Suggestions for the mens' prayer group for Wednesday 30:9:2020
As we prepare...

Heavenly Father, as we gather together, we praise You for this day and Your purpose for it. Help us to chose the path you have planned for us this day. For You assure us that where two or more gather in Your name You are here with us and will hear our prayers. We ask that Your Spirit will guide and direct our thoughts and prayers during this time when we are apart yet by Your grace, together. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Gathering our thoughts...
From the Book of Common Prayer - Confession and Absolution from Morning Prayer

Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, hath given power, and commandment, to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins. He pardoneth and absolveth all those who truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present; and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We believe...
The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible, and invisible:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all Worlds, God God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, begotten not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made: Who for us men, and for our Salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the holy Ghost, The Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I believe one catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.

The collect...
Collect for the Sixteenth after Trinity and the week following

Lord, let your continual pity cleanse and defend your church, and because it cannot continue in safety without your aid, protect it by your help and goodness for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's prayer...

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Let us praise...

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Praise God the Father who's the source;
Praise God the Son who is the course;
Praise God the Spirit who's the flow;
Praise God, our portion here below!

Take some time to reflect on the many blessings we all have...

The country in which we live. The homes we enjoy. The wonder of the natural world. Our friends and families. Our church. The food on our tables. Try to list all the things we enjoy and for which we should be grateful.

Our daily needs...

Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us...

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Matthew 6:25

Our forgiveness...

Lord, we know that our forgiveness depends on how we forgive others and that this is a lesson we need to be aware of every day: please help us to see if we are holding anything against others and to meet that discovery with forgiveness so we may continue in the warmth of your love.

And Ephesians 4:32 (J B Phillips) Be kind to each other, be understanding. Be as ready to forgive others as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

The World...

Pray that the recent escalation in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be halted and that The European Court of Human Rights can make a significant difference to settle this long running dispute. Pray that areas of the World where conflict is prevalent can find peace within themselves and with their neighbours: in particular Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Kashmir.

Pray for people affected by wild fires currently in California and recently in Andalucia and other regions in Spain. Pray that the authorities in those countries will have the motivation to take preventative measures and the wisdom to provide better wild fire prevention.

Worldwide Covid-19 has infected over 33 million people and over one million people have died - a mortality rate of 3%. So much to pray for here: the wisdom and ability to communicate of the World's leaders: the families and loved ones of all those who have passed and who are still affected by the disease.

Our Country...

Give thanks for the life of Sergeant Matt Ratana: a friend, collegue, and an inspiration to many. Pray for his family and those close to him now affected by his death. Pray for Cressida Dick and Sadiq Khan and all who have taken on difficult tasks on our behalf. Give thanks for their efforts and pray that wisdom and motivation will continue to strengthen them in the future.

Pray that the final negotiations with the EU will be effective and that whatever the outcome that recriminations and poor relationships may be avoided.

Pray that greater wisdom is applied to the Covid-19 crisis and in particular that test-and-trace may be overhauled to become an effective tool in the control of what should now be regarded as the second wave. Pray that nursing homes and similar institutions may be protected in a much better manner than they were previously. Pray that politicians will acquire a realistic view of the situation and act accordingly to attempt to protect us both from Covid-19 and from the financial implications of reduced business activity. Pray that efforts to produce a safe vaccine will be fruitful very soon.

Pray for university students recently gone up to their colleges only to find themselves in lockdown. Pray for those responsible for directing their thoughts and actions and supplying their needs while they are grounded.

Our neighbourhood...

Continue to pray for the people of Woking and Saint John's and for our church, that we may be a witness to the resurrection of Jesus and a light in our community.

Our church...

Give thanks and pray for all those who contribute to our church and all its activities. Pray for Glyn that all his efforts both technical and spiritual may bear rich fruit, that he may not be overburdened with the responsibilities and that he may be greatly blessed by the results of his labours.

Pray for Peter that he will be guided as to the best way to use his time as there are many possibilities available. Pray that work to be done to the house will complete by the middle of November. There are many works - mostly relatively minor - but they need to be done in the right order. Pray for the team set up to coordinate them. Give thanks that the children are doing well at school and in Nursery and pray that Jo will be able to get to know all our church members in due course despite the lack of normality which prevails at the moment.

Pray for all those known to us who are in any need: all who have any uncertainties about their jobs, those who have health problems and any who are feeling lonely. Pray for Peter and Esther Howitt who are moving house and for Esther who recently had a fall. Pray for Iris Clarke who recently had a fall and has now been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Pray for her sons as they support her.

Continue to pray for each other - see the email heading for the list.

Our best wishes for each other...

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.