
Psalm 111
Praise the Lord.
I
will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the
company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the
works of the Lord, studied by all who have pleasure in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his
righteousness endures for ever.
He has caused his
wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and
merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him; he is
ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the
power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the
nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all
his precepts are trustworthy,
they are established for
ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and
uprightness.
He sent redemption to his people; he has
commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his
name!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have all those who practice it. His
praise endures for ever!
--------------------------