1. Community Welcome back to school in 2009!
And welcome to Prayerpoints. Our theme this half-term is
Community
A community is a group of people who live or meet together and share part of their lives We will be thinking and praying about our school and the place where we live.
Also, because we all live together on Earth, we are part of a community with all the people in the world. We will be thinking about that idea and praying for understanding, fairness and peace.

2. God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows,
Loving God,
God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows,
Thank you for 2008 that has gone and that has just begun.
Thank you for new chances every day.
We leave the past in your hands, and go bravely into the unknown new year
knowing you will go with us.
Amen 1
5th Jan

3. For reflection:
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together . The human body has many parts, but they make up one whole body. God has put each part just where he wants it. If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to he feet, “I don’t need you.”  In fact, some parts of the body that are hidden and seem least important are actually the most necessary.  When one part of the body gets hurt, all suffer with it, and when one part is healthy, all the rest feel well too.
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
~1 Corinthians 12 1
6th Jan

4. Let us respect and celebrate our own uniqueness, and each other's too.
We take time to think about what makes each of us unique: The colour of our eyes and hair and skin. Our height and build. The face that is ours alone. The thoughts and feelings that no-one else knows. Our gifts and talents and the things we find difficult. Our interests and hobbies; our taste in music, books or fashion; our likes and dislikes all the things that add up to who we are. Thank you God, for making
us who we are.
Let us respect and celebrate our own uniqueness, and each other's too. 1
7th Jan

5. For the times we have put pressure on others to fit in – we are sorry.
God of forgiveness,
We come to you to say sorry for the times we have not been happy with the way you made us.
For the times we wished we were less like ourselves and more like someone else – we are sorry.
For the times we have followed the crowd instead of thinking for ourselves– we are sorry.
For the times we have put pressure on others to fit in – we are sorry.
Please help us to enjoy the things that make us different, and know that they are part of your plan for us.
Amen 1
8th Jan

6. Father God,
I know you have a plan for my life that will help the world and make me happy. The things that make me special are important, because they are part of your plan.
Please help me to understand how I can be part of my community and help people. Please help me to always trust that you are looking after me.
Amen
God,
                                      
It's HERE!  Now you can learn to make Life Changes that line up with God's Plan. 1
9th Jan

7. We pray for our school community.
Father God,
We pray for our school community.
Help us to be like one body: everyone working together to support the school and look after each other.
Help us to understand the different jobs people do and be thankful for them.
Please come and be part of our school too – stay with us always.
Amen 2
12th Jan

8. Lord,
We pray for the people in our school who we sometimes forget or don’t realise how important they are.
Just as we hardly ever think about our lungs or our stomach, but they’re hidden away inside us keeping us alive, there are quiet people who keep our school community alive.
[Pause and think who these people are in your school.]
Please help us to remember them and to respect them Please bless them with all good things.
Amen 2
13th Jan

9. We pray for the members of our school community who are ill today.
God of healing,
When we hurt one part of our body, another part tries to help. So if we bang our head, we rub it better with a hand. If our school is to be like a body, it must matter to us all when someone is upset.
We pray for the members of our school community who are ill today.
We pray for people who have had sad things happen at home.
We pray for people who are finding their work difficult and feeling frustrated.
May they know how much you love and care for them, and help us to show that we also care.
Amen 2
14th Jan

10. A time to pray for your local community:
What are the problems where you live?
~Do people know and support one another? ~Are there elderly people who might feel lonely? ~Or families needing support?
~Do children have a place to play? ~Are people short of money or having a hard time finding jobs? ~Do people feel safe? ~Do people of different nationalities and religions get on?
~Do people look after the environment?
Imagine how these problems could be made better, and ask God to help make it a reality.
We say together: Our Father… 2
15th Jan

11. Make me a channel of your peace. 2
16th Jan
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is anger, let me bring your love.
Where there is conflict, forgiveness.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.

12. From 18th – 25th January, Christians from all different churches (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) hold a week of prayer for Christian unity.
Groups have different traditions, and sometimes disagree on the details of their teachings. During this week people pray to be able to put those aside and concentrate on the things which bring all Christians together: on loving God and trying to make the world a better place. People often go to a different church and join in their worship, or a service will be held that includes everyone.
This week we will experience some prayers from different Christian groups and countries around the world.
More information can be found at this website:

13. Father God,
You sent Jesus to the Earth to bring your love and forgiveness to everybody, with no-one left out. He came to bring people together and to break down barriers. May all people who love and believe in you understand each other and give up their arguments. Make us remember that we are brothers and sisters with one Father. Amen 3
19th Jan

14. Oh God,
Help us in our lives and in all of our attitudes. Help us to remember that the force of love can solve all the problems that we face.
Let us join together in a great fellowship of love and bow down at the feet of Jesus. Give us this strong determination, Lord, we pray. Amen
A prayer of Martin Luther King, who was a preacher in the American Baptist
tradition.
Today is also the day Barack Obama becomes President of the USA. You may wish to pray for him and his country this morning – there is a prayer you could use on slide 21. 3
20th Jan

15. This prayer comes from the Russian Orthodox church
Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught us to love even those we find difficult to love and to pray for them and forgive them.
If anyone has offended us, let us pay them back with goodness. We also ask you, O Lord, to give them peace and blessings. Amen 3
21st Jan
This prayer comes from the Russian Orthodox church

16. Give us love, O God, in our thinking and our speaking; love in all our actions and love in the hidden places of our souls; help us to love our neighbours; show us how to love those we find hard to bear and those who find it hard to bear with us; reveal your love in our joys and our sorrows; in our life and in our death; now and for ever. Amen
This prayer is from the Methodist tradition 3
22nd Jan

17. Jesus prays about his disciples:
I'm praying not only for them    But also for those who will believe in me    Because of them and their witness about me.    The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—    Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,    So they might be one heart and mind with us.    Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.    The same glory you gave me, I gave them,    So they'll be as unified and together
as we are—    I in them and you in me.    Then they'll be mature in this oneness,    And give the godless world evidence    That you've sent me and loved them    In the same way you've loved me.
~John 17 3
23rd Jan

18. Father God,
Please teach us that everyone on earth is one family, one community, one body.
When one country, one group of people, even one person anywhere suffers, it must matter to us all.
Give us eyes to see how we are all connected and hearts big enough to include all people in our care.
Amen 4
26th Jan

19. ~St Ambrose (4th Century)
For reflection:
You do not give to the poor out of your own money. You are just giving back what they already have a right to. For God gave all the good things in the world to be shared fairly.
The Earth does not belong to the rich – it belongs to everyone. So you’re not being generous – you’re just paying what you owe.
~St Ambrose (4th Century)
27th Jan

20. God of safety, the God we trust,
A war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country in central Africa, is causing great suffering, with millions of people being forced out of their homes.
God of safety, the God we trust,
Watch over our sisters and brothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bring comfort to those who grieve,
shelter to those who are homeless,
and provide for those who hunger and thirst.
Spirit of love, pour out your peace like a healing stream,
which brings hope in place of despair.
Amen 4
28th Jan

21. God of Wisdom,
Be with our brothers and sisters in the USA, and with their new president, Barack Obama.
Guide him and all the government to make wise decisions for the country, so it can use its power and wealth to be a positive influence on the world.
Amen 4
29th Jan

22. We say together: Our Father…
These prayers were written several months ago, so many things will have happened around the world since. Today, here is time and space to pray for the people of a country who are suffering at the moment.
We say together: Our Father… 4
30th Jan

23. A couple of weeks ago we experienced the prayers of other Christian traditions. This week the prayers come from other faiths.
Our aim is to better understand the beliefs that Christianity has in common with other faiths and to grow in respect and openness.

24. In the beginning was God, Today is God, Tomorrow will be God
In the beginning was God, Today is God, Tomorrow will be God. Who can make an image of God? He has no body. Yet he lives! 5
2nd Feb
Traditional African

25. At this very moment, for the peoples and the nations of the earth, may not even the words disease, war, famine, and suffering be heard. Instead may their goodness, strength, and wealth increase, and may their happiness and health grow greater. 5
3rd Feb
Buddhist prayer – ‘An Auspicious Wish’

26. all come together in one family.
Send your peace O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, peace may shine in our hearts. Send your peace O Lord, that we may be thankful for your wonderful gifts. Send your peace O Lord, that even in the middle of hard times, we may feel joy. Send your peace O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we your children on Earth may
all come together in one family. 5
4th Feb
Muslim prayer for peace

27. 5
5th Feb
Start the day with Love; Spend the day with Love; Fill the day with Love; End the day with Love; This is the way to God.
Indian prayer

28. 5
May the long time sun Shine upon you, All love surround you, And the pure light within you Guide your way on.
6th Feb
Hindu farewell blessing

29. Blessed are they who give without expecting a thank you, for they shall be have a great reward.6
9th Feb
This prayer, and the one on the next slide, was written by a woman who called herself only ‘Peace Pilgrim’. She spent 28 years walking around the world on a mission to bring peace. The words are based on Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5.

30. 6
Blessed are they who love and trust other people, for they shall touch the good in them and be loved in return.
10th Feb

31. God of Justice,
You teach us that it is good to pray for people in need, but that prayer on its own is not enough.
Inspire us to take our hopes and cares and kind thoughts and turn them into action.
Show us how we can make a difference in our schools, our neighbourhoods and in the world community.
Help us to become one body, where we all work together and matter to one another.
Amen 6
11th Feb

32. Prayer in Action:
Decide on an action that you will take to serve your school community, your local community or the global community. It can be as large or as small as you want, but we ask you to commit to something.
There are thousands of students reading this today – together you are powerful and can make great change.
Lord,
Please bless our promises and help us to always be people who build community.
Amen 6
12th Feb

33. Please bless us as we leave for our holiday.
Loving God,
Please bless us as we leave for our holiday.
Fill us with your joy and keep us safe until we meet again.
Amen 6
13th Feb

34. Traditional Prayers

35. Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen

36. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Amen

37. Blessed art thou amongst women,
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen

38. Blessed are you amongst women,
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen

39. As it was in the beginning,
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now
And ever shall be,
World without end.
Amen

40. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.

41. Credits Text Images Slide 4: Cliff Reed
Slide 11: Prayer of St Francis
Slide 16: William Temple
Slide 19: Canon Chris Chivers
Slide 20: Catherine Gorman – CAFOD
Slide 25: Kyabi Durjom Rinpoche
Slide 26: Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Slide 27: Sri Satya Sai Baba
Images
All images are from the public domain.