Prayer for Peace in our Communities

As I write after nights of violence and lawlessness in London and other communities, I see that the Prime Minister has just recalled Parliament to meet on Thursday.

Our diocese has issued this item this morning, but it won't be accessible to everyone so I print it here:

It's difficult to know how to respond to the current situation in London and elsewhere with what seems like a complete breakdown in law and order. At best (if we can call it that) it appears to be young people giving vent to their feelings of anger and frustration with society as a whole. At worst, it's simply criminal behaviour on a huge scale stretching the resources of the police and emergency services almost to breaking point. For those of us who aren't experiencing the horrors of these events first hand we must pray that things won't continue to escalate and that the communities affected can get their lives back to normal. And we can pray for long-term solutions to the problems.

The following prayer which may help has been posted on the Church of England website today:

A prayer for peace in our communities

Gracious God,
We pray for peace in our communities this day.
We commit to you all who work for peace and an end to tensions,
And those who work to uphold law and justice.
We pray for an end to fear,
For comfort and support to those who suffer.
For calm in our streets and cities,
That people may go about their lives in safety and peace.
In your mercy, hear our prayers,
now and always. Amen


Among the other prayers is a prayer for the current financial situation

Lord God, we live in disturbing days:
across the world,
prices rise,
debts increase,
markets are in turmoil,
jobs are taken away,
and fragile security is under threat.
Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer:
be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands,
and a light in the darkness;
help us receive your gift of peace,
and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

You can find more prayers concerning recent events by following this link.

Meanwhile, you can find links from this blog to two sermons preached by Rosie Junemann, our Reader, on the last two Sundays. Go to the Homilies and Magazines page by using the appropriate tab near the top of this page.