Prayer focus for the week beginning 31st December 2023:
Before you pray, give thanks that ‘You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer. (Ps.86 V.5)
• Tetbury Praying the Town: Northfield Road and Cattle Lane
• The Parish of St Marys
• Give thanks for those who faithfully open and close the church day by day
• The Departed and those who mourn their loss remembering especially Jean Pearce (Funeral Wednesday 3rd January at 11.30am at Holy Trinity, Long Newnton), Peter Trustram Eve, Nick Tucker (priest), Jean Peasley and Grace Vater. We give thanks for their lives, and pray for God’s comfort for their family and friends
• Local issues: for all those visitors who attended special services over Christmas, that they will continue to reflect on the good news of God’s presence with us in Jesus
• National issues: as we approach Epiphany and remember the wise men coming to worship the baby Jesus, pray for all Bible translators seeking to share the good news of God’s love throughout the world
• World issues: As a new year begins, we pray for the UN peacekeeping teams, for their safety and that they may be instrumental in reducing conflict and finding peaceful and just resolutions. ‘Give peace in our time, oh Lord.’
• Look back on 2023 with gratitude, and to the new year with hope:
‘We’ll praise Him for all that has passed, and trust Him for all that’s to come.’
All things are possible with God. Mark 10:27
Please click here for prayers for Israeli-Hamas conflict
Are you, or someone you know, in need of prayer? You are welcome to hang your prayer request on the prayer tree in the prayer corner at the front of St Marys’ church