Loving God,
We live in this waiting time, 
Wondering what will happen next. 
Asking, questioning, searching. 
Will we return to the old normal? 
What new things do you have in store for us?
Creator God, grant us hope in the midst of a confused and troubled world.
Redeemer God, pour out your gift of love, that our lives may bear fruit. 
Sustainer God, free us from fear about what the future might hold 
and give us power to live whole-heartedly for others and all creation.
Amen.

^{By the Revd Dr Elizabeth Welch, member of St Andrew’s URC in Ealing}

God of the Ages,
to whom a day is as a thousand years,
be with us as we wait for infections to decrease,
for data to be analysed, 
for decisions to be made,
and for life to return to something more normal.
But help us, O God,
to learn from these long months,
to value new ways of accessing worship,
new ways of ministry,
and new patterns of working,
that we may not return unquestioningly to the old
but listen to your voice speaking through the chaos.
Amen.

^{By the Revd Andy Braunston who works with four churches in and around south Glasgow}

Healing Father, giver of wholeness, 
as we move once again out of a life of restriction and into the glory of your world,
we give thanks for places and people of healing, 
for individuals in communities, churches, hospitals, and care homes.

We pray for your healing to be present
in the lives of all who hurt and grieve and in the midst of a broken world.
As we move towards being able to worship you again in our communities,
Let us not forget those churches that remain closed and the congregations
that may never worship together again.

We ask that we too will receive the touch of your presence in our lives
so that we can pass it to others who have not yet seen your glory and majesty.
Help us to open ourselves to You as our lives gradually open up, 
and give us hope enough to trust in Your resurrection promises.

When I survey the wondrous cross, 
on which the Prince of glory died, 
My richest gain I count but loss, 
and pour contempt on all my pride.
God be merciful to me, a sinner. Amen

^{By Ann Barton, local leader at Whittlesford URC in the Eastern Synod}

Liberating God, walk with us into our new freedoms,
taking care to remember that we all approach life differently;
Give us sensitivity to people’s feelings.
Give each person a sense of joy as we explore renewed life.
Reveal to us, your vision, as we hold on to the simplicity, we have found with you.
Enable us to share your enduring love for all people and creation.
Hug us every day, by your spirit. Amen

^{By the Revd Sue Chapman, Hove and Portslade Pastorate, East Sussex}

God of the Oppressed, Lover of the Marginalised, Friend of the Poor:
Fill us with, loving kindness so we can offer open hospitality to the places and people we serve.
Inspire us like those of the early Church to stand up against injustice here and overseas.
Embolden us to speak out against inhumane decisions.

As Pentecost People:
We want to step out and model a counter-cultural way of living that sees a person not a cog in a machine
We want to represent a “new normal” that isn’t only aware of COVID but is a aware of mental & physical health
We want to imitate the now and not-yet of the kin-dom of God that ensures people have all they need to thrive without causing destitution amongst those in deprivation.

Keep us soft enough to weep with those who suffer, especially in Myanmar, India and Palestine,
But hard enough to stand against structural evil in the world to bring about change in the world.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

^{Kirsty-Ann Mabbott, Church Related Community Worker, Ansty Road URC, Coventry}

With Pentecost approaching we trust you afresh Lord, our God of surprises.
With the Holy Spirit within us we say with confidence; ‘we are not shaken but strong!’ 
With the joy of your presence we declare victory is yours over everything we face. 
With praises on our lips we sing a new song of hope, life and fullness.
With peace in our hearts we live in rest and know with certainty that you show us the path to follow.

Amen

^{Jo Patel, local leader at Wattisfield URC,  Eastern Synod}

Lord Jesus, 
On this Ascension Day, 
we remember that your perspective is so much wider than ours. 
You know how each person’s experience of the pandemic has been unique. 
Help us not to make assumptions about others.
We pray particularly for those whose circumstances 
have made the last year especially difficult. 
We pray too for generous and open access to everything 
that will help to deal with any of the wide ranging effects of the pandemic.

Amen.

^{The Revd Jacky Embrey, Minister in the Bolton and Salford Missional Partnership}

Heavenly Father, 
we pray, as so many of us cast our votes today throughout the UK, 
that what the pandemic has shown us and taught us 
might inform our politics 
so we vote in alignment with our faith and Your values, 
as revealed in the life and sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

^{Dorothy Courtis, Lay Preacher, Thurso URC}

Loving Lord Jesus,
You told the disciples not to be afraid on the first Easter Sunday.
Help us not to be afraid as the restrictions are eased 
but to trust in Your strength.
Give us the strength we need to move towards the uncertainty of a new normal.
Enable us to speak of you to those in distress and those who are afraid.
Fill us with The Holy Spirit and empower us to live our lives for You.

Amen

^{John Collings, Lay Preacher, Rutherglen URC}

Risen Lord Jesus,
hear our prayers for all who mourn 
as they remember loved ones lost to this pandemic.
Hear our prayers for livelihoods destroyed and hopes devastated.
Hear our prayers for all continuing to sustain and support us
even as we begin to taste again so much we have had to wait for. 
Bless the nations with a renewing spirit of generosity,
that vaccine and support might reach the poorest and most marginalised.
We pray in your name.

Amen.

^{By the Revd Neil Thorogood, Minister of Thornbury URC and Trinity-Henleaze URC (Bristol)}

Lord of life, 
as we begin to step out along the pathway of easing lockdown,
be with us. 
Help us to take it slowly and carefully,
heeding the encouragement to take care.
We have shown love to our neighbour through the restrictions we have followed,
may we not stop now.
In our desire for ‘normality’ give us patience;
let us not forget all that has been. 
May we act wisely, show mercy and live love. 
In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

^{By the Revd Jenny Mills, URC Secretary for Education & Learning}

God,
we never thought it would be like this,
we can’t think straight.
Yet blinded by your radiance
we know that
you alone make all things new,

God, 
in our loneliness and hunger of heart, 
you restore us to new life 
in Christ Jesus, 
and we bless you.

May his risen power be strong within us
and bless us with his peace,
that we may face adversity with courage
and grow in love for you and for each other.

Amen.

^{The Revd Fleur Houston, retired minister and member of Macclesfield & Bollington URC}

God of towels and jugs and dirty feet
you revealed your glory
in the apparent foolishness of service.

God of towels and jugs and dirty feet
I reveal my foolishness
in my all too obvious thirst for glory.

God of towels and jugs and dirty feet
wash my feet, wash my hands, wash my heart
then send me out with fool’s towel
to wipe your glory into our Covid-stained world.

Amen.

^{By the Revd Phil Nevard, a URC Minister in Devon}

Gracious God
as we journey through this pandemic,
watching its effect, fearing its progress, 
we turn to you in hope and expectation.
By restraining ourselves 
from greeting others as we would wish for over a year, 
we have learned to value human contact as never before.
Let your Spirit’s touch upon our lives encourage and sustain us 
in these days of promise and recovery.
We commit to you those who grieve. 
We thank you for all who sustain us.
Amen.

^{By the Revd John Young, retired minister of the Scottish Synod URC and member of Giffnock URC}

Lord, so many people who have died.
So many families left grieving.
We struggle to understand.
A pandemic and a loving God?
We rail at the suffering and injustice;
When death counts obscure the sorrow of each individual;
Each precious person lost; each loved one left behind broken.
Our eyes blur with tears …and through them a figure takes shape:
of another agonising and weeping;
the crucified Christ aching to embrace and share our sorrow.
Be with us, Lord.
Amen.

_{By Professor Graham Handscomb, member of Christchurch URC, Chelmsford}

Lord, 
We give thanks for the scientists tackling the pandemic;
for their curiosity about your world;
for their commitment to finding rigorous answers.
We pray for those who nurture young minds;
for teachers who open up new possibilities; 
for those who make it safe to ask hard questions.
May your Church be somewhere where we wonder anew at Creation, 
hold out hope for a better world for all your children 
and take action to make that world a reality.

Amen.

_{By Gordon Woods - Elder, St. Columba’s URC, Oxford}

Dear and glorious God, we cry to you.
At the moment, love seems both deeply hidden and alive like never before. 
Selfishness is alarmingly exposed, numbing us to the fear which feeds it. 
Selflessness is gloriously and exhaustingly alive, restoring our faith in you and in humanity. 
In this Lenten time, stir in us, waking your love, enriching us with grace to be gracious. 
Comfort us to know that our small steps made well are your active, powerful love.
Amen. 

_{By the Revd Elizabeth Gray-King, URC Education & Learning Programme Officer and member of St Columba’s URC}

O God,
as we journey through these long Lenten days,
give us both respite and food for the journey.
Help us grieve with those who have lost loved ones to this plague.
Help us support those who nurse and care for the critically ill.
Help us to show love by keeping our distance.
And help us, O God, to rejoice 
as the vaccine is rolled out, 
lives are saved, 
and our world starts slowly to spring to life again.
Amen.

_{By the Revd Andy Braunston who works with four churches in and around Glasgow}