A Lighted Candle
For Hope And Healing
In The Midst Of Coronavirus.

Presidents of Churches Together in England have issued a call to prayer in the light of the Coronavirus pandemic. This is for all churches and people of prayer to join on Sunday evenings at 7pm.

They write
At such a time as this, when so many are fearful and there is great uncertainty, we are reminded of our dependence on our loving Heavenly Father and the future that he holds.

At 7pm on Sundays, light a candle in the windows of your homes as a visible symbol of the light of life, Jesus Christ, our source and hope. We have the great privilege and freedom to be able to call upon God, wherever we are, individually and corporately, for healing in our nation. We would pray for all in leadership at this time, making decisions about the containment of the Covid-19 virus, for those working in health and social care, and especially for the most vulnerable, whether elderly or those with underlying health conditions. There are already stories being told of wonderful acts of kindness across neighbourhoods. Alongside your prayers, take the opportunity to telephone or email someone who is isolated, buy some additional food for your local foodbank, or offer to deliver shopping for an elderly neighbour. We may not be able to touch physically, but we can make connections in so many other ways.


Let us pray
We light this candle as a sign that you are with us, Lord,
and with all your church gathered in different places around their candles yet united by your Spirit and in faith, hope and love. May the flickering light of our candles shine the Christ-light into the hearts of all people. Amen

Light the candle

O God
You are Lord of the visible and invisible.
There is nothing more powerful than you -
not even the invisible virus that is threatening
all the people of the world.
We turn to you.
We are sorry for all the stuff that has eclipsed you from our own lives.
We ask for your help.

Help us to overcome this.
Help us to live as kinder and more caring citizens, shaped by your character that is loving, generous, merciful and forgiving.
Teach us to be good neighbours.
Please give us another chance to be good stewards of the earth
and all that lives in it.

Bless all who are working for our safety.
Protect all who are at risk
and those who put themselves at risk for the sake of others.
Comfort the fearful, the lonely and isolated.
Help us to embrace the changes and challenges and to discover new ways of doing things.
Help us to all pull together for the good of everyone.

We pray by name for …..

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Saviour of the world; who by his resurrection, overcame the powers of darkness and evil and who will overcome this present crisis. Amen

We gather these and our unspoken prayers together in the prayer Jesus has taught us:

Contemporary

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.

Traditional

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.


Song
Longing for Light: by Bernadette Farrell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caa4sixkd44
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Amen

We note that this call to prayer and action comes on Mothering Sunday: a time of thankfulness, remembering especially mothers who have served us, often in very costly ways. It is also a very mixed day for many. For some the remembrance is painful, and for others Mothering Sunday is a reminder of disappointment or loss. In many ways, this period under the shadow of the coronavirus will be prompting similarly diverse reactions and so it seems especially appropriate that the call to prayer is made this Sunday. At this time of uncertainty join in with the National Day of Prayer and Action, lighting a candle of hope.

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7