Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Praying during the Coronavirus Outbreak

This resource was originally produced for evening worship at Trinity on Sunday 15 March (printed versions will be available when the Church is open for private prayer)


A prayer produced by the Methodist Church

We should not be afraid “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  2 Timothy 1:7.

God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace.

We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty.
For those people who are worried about attending worship.
For those needing to make decisions in order to care for other
For those who will feel more isolated by not being able to attend.
Grant us your wisdom.
Holy God, we remember that you have promised that
Nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you.
Amen

Praying for those on the front-line here
and around the world.

We pray for Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics
and Hospital Support Staff who are treating
those affected and seeking to maintain a
service for others in need of medical care

We pray for carers supporting the
vulnerable and elderly in their homes
or in residential homes

We pray for leaders in other public
services as they face additional
pressure in preparing contingency
plans and the demands from clients
needing information and reassurance

We pray for those working in shops
and supermarkets managing the extra
demand caused by panic-buying

We pray for policy makers and
advisers as they respond to the latest
information, that they may lead us
wisely and set an example in calm
restraint in the face of uncertainty   

We pray for those who are vulnerable
and at risk
We pray for those who have already
contracted Coronavirus and for their
close family, friends and loved ones.

We pray for those who are in selfisolation
– particularly those
vulnerable to loneliness or mental
health difficulties

We pray for those who are anxious
about their own health or the wider
situation

We pray for those whose
circumstances mean that they do not
have access to information that will
help them to protect themselves

We pray for those who have no home
in which to self-isolate

We pray for those who are mourning
the death of loved ones as a result of
the virus.


We pray for the church
We ask for wisdom for leaders in the
local church and national churches as
they decide the best way to respond
to the Coronavirus situation

We pray for creative ways to maintain
our ministry to each other and our
mission to our community especially if
social-isolation becomes official policy

We pray that we would continue to be
diligent in looking over one another in
love, especially in ensuring those at
home are not totally cut-off from the
church community.

We pray that you would help us to
find practical ways of loving one another
e.g. ensuring that people have
enough food, helping to collect
prescriptions etc.

Help us to resist the temptation to
join others in panic-buying or
inconsiderate actions in public-places.

(Feel free to add prayer resources in the comments - and don't forget to click to see them!) 

2 comments:

  1. Prayer for Relaxation & Anxiety

    Dear Lord,
    Please help me to rest.
    I place my list of things to do in your hands.
    Just for a moment, I let it go.

    I place any thoughts about how things should be different, in your hands.
    Just for a moment, I let them go.

    I place any thoughts about how someone else should be different, in your hands.
    Just for a moment, I let them go.

    I place any thoughts about how I should be different in your hands.
    Just for a moment, I let them go.

    Right Now, just for a moment, I allow things to be as they are,
    I allow someone else to be as they are,
    I allow myself to be as I am,
    And so I rest.
    Amen!

    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    Help us steer to the left or the right, but to stay on the path ahead.
    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    At Home, at school, at work, at play:
    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    When we are sad and when we are happy.
    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    When we are tempted by what the world offers:
    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    When we are tempted to follow in the same actions of others:
    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    When we are right, and when we are wrong:
    Keep us on course, God, Keep us on course.
    Amen!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am finding Ian White's song Though I feel afraid (All I know) to be very inspiring. Easy to find on You tube or in Spotify. Lyrics are:

    Though I feel afraid of territory unknown,
    I know that I can say that I do not stand alone.
    For Jesus you have promised you presence in my heart;
    I cannot see the ending, but it’s here that I must start.

    And all I know is you have called me,
    and that I will follow is all I can say.
    I will go where you will send me
    and your fire lights my way.

    What lies across the waves may cause my heart to fear;
    will I survive the day, must I leave what’s known and dear?
    A ship that’s in the harbour is still and safe from harm
    But it was not built to be there,
    it was made for wind and storm.

    And all I know is you have called me,
    and that I will follow is all I can say.
    I will go where you will send me
    and your fire lights my way.

    ReplyDelete