Intercessions Trinity 7
Some of you will know that I go for a walk each weekday morning, before I start work, in the fields around Ashendon. And this set me thinking that my walks make a good theme for our prayers today.
The first thing I do is to go and unlock the church. Each time I walk in, I never cease to be amazed at the life and love that is embodied in those stones. The memorials to Christians long passed. The font representing hope of those to come. So in a moment of private prayer, let us pray to God for our part in the life and love of the Church, here in Buckinghamshire and worldwide.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
There are five paths out of Ashendon across the fields and I generally choose one at random depending on the mood of the day. We are so blest to live I such a wonderful piece of countryside. I love the dew on the grass filling my boots with water, the sound of the cattle tearing at the grass, the sheep suddenly waking up to my presence, the birds totally oblivious of me in their singing. So let us remember those who are not so blest: those who are confined indoors for whatever reason, those who might dream of being here while surrounded a crowded city, those for whom pollution makes the idea of fresh air seem like a fantasy. On a moment silent prayer let us pray to God for his love and comfort to those who would love to be here but can’t be.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Since Ashendon is at the top of hill, inevitably my walks do down into the valley. One of my delights is to stand on one of the bridges over the streams that eventually merge and flow into the River Thame. Sometimes they are empty and the ground dry. Right now they are half full, but sometimes they are so full that they flow across the top of the bridge and flood the fields around. So, in a moment of prayer let us pray for those suffering from floods, thinking especially for those who have lost homes, and loved ones in the floods in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Although I try to avoid the roads on my walks, it is impossible to get from my home to the fields without passing along or crossing one road or another. People are just starting to go to work when I am out. Sometimes it is single cars hurrying along, or at other times a convoy of them going over the hill like a peloton of cyclists. Often I hear the farms at work or meet tractors on their way. So in our moment of prayer let us pray for the work of the country, for the economy and those responsible for it, and for those whose work is sole destroying or who are treated unfairly.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Although I am out early, I will often meet people on my walks: Mark walking the dog, Richard on his electric bike, Jonathan loading his van and many others. In a moment prayer let us pray for our [villages / communities], for the wellbeing of all their members and for anyone we know who we think needs our prayers.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
After thirty or forty minutes I will be walking back in through my gate onto the drive and being thankful for getting home and for the shower will follow. Let us pray for those who are not so lucky: those living rough, those who must rely of charity for their overnight shelter, those who have to bring up their children in so little space and on a pittance. Let us pray for our part in helping them.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
My walks are a wonderful time to think to contemplate the day ahead. In a moment of prayer let us think of the week ahead and our part in it.
Heavenly Father, the great loving essence of all goodness whose children we are, strengthen us in knowledge and show us more clearly the way. We love you for your tenderness to us. We trust you utterly and feel you near us always. We know we are safe in your hands and that you will guide us in the paths of righteousness.
Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your son our Savour Jesus Christ. Amen.