Lord, we give thanks to you for this wonderful earth, a place full of beauty through which so many travel at this time of year. Keep safe all those who travel. Help them to find the peace and inspiration of your world and bring it home with them. Amen. Continue reading Sunday prayer 24th July

Lord, thank you for being with us. Thank you for taking the burden of caring for us. When we try to reflect on all the needs for prayer, we are defeated. This last week, so many innocent people have died suddenly, randomly, tragically. Just because of where they were, not even who they were or what they did. So many souls to pray for, so many onlookers and families and friends to pray for, so many emergency workers to pray for, so many around the world who are shocked and frightened by these deaths. Lord, help us to defeat the … Continue reading Sunday prayer July 17th

Lord, I am focussed on researching unlearning. There is much in my life I need to unlearn. Old die-hard habits of response without enough reflection. Responding too fast to the temptation to gossip. Allowing my sharp tongue too much instant freedom. These are old protection mechanisms for an early stage in life. Help me to rethink, to unlearn the superficial responses which I always regret, thinking more deeply each day about my response to others to keep it loving and kind through your example. Amen Continue reading Sunday prayer July 10th

Lord, how do we make sense of the mass of people we meet? The media seeks to simplify and gives us labels, good and bad. But your love is uniquely given to each one. Our own experience of meeting new people is mixed but so often positive, if we look for you in their eyes. Help us Lord to find the you in them. Amen Continue reading Sunday prayer July 3rd

Lord, we can so quickly dismantle the structures that others painstakingly build. On this day guide us, lead us, help us to keep the peace that so many have worked for. On this day please keep our eyes on those who face death in order to have a small part of our prosperity and peace. Make us aware of what we have had, that we might share it rather than try to take it from others. Help us to see that peace is built on co-operation and trust, not suspicion and jingoism. Help us Lord. Amen Continue reading A prayer for peace on 24th June 2016

Lord, I saw a young child take her first look at the West face of York Minster today. Help her to see behind the magnificent stonework to the simple faith inside. Amen Continue reading Sunday prayer 19th June

Lord, in this time of national joy at the Queen’s 90th birthday, we remember and lift to you all whose energies are lessening but whose faith and spirit of service remains strong Amen Continue reading Sunday prayer 12th June

Yesterday some of the Reader group who were licensed together in October 2010 met together. We met in prayer and in fellowship, offering care and love with the understanding which comes from a shared life-changing experience. As part of our day, Anita led us in the making of a community psalm, which turned out to be cathartic as so many of the Biblical psalms must have been for their author. Here is the psalm we made together, based on our reflections of the day and of our experience as Readers for the last six years. Thank you to Anita for … Continue reading community psalm making

Lord, we get closer to a voting deadline in the UK which upsets and worries some people. These passionate feelings worked up on either side may be helpful but we will need your help Lord to settle down afterwards. It is right that we should consider the information we have available to us before making voting decisions, but does it need to lead to anger, to spite, to fabrication in some cases? Lord guide us in your wisdom to consider options carefully, and once we have voted, to develop a more constructive dialogue in the public domain. Amen Continue reading Sunday prayer 5th June

Lord, you give us hope. When colour goes out of our vision, and the darkness of grey clouds the world; when all we hear around us are negatives and we focus on the things we have not done and the things we have done which weigh us down; these are the times when we look to you for hope. Then prayer, repeated prayer, formal prayer and simple talk to you can bring the light back. You show us people with light in their eyes and smiles on their faces. You colour our surroundings until we see you again and are … Continue reading Sunday prayer 29th May