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Now some moments of meditation and prayer, knowing that however we may differ in our understanding of these, this house is nevertheless at one.
We pray for people and conditions other than our own and including our own.
The God of our understanding surely hears us when we pray in faith. We seek to be steadfast in faith, dynamic in hope and to pursue the mystery of love. Let our mundane thoughts become divine thoughts, and let our silences be filled with peace. We seek reassurance that the will of our minds is in accordance with divine will, that free of presumptions we come into harmony with one another and that, in general, our thoughts, wills and affections may be pure, joyful and robust.
We pray for people of faith. We pray for those from the East who see time as essentially spiral, bringing life round and around, and for those from the Near East who see time as essentially linear, that what they do intervenes in a history that is being played to an end point.
We pray also for our Unitarian Churches, and in particular for all the important work volunteers do in committees and trusts. We pray for our ministers and lay leaders, that they may be maintained in their faith and continue their learning, that they may forever seek to broaden their outlook and understand further what it means to be actively tolerant and thus welcoming of broadly based congregations. Grant our congregations grace to grow in intensified fellowship and mutual support and in the spirit of freedom, reason and tolerance.
In considering Unitarian Churches away from home, we think of the village Unitarianism in North East India, assisted ably by Helpme Mohrmen in his ongoing co-ordinating work and we also remember the congregation at Mumbai.
We pray for the world. Again our concerns include the political conflict in Iran. We pray that peace may come in Afghanistan. It is a month since the earthquake in Haiti, and our thoughts are with the reconstruction, that in the future Haiti may be so rebuilt that such a natural event cannot again have such devastating consequences. Also our thoughts concern this our country, as it moves towards a General Election only weeks away. Politics is about what is decisive and necessary, and we hope that its battles are fought with honesty, without personal rancour and, we hope, good humour.
Our families, friends and neighbours are ours because we are theirs. Give grace too towards our families and friends, many of whom we love but may not explicitly share our faith. We pray for those who find faith difficult, who wilfully reject its possibilities, and for all those who have honest doubts and see that doubt can be the engine of faith itself: the trust that we can build carefully and without glorification.
Some people are not as well as they could be, and they are in our thoughts. Let us also consider B, who has been undergoing an operation and include the medical staff who day in and day out exercise their vocation of care for others. There are others unwell who may be known to us too. [Pause]
There are people undergoing stress, and difficulty, perhaps who fear for loss of a job, or are already unemployed. There are those whose personal relationships may be in severe difficulty. There are those who mourn the ones who have died. We consider those in difficulty and those who have left the living. [Pause]
Rejoicing in the fellowship of ourselves, and the faithful before our time, all of us within the covenant of fellowship and burning the flame of reason, we commend these prayers for the betterment of others and ourselves. Amen.
When I say the words, 'For these thoughts, we ask for deliverance and mercy', please respond with the words 'Hear Our Prayer'. We pray for the Church and the world.
We pray for people of faith, the followers and leaders, that they may be better members of their own faith communities and serve each other and those beyond. We pray that people tolerate differences and come to harmonious solutions, and that those in the Anglican Communion can solve their differences without too much further acrimony. We pray for those who serve the Unitarian Churches around the world, and especially think of new congregations in Africa, where they are tackling the problem of aids and orphans as a direct consequence of their new faith.
For these thoughts, we ask for deliverance and mercy
Hear Our Prayer
We pray for the world, particularly having in mind places of conflict. We think of conflict costing citizens' and military lives in Afghanistan. We think of tension in Iran with issues stretching into the conflict in Israel/ Palestine. There is ongoing suppression in Burma. We look for the end of political corruption wherever it is found.
For these thoughts, we ask for deliverance and mercy
Hear Our Prayer
Now with a moment's silence we consider those who are ill known to us, or experiencing any form of mental stress, and those who are no longer alive, including any whose anniversary falls about now.
[Silence]
For these thoughts, we ask for deliverance and mercy
Hear Our Prayer
Merciful God, Accept these prayers, For the sake of our concerns. Amen.
Let us pray for faith and the world, that all may be fulfilled. After each expression: 'Lord in your mercy', please say, if you wish, 'Hear our Prayer'.
We pray for the faiths and those in leadership who serve the people of faiths; we pray for the ministry in all its forms of Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist Churches around the world.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer
Let us pray for the world: for the equilibrium of this environment in this season. We pray for the places in human conflict and war, around the troubled continents of this world. Think of those places we hear about in the media, with tensions and troubles that seem unresolvable, and yet sometimes ways of peace and harmony can be found that melt the boundaries between the human tribes.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer
We pray for this country and this city and its environs. Let those who take up the responsibility of power enact it wisely and seek the common good. Let the whole community prosper and come together as one.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer
Let us pray for those in need and the sick. We pray for the underemployed and unemployed in economic need, for those in poverty and destitution; and we pray for those who are undergoing sickness in whatever form. You may know of people in need, and may want to offer their names silently as we pause a few moments.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer
We pray for those who have died, and those whose anniversaries fall about now. We pray in memory for those who were but are no longer with us, those whom we have known, and those about whom we can say have joined the Communion of Saints. We pause to bring them forward.Merciful Lord
Accept these prayers.
Amen.
[Based in part on the structure in Church of England (2000), 'Prayers of Intercession', Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, London: Church House Publishing, e.g. 174.]
In these difficult days
We pray for those in government
That they may come to honourable decisions
Difficult that these may be,
That they may serve us, and others, in a God-like observing manner.
The lives we lead are built upon tender foundations,
And our life-houses, built so slowly, reformed so often
Are vulnerable, and need nurturing, and protecting.
We pray for peace, the necessary wealth, and Godliness.
We pray for those in faith and the faiths
That we all think again about our life paths
To see the aims of religion, but not to be captors of religion.
Faithful, yet not extreme; devoted, yet not slavish, focussed, yet not narrow minded.
We pray for faith that is tolerant towards all.
We pray for the world in all its aspects
The world interrelates in unity,
Plant and animal life:
All living creatures have their rightful places
And we pray for the great responsibility of those who know, and see, and speak, and do to others
We pray for all life, and a responsible humankind.
And in these meditations and prayers, which we consider together, we consider also those we know ourselves. Perhaps they are our lovers, or come to us as friends, or come indifferently, or they present themselves as enemies. We pray for those whom we see and in silence.
Once again we meet as we leave one week and face another; we come here because we identify with one another, and our meaning of the world within us is projected into the world without. The recreating starts here in this communal fellowship, for we are here.
Let us throw away the week»s skin of falseness and put on a new coat for the next; let us recreate a world of colour and fun, of pleasure and hope, and know that these are possible even when the rough times return and are with us. For it is upto us to be sincere, brave and resolute - if possible.
Not only we ourselves face life, but so do all others. Let us think now in silence of those we know - our colleagues, friends and family - and how we may be when we meet them again.
Some silence follows.
O God of our world and minds, O ways of the religious life, we do think about and pray for all people burdened by the problems of life: the lonely, the sad, the desperate, the little employed, the infirm. For many, the way is not tolerable, they see little future; but for many of these, we know that they are subject to no more than the opinion of others, who act as an impersonal means of running down and making redundant. If living is mundane it is still sacred, and all living can be made sacred.
Where we are miserable it is not because we have little value in ourselves, but because we have only come to see little value in ourselves. Let us dismiss any value in terms of a market price or another's opinion, but rather find happiness in our many skills, in the pleasures we give to others, in the pleasures given by others to ourselves. Who we are is not to be defined by a system, by a process, by a restricting culture, by money; for in so far as these limit us, they are ours to change. For when people are to be raised, and raised to be new, and for the raising of people to new fulfilling life, we may do it and may say 'thank you friend', 'thanks be to God' that we can change.
Let us think of the religious traditions, some of God and some not. We consider the few original prophets, and the men and women of charismatic leadership who down the ages brought the faiths to many, not so that men and women could become bitter and opposed to others of different prophets, but so they could be supported and comforted and all come to value themselves in new and better understandings, and better their lives.
Let us also think of the modern decision makers and those with the means to act in this continuing cruel world. We are drenched through modern media of images of suffering and yet sit in helplessness as all these pictures, all the messages, come only to us one way through our televisions and radios and computers. We think of the United Nations, underbudgetted, taking on more and more difficult tasks as some communities, struggling for identities, find only hatred for those with other identities; we think of politicians inexpertly fumbling through for solutions to others' intractable problems. Let us hope that ways of justice and peace can be found, in all the struggles of the world. If neighbour could love neighbour, if the parables of Jesus or the harmony of the Buddha might be used and found, then peace would come between communities and they would find harmony.
We think of all these things with a moment»s silence.
Let us now pray silently for those in responsible positions in society, for the Royal Family, for the wise counsel of Government, for those we meet, for those we know and love, for friends and for ourselves. Silence follows.
Let us pray for the people of this world, that the governments act with due sensitivity to the liberties and duties of humans so that they may may suffer less and enjoy more.
We pray that this happens.
Let us pray for the state of the whole ecology, that the earth may flourish for its own sake and not just ours.
We pray that this happens.
Let us pray for the religions of the world that they may be furthered in their work of advancing the worth of people and all life; that their Gods, founders and prophets give insight for all.
We pray that this happens.
Let us pray for our own Unitarian movement, that it may shed light and truth in freedom, reason and tolerance, and give benefit to all who hear it.
We pray that this happens.
And so we pray that all people, whatever their health and sickness, whether in life or passed from life, may be appreciated by others for what they were, are and do.
We pray that this happens.
Let us have a period of silence to consider ourselves and those we know
Intercession is ended by ringing the bell
I light a candle for those who are sick and need healing.
Light the candle
Now as we gaze steadily at this simple flame,
Seeing only its light,
All those about our circle
Shall concentrate on healing.
Think of those who are sick or need help,
Those you love and those you trust.
And picture clearly a life force that flows,
Of strength and power into the afflicted body,
To those we want to help,
Until healing happens.
[Adapted from Slater, A Book of Pagan Rituals, 1978, p. 22)]
Let us think in silence of those we know and trust, of those we love and have loved, those who are alive and those now a precious memory.
Let us pray in the spirit of the good religions and creative philosophies and for all people according to their needs. Say after each part that follows, "We pray for them."
We pray for the religions of the world, the International Association for Religious Freedom and Unitarian Churches. We hope they all practice as they preach, live together in love and glorify the world.
We pray for them.
We pray for those in authority in the world: and especially consider the European Community and the British government in the hope that they may find the ways of honour, justice and peace.
We pray for them.
We pray for our families, friends and neighbours, so that they may serve and love one another.
We pray for them.
Let us pray now for those who suffer in the hope that they may come through their difficult period and trusting in our love find peace.
We pray for them.
And we pray for those who died in faith, believing that their lives and their contributions will live on in the collective memories of all on earth to the benefit of all who seek the Kingdom.
We pray for them.
Our prayers are offered in faith towards the God we know in the spirit of humanity, and we now think on these things in silence (ended by ringing the bell). Amen.
Let us pray now for the people of the world, and say after each part, "This is our hope."
Let us think about the rights and responsibilities of citizeship and the high place that should go to human rights.
This is our hope.
Let us hope for harmony in the world: harmony between the different races and cultures, between the rich and poor, between the generations of young and old.
This is our hope.
We passionately hope for justice, and support the work of many that aims for equality of opportunity in all fields of life between all kinds of people, for the path of justice leads to the way of peace.
This is our hope.
Let us express within ourselves our caring attitude for the weak and disadvantaged, whether short or long lived. Our thoughts also go to those weak, sick and hungry. We think about the unprotected and for victims. There are the people in prison, the inmates - and not forgetting the staff - who should also be of concern to us. We wish all these people see something of the light of the fullness of life.
This is our hope.
And finally we pray for the giving of more love and respect in our families, between neighbours, amongst friends and coleagues and between us here in this church as within all religious bodies.
This is our hope.
Shortly we have a minute of silence in which to pray and think about those in authority and government in the hope they operate according to the ways of justice and of peace, let us think about the religions and our churches and that they serve all who need them, let us think about the people, colleagues, friends and family and ourselves that they and we enjoy good welfare, and that for all society there are the ways of hope for the future.
[Silence follows]
I light a candle for those who are sick and need healing.
Now as we gaze steadily at this simple flame,
Seeing only its light,
All those about our circle
Shall concentrate on healing.
Think of those who are sick or need help,
Those you love and those you trust.
And picture clearly a life force that flows,
Of strength and power into the afflicted body,
To those we want to help,
Until healing happens.
(adapted from Slater, A Book of Pagan Rituals, 1978, p. 22)
Let us think in silence of those we know and trust, of those we love and have loved, those who are alive and those now a precious memory.
Righteousness alone exalts the world community
And so we pray for the whole body of people
That every calling may be fulfilled in truth and honesty
With diligence and goodwill
And that, amid the cares of life, men and women may seek and find the ways of honour, kindness and service.
We pray that our social life may be purged from the love of luxury, from the pursuit of vanity and worldliness, and from self-indulgence and vice.
We pray for all servants in political office, that suspicion and misunderstanding may be removed from them, and that all jealousy and ethnic prejudice be done away; and that the spirit of justice, goodwill and mutual help be so spread that there may be an end to war, cruelty and oppression.
We pray for all those who love and help humanity: for those who help children in the paths of wisdom and virtue: for those who share in the burdens of the friendless and needy, and for those who day by day witness and work for the noblest in life, that they may be strong and of good courage.
We pray for the homeless and poor, for the sick in body or soul, for the hopeless and faint-hearted, for the sorrowful and lonely, and all who grow weary in the race of life; that through the aid and sympathy of their neighbours they may find fresh courage and hope.
We pray for all hospitals and places of healing, and for doctors, consultants and nurses, that they continue to work with wisdom, skill, sympathy and patience.
We pray for all animals, and that humankind respects animals of all varieties, giving them their rightful place in the world, able to demonstrate thoughts and behaviour natural to them.
We pray for all places of learning, and their promotion of knowledge, wisdom and good character, and that they do this work reverently.
As we mediate upon and pray for all these, let us also go forward in our daily lives to help make the crooked straight and the rough places plain, and to do so in the spirit of true service for all the generations of life on this earth.
These prayers we make humbly in the renewal of our hearts, the reception of grace and the setting out on the work that must be done, and that the strength to do right stays with us until life's end.
Amen.
God, which is memory, expression and love
We bring our supplications for all people.
Please say after each passage, "Loving kindness give to them."
We bring our supplications for all people.
For all whom we love, watch and care,
Who have blessed us with kindness
Led us with patience
Restored us with their sympathy and help
Whose charity covered a multitude of our sins
It is time to do them likewise, and others:
Loving kindness give to them.
Strengthening their good works.
For the young:
That in the morning of their lives they learn to love and serve, using their clear vision and high courage, they press forward in noble purposes.
Loving kindness give to them.
That they grow wiser.
For those in the middle of their lives:
That amid life's turmoil and doubt they remember and use the ideals of youth so to choose wisely and act boldly.
Loving kindness give to them.
That life establishes a wholesome pattern.
For those who are powerless:
That they find a sense of responsibility and place in the wider social fabric wherever they are, and are treated well by those of power over them.
Loving kindness give to them.
That life is seen as worthwhile.
For those in positions of responsibility and control:
That they act with patience and care and choose wisely, and that they serve and not dominate over their people, and that they see the wisdom in giving up manipulations and authoritarianism, and instead find honesty and openness.
Loving kindness give to them.
That social and economic and political live strives towards high ideals and realities.
For the retired and aged:
For those who may have difficulty in movement, and those who may think less sharply than before, and yet whose memories and values are strong, and who may face life's end with a sense of worth and fulfilment.
Loving kindness give to them.
And strength, and courage.
And for the sick and those who are suffering:
For those will illness in body and mind, and those anxious and troubled about those they love, the bereaved, the perplexed and weary, and yet who fight for clarity and health.
Loving kindness give to them.
And bring them from dark to light.