This is an opportunity to pause in the middle of our day and we're particularly asked to do this in the nine days between the feast of Jesus' Ascension into Heaven, and in preparation for the festival of Pentecost. And we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first disciples in Jerusalem, and we ask for a fresh sense of God's power and love for us in this time and place.
Today's prayers are led by Revd Benjamin Jarvis.
Introduction
Psalm 98
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, ♦
for he has done marvellous things.
2 His own right hand and his holy arm ♦
have won for him the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his salvation; ♦
his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
towards the house of Israel, ♦
and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
5 Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; ♦
break into singing and make music.
6 Make music to the Lord with the lyre, ♦
with the lyre and the voice of melody.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn ♦
sound praises before the Lord, the King.
8 Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, ♦
the world and all that dwell upon it.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands ♦
and let the hills ring out together before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world ♦
and the peoples with equity.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Short Bible Reading
The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3.17,18
[silence]
Prayers
We are guided in praying for ourselves and those around us, ending with this prayer:
Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,
that all who hear your Word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
Conclusion
May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our
hearts and minds.
Amen.
Thank you for praying with us.
Please join us tomorrow morning for our online Pentecost Service!