Prayer Month 31st May

Today’s thoughts are provided by Revd Nick Oborski.

Dear friends, today is the last day of our month of prayer. I hope you have found it an encouragement and help to have journey through this month. Of course, prayer does not stop today so I encourage you to continue to pray for our world and the Methodist Church every day. Please join the District prayer meeting tonight at 8pm on Zoom. If you want the password to join please contact your Minister.

Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you … Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.’ PSALM 102:1–2

As you know I have used material from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) and today is no different. Tomorrow the differences between England and Wales become more pronounced as children in England begin to resume schooling. My own granddaughter is in yr. 6 and will be back in school tomorrow. It seems right to finish our month praying for those in Education. Again, below are thoughts from those who are involved in education

Giving thanks … • ‘I see God in the social, emotional, physical, and practical work being done by schools to support pupils. Nearly half of our pupils received free school meals. Over the past nine weeks, staff have delivered food to their homes.’ Teachers are ‘selflessly still going to work to care for others, putting themselves at more risk and giving up their free time, in most cases unpaid.’

‘Ask for God’s help…

Pressures: What are the pressures affecting this context?

• ‘The pressure is for those children and young people who are considered vulnerable – those with special educational needs, those eligible for free school meals, those who are on child protection registers. There are many children who experience difficult or less than loving homes and schools are their safe spaces.’

• ‘New online ways of teaching are very demanding, and many teachers are feeling isolated and stressed, complaining of very bad headaches and sleeplessness.’

• ‘Where we’re predicting student GCSE and A level grades, we feel pressured to make sure that we do it accurately, and it will be hard dealing with the fallout from students and parents if they don’t like what they get.’

Praying God’s heart for these people and situations...

Loving God we thank you for the gift of Education. We pray for all those working to educate our children, grandchildren, our nephews, nieces, and cousins who would normally be in school. Help them as they produce and mark work to be mindful of the different needs of each child. We pray for those who should be going back to school tomorrow, some excited, some fearful and for their parents agonising over whether it is right to send them. We ask that your peace may descend, and right decisions will be made. We know that school cannot be the same, but we ask that you will help teachers and children to adapt to the new ways of working that will begin tomorrow. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen

Praying for the Wales Synod and Our Circuit

I invite us to use this Pentecost to pray for an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon us, our churches, and our nation.

A Prayer

Loving God we thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, forgive us when we fail to acknowledge your presence or allow you space to move in our hearts and minds. Father, we have seen revival in Wales in the past and we pray for another revival in this place. We ask that you send down your Spirit upon us. Give us the courage to follow you and to proclaim your love and power to everyone we meet. Help us to be bold to pray asking and expecting you to act and we ask that you would indeed honour our prayers as we seek the rebuilding of your kingdom in Wales. Amen