Isaiah says
“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!”
We know that spiritual food and water are good for our souls and that physical food and water are good for our bodies. We give you thanks, dear Lord, for the water that comes out of our taps. We pray for those who have no clean water, who walk for many miles to a water source and need to drink water that is polluted.
We offer to you, Lord, the lighthouse project which provides food to those in need
The prophet Micah said:
"What does the Lord require of you? Only to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
God of mercy and source of justice, pour on your people such love and compassion that we cannot remain silent,
we cannot tolerate injustice and poverty. As your grace fills our hearts so may we be stirred into action to demonstrate your love for all the world and for all creatures that live and move on this earth.
Forgive us Lord for our apathy, for our lack of courage to speak out. Forgive us when we walk past and don't offer help. Forgive us when we get it wrong.
We confess that we are afraid - we don't want to overcome our hidden doubts and prejudices in order to be alongside those who are different from ourselves.
We ask that you would lead us into action: give us strength to be a voice crying for justice and peace.
Help us to step into another person's shoes, or if they have no shoes then not to be afraid to take off our own, peel off our preconceptions and assumptions, uncurl and spread out our toes, and tread in their footprints.
May we be a liberating presence and offer love, compassion and whatever is needed to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.
God of mercy and love let us serve you in our world
We pray for desert people, who live in a dry, parched land who lack water who travel constantly so that they might live. Give them living water. Let the deserts bloom into flower.
We pray that those who work on climate change may find solutions so that the erosion of soil may be halted or reversed. We pray that water and other vital supplies might not be used as a weapon of war in countries where resources are scarce.
We pray for countries where justice seems far away, where human rights are ignored.
Let us remind those in power that prisoners are not forgotten.
We pray that the dignity of life is respected and remember those who have lost that dignity through age or infirmity or neglect.
We pray for situations where the gender of a baby may lead to abandonment, where women are not offered the same opportunities, or are actively demeaned or mutilated.
May we act to challenge injustice and seek to affirm your love for all humankind.
We pray for those who have no peace -
for those who are troubled and torn apart by lack of self-esteem
for those who torment and victimise the vulnerable.
We pray for men and women affected by violence in the home and for those who live by violence.
We pray for those who are trafficked and for those who organize and profit from selling other humans. May they learn of your love and somehow come to newness of life even in the midst of despair.
We pray for those who are sick in countries where violence contributes to sickness and lack of medical care.
We commit to your care, Lord, those who have died as a result of violence, of poverty diseases and neglect.
And a prayer for the week
Lord, I have everything I want. I don’t know what I need. Show me what matters. Amen