Prayer for Exeter's retail sector

I was asked to lead an intercession for the retail/commercial sector of the city of Exeter at Exeter Cathedral during the annual Pray4Exeter service.  This is what I wrote, basing parts of it on the London City Mission's "Prayers for a City". 

Let us talk to God about the retail and commercial businesses in Exeter:

Gracious Father,

We pray that you will keep the commercial life pure in this city of Exeter.

Give the staff of all the shops a zeal for honesty, high standards, and straight dealings.

We pray that all shops should have honest weights, and pride in value and service;

We pray that all goods might have quality, craftsmanship, and taste;

We pray for the staff of the shops and ask that they may be attentive, and courteous;

We pray that shopping may be free from suspicion, and anxiety;

We pray that shopping and service may be marked by an atmosphere of pleasure, openness, and decency to all in every type of store.

We pray for the owners, proprietors and managers of all the shops may conduct their affairs according to Your commands;

free them from craving for power, and excessive profit;

may transactions be completed without manipulation and deceit;

guide them so that they deal justly with rival firms, not seeking to destroy or discredit;

We pray that senior staff may encourage staff to be loyal and capable, prepared to give their best each day;

We pray that you will give a congenial atmosphere to offices, banks, service industries, and every place of commerce.

May Christians in the commercial sector in the city centre, both retail and services, be known for candour, honour and justice;

let their devotion to Your precepts be an example, and a testimony;

In this time of economic pressures, we pray that you will bring all the business concerns of the City under Your governing hand, and prosper it, according to Your Way,

Your Way of rightness, and truth.

Amen

Prayers for 1st February 2015

Almighty God,
we praise you for your creation,
and all you richly provide for us day by day
Enable us to live each day in such a way
that your majesty as creator and mercy as redeemer
are seen by all who meet us this week
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

All governments rule under your authority.
May they work for the good of those they rule,
seeking your justice and peace in every law and action.

So we pray for the leaders of our country that they may devote themselves to the benefit of all people, regardless of background

We pray for wisdom for the leaders of Greece and the leaders of the EU in their efforts to solve economic problems

We pray for wisdom for all world leaders in dealing with terrorists

We pray for countries where there are refugees, and for those organisations who bring relief to them.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Enable those who are engaged in industry and commerce,
the media and education, sport and the arts, to fulfil their responsibilities with integrity and an attitude of service.

So we pray for those employed in shops, offices and factories in the city, that they may work with honesty and fairness

We pray for the schools with which the church is linked, asking for wisdom in educating and patience for the teachers and staff

We pray for those engaged in sport in the city, especially our football and rugby teams, that they may play fairly and set an example of good sportsmanship to their supporters
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Comfort and strengthen those who are gripped by poverty,
weakened by illness, or oppressed by cruelty.
We pray for the work of Christians against Poverty in the city, and for the staff of Exeter’s Food Bank.

We pray for the work of St Petrock’s and for justice for the homeless in our city

We pray for the residents of care homes in this parish, and for those from our church who are sick, face convalescence, or are anxious about a loved one.

May they all know your love and experience your care.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Inspire your church here on earth to proclaim the gospel of your love
in the death and resurrection of your Son.
May all people hear the call to trust you. 

Help us to be disciples and witnesses to the new life that is to be found in Jesus Christ

Guide Bishop Robert and Bishop Nick as they lead the diocese, and guide the staff at the Diocesan Office in their ministry
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Guide us all, this week, as the people who are gathered together here are spread around their homes, workplaces and leisure activities this week.  Help us to remember that we are your people, and to be good stewards of all that you have entrusted to us

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ

Amen

(some of this was based on “Better Gatherings” from the diocese of Sydney, Australia)

Another Advent prayer

Lord, prepare us for your Advent coming.

In our prayers today we try to come to you, sure that you will come the rest of the way.

Lord, prepare us for your coming - in the Church.

Clean out the unnecessary clutter of our church life, the piles of dead habits, the cupboards full of prejudice, the cobwebs of compromise and the sad rota of forgotten dreams. Open our church to the free flow of your refreshing Spirit. Give to our churches a new vision and hope. We want to belong to you again.

In particular, Lord, we pray for Your wisdom and guidance as St Matthew’s plans for the building project.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Lord, prepare us for your coming - in the world.

Come, drive away despair from our politics; revive our dreams of justice; restore our passion for what is good, right and true. Establish your just and gentle rule in the Middle East and Afghanistan where peace has been powerless and violent people have had their day. Set a flame to the fuse of justice in Zimbabwe where arrogant people have defied the moral order year after year. Guard well the new springtime of hope in Northern Ireland where peace has come like a gift, wrapped in reconciliation and gladness.

In particular, Lord, we long for a just settlement to emerge from the Middle East peace talks

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Lord, prepare us for your coming - in our own community.

In the problems of our locality help us never to forget the supremacy of love. May love motivate our care for this neighbourhood. May love heal the social ills which drag us into despair. May love inspire our citizenship to rise beyond mediocrity. We name in our minds the problems locally of which we are aware of homelessness in our city and pray that love, gracious and practical, will find a way.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Lord, prepare us for your coming - in those in need.

Give us eyes to search the face of the stranger and there to see the face of the Saviour. Give us sensitivity to hear the doubt and hesitation, and there, with that person, to share the confusion and the futility. There are those we know who are ill now, struggling this morning to handle the pain. Let us pray for them, for you come to us in them, and you ask for our love. We give that now, as we name them and love them in our hearts. What we have promised, in love and prayer, let us never forget to do.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Advent Lord, come ever nearer. Come to rejuvenate our faith. Come to fortify our social conscience. Come to open wide our eyes of wonder. So that when the Saviour comes, he may steal into our hearts - and find them ready. Even so come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

(I am not sure where the inspiration for this prayer came from ... so I apologise if I have infringed copyright in it.)

March 2013

Father God, we thank you for your word, and the way that it speaks to us.  We thank you for the Lent course, and we pray that this week you will continue to feed us from the Bible.  Guide us in our conversations and discussions, and help us to grow as Christians to be more like our Lord and Saviour.  We pray that our friends may see Jesus Christ in our lives..

We pray for your church across the city, and pray that your people may grow in grace and knowledge of you.  In particular we pray that you will build up the ministry of the churches in the East Exeter Mission Community, and pour out blessing on our fellow Christians in the Network Church. 

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY HEAR OUR PRAYER

Father, we thank you for those who lead our community, in the public services, commerce and industry.  We thank you for the government and pray for wisdom in the preparation for the budget.

We pray for the people of Detroit, and its financial and business leaders at this time of difficulty.  Give wisdom to all those with responsibility for providing employment in that city, and throughout the world.

We thank you for the public support of charities through Comic Relief this weekend.  As your people, we pray especially for the ministry of Tearfund and Christian Aid, working to provide practical help together with the message of the gospel.

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY HEAR OUR PRAYER

Father, we thank you for many people who are working for peace.  We thank you the you have called us to be peacemakers – help us to pray for peace whenever we become aware of situations where there is no peace.

We pray for peace in countries where there is conflict.  We pray that peace may come to Afghanistan and Iraq; we pray for progress towards peace in Israel and Palestine after President Obama’s visit, and we ask that the new government in Israel may seek peace with their neighbours.  We ask you to strengthen the Christian Church in Israel and Palestine.  And we cry to you for peace in Syria.

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY HEAR OUR PRAYER

Father, we remember how your son healed the sick, and gave forgiveness and dignity to those whose lives had been spoilt by sin and illness.  We pray now for your healing for those we know who are ill, or who are anxious because of the illness or weakness of a loved one.

We pray for those who minister to the sick; our doctors, nurses and dentists, those who work in our hospitals and old people’s homes, and those who care for people in their homes.  Give them the compassion that is needed in their encounters and help them in their vocation of helping others.

We pray for the children we know who have passed through this church as foster children, that they may grow up in stable and settled families.

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY HEAR OUR PRAYER

Finally, Lord, we ask for your Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance as we prepare for Easter.

Thank you Lord, for the chance to celebrate the greatest day in history, when Jesus rose from the dead.  Help us to know, once again, the joy and excitement of the first disciples as they came to recognise their Lord.

We pray for those who will lead services during Holy Week, and particularly pray for Bishop Nick as he leads our Mission Community celebration on Easter Day, asking that you will give him a clear and challenging message

Merciful Father

Accept these prayers