You are the Resurrection and the Life
Christ Jesus,
You understand the pain of loss,
the grief that seems to take
the air from my lungs.
You are the Resurrection
and the Life.
All our hope is in you.
Lord Jesus,
may I find a way through
the darkness
to the light of your love.
You are the Resurrection
and the Life.
All our hope is in you.
Christ Jesus,
you wept at the death of your friend, Lazarus.
Now your compassion wipes the tears from our eyes.
May we find comfort in reaching out to others
who feel lost and alone.
You are the Resurrection and the Life.
All our hope is in you.
Today, we are going to think about one particular star; the star that, according to Matthew’s Gospel, the three wise men are said to have followed to lead them to Jesus. Matthew’s Gospel describes a star that acted as a guide for the wise men. They travelled from the East towards Bethlehem after they saw this particular star. It led them to the place where Jesus had been born, and they were able to visit Jesus. Today, this event is celebrated by Christians around the world as the feast of Epiphany. The traditional date to celebrate Epiphany is 6 January, but some countries celebrate it on the first Sunday after 1 January or on 19 January.
Dear God,
We thank you that you wanted both rich and poor to see baby Jesus. We thank you for Christmas, and for the holidays you gave us to enjoy with our friends and families.
As we think about Epiphany, we are reminded that every person is important to you. Help us to do the same, to welcome people from all backgrounds and religions.
Please help us to enjoy all the gifts that you have given to us.
Amen.
During the UN climate conference (COP26), this year hosted in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November world leaders will be talking about how we can preserve our world and its rising climate.
God saw everything that He had created and God said ‘It was good’.
Each year, we create a prayer space based on the theme of change and transition to our new classes. All the children visit the prayer space with their new teacher. The aim of the space is to:
- Allow children and adults to explore prayer in a creative way.
- Enable those who take part to feel more spiritually prepared for change and transition.
- Foster a natural curiosity about prayer, life and their own personal identity in the world.
Amen
Before we eat lunch:
Bless us, as we sit together.
Bless the food we eat today.
Bless the hands that made our food.
Bless us O Lord.
Amen
Before we go home:
God our Father, I come to say, thank you for your love today.
Thank you for my family and all the things you give to me.
Guard me in the dark of night and in the morning send your light.
Amen
Full of grace, (Lift your left hand pointing to the sky.)
The Lord is with thee. (Bring your hands down folded near your heart.)
Blessed art thou amongst women, (Take your right hand and sweep it across your body pointing to all the girls in the group around you.)
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. (Pretend you are rocking a baby in your arms.)
Holy Mary, (Lift your right hand pointing to the sky.)
Mother of God, (Lift your left hand pointing to the sky.)
Pray for us sinners, (Bring your hands down folded near your heart.)
Now (Point down to the ground with both hands.)
And at the hour of our death. (Point to a pretend watch on your wrist.)
Amen. (Bring hands together folded near your heart.)
Follow these links to watch films to inspire prayer:
in the cool of the day,
in the garden you have created
as our common home.
Walk beside us, Lord,
as the cries of the forest
pierce the dawn,
and flames rip through
our common home.
Grant us courage, Lord,
as we walk beside all those
who struggle, to protect
our common home.
Grant us hope, Lord,
and the vision to walk dark paths
in the light
of a single sunbeam.
Grant us grace, Lord,
to put the flourishing of all people
and the wonder of your creation
at the heart of all we do,
as we strive to be guardians
of our common home.
St Francis, pray for us
Charity
Almighty and eternal Father, today on the feast day of our patron St Vincent de Paul we pray. Guide our eyes to see those in need, our minds to the example of Christ and our hands to lift others out of pain. St Vincent de Paul, we follow your example, please continue to guide our hearts to love and intercede for us in our work and in our lives.
Amen
Day of Reflection
Lord God,
on this anniversary of the first lockdown
we pause and we remember.
So many have died; so many have been bereaved.
So many still struggle; so many lives have been disrupted.
Lord God,
because you too remember,
because you too weep,
because you too have shared in every death,
and because of the resurrection,
we put our hope in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen