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Shared Prayer The Bloomsbury Community
Sharing prayer and concern
Week beginning 12 February
Topics for prayer
We pray for our neighbourhood and community
for those who come into our neighbourhood for fun and entertainment
for those who work in our neighbourhood, in the leisure industry
for those in retail around us
We pray for our life together
for those who are unwell
for those who mourn
for those who are recovering from surgery
for others who carry heavy burdens of concern and responsibility
for those who will come to the concert on Saturday
or the youngsters who were at the fun day on Monday
We pray for our wider world
for the people of the Philippines, still living with the aftermath of flood and earthquake, and for those in our fellowship who are concerned
for the people of Madagascar affected by a cyclone yesterday – remembering Naivo and his family in particular
for those working to end hunger among children around the world
We pray for our BU President
preparing for various visits
We pray for our ministers in training
for Travis, working to co-ordinate our work with the homeless
for Louise, seeking to balance study and active work
Ways into prayer
For this final week of the epiphany series, we will, for the last time in this series, focus on our bodies as a way into prayer.
There are times when we feel weak, clumsy, inadequate. Normally, we try to avoid these feelings; they are not comfortable. But they are an intrinsic part of being human. So this week, we will make them part of our praying.
Take some time to be quiet and still. Allow yourself to remember a time when you felt clumsy or awkward; let yourself be aware of what that felt like.
As you remember that, repeat a phrase about the depth of the love of God; perhaps “I am my beloved’s and he is mine” or “In this is love, that God loves us” - or some other phrase that speaks to you of God’s love for you. Repeat this to yourself quietly in time with your breathing. Let it soak into you.
When you are ready to stop, thank God for the love that holds you forever, and offer your self in service and trust.
A prayer we share
May we, with all God’s people, have the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know it, though it surpasses knowing, so that we may be filled with all the measure of the fullness of God.
Ruth, Wed 15 Feb, 12:45
Shared Prayer The Bloomsbury Community
Sharing prayer and concern
Week beginning 5 February
Topics for prayer
We pray for our neighbourhood and Community
for those who are suffering in the cold weather
for those who deal with the aftermath of the bad weather
for those who are involved in making plans for the Olympics that will affect this area
We pray for our life together
for those who are unwell
for those who mourn
for those who keep our building working
for those who staff our kitchen
We pray for our wider world
for the people of Syria
for the people of the Sahel, facing famine
for the people of Palestine and Israel
We pray for our BU President
preaching at Warminster on 12 February
We pray for our ministers in training
for Louise, planning the trip to India (and dealing with the jabs)
for Travis, drawing together issues surrounding our work with people who are homeless
Ways into prayer
In this new year, as we learn to live in the light of the incarnation, we will explore praying with our bodies.
This week, we will focus on our capacity to move.
Find some time that you can be quiet. If you enjoy walking, make time to go for a walk. If you enjoy “formal exercise” make time when you can move. If you like to sit still and notice how your body moves as you breathe, do that. Find some way of noticing what it is like to move and to cease from moving.
One of the ways we can navigate the world is through our capacity to move.
Give thanks for the capacity of your body to do things. Pray for those whose movement is restricted through illness, age or other people’s decisions.
Pray for those who have great influence in the world, for their insight, wisdom and compassion as they exercise their power.
End by giving thanks for God’s life as incarnate.
A prayer we share
Turn me, O Lord, body and soul, to walk in your way. Amen
Ruth, Tue 7 Feb, 11:55
Please pray for Burma on Sunday 11 March 2012
Although democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi is now free and some political prisoners have been released there is still so much to pray for. As one member of Burma’s ethnic minorities says:
“Burma needs light to be able to avoid all the obstacles and walk through safely in the darkness of the political field. Shall we pray for that….”
Our strongest weapon in the fight for peace and justice is prayer.
So please do what you can to unite with Christians around the world and be part of this very special day for Burma!
Milly, Wed 1 Feb, 14:21
Please pray for Nigeria
As tensions in the country mount in the wake of religiously-motivated violence and nationwide fuel protests, Nigerian Christians are asking for your prayers during volatile times in their nation.
Milly, Mon 9 Jan, 13:04
A quick update, and request for your prayers
Remember those in the Philippines who are having to deal with the floods - and our own members who come from that part of the world.
We have been collecting money for Christian Aid over Christmas; this money will go the special appeal they have issued for the Philippines. We will have envelopes for the next couple of weeks.
And please continue to pray for others in our fellowship, who mourn, who are far from home, or who carry heavy burdens.
Christmas blessings
Ruth, Sat 24 Dec, 17:27
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