Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

A new Christian prayer thread, just in time for Easter!

992 replies

Tuo · 09/04/2014 23:44

Welcome to our new prayer thread... just in time for Holy Week and Easter.

This is a safe and supportive place of prayer, where regulars, occasional visitors and lurkers, committed Christians and those just dipping a toe into the water are all equally welcome. Come and leave a prayer, tell us what's going on in your life, bring your worries, hopes, fears and joys to God, and know that you will be prayed for.

We pray, in particular, for...

... amberlight, for her work raising awareness of the ways in which we can work to make life easier for our autistic friends, and for her to know love and acceptance wherever she goes;

... Badvoc and her family, as they grieve for her dad and for her aunt - this has been a very tough time for the family... may spring bring them happier times;

... BlackEyedSusan, for all the many things which she has to juggle in her life as a single parent; in particular, we pray for her mum's health, and for both her DC to receive the support that they need at school, and for her to feel welcomed, accepted and supported at her church;

... BlessedAssurance, for breast-feeding to settle down for her following the birth of her baby son, for her relationship with her extended family (and in particular her MIL and her bonkers baby-naming ideas ), and for her parents who are far away;

... CharlotteCollins, for her new life as a single mum - may she be happy and fulfilled and supported in it;

... DontstepontheMomeRaths, for her life as a single mum, for support for her to do all the things she'd like to be able to do, for her DC, for difficult relationships at work, and for the wonderful work she does through her church supporting people going through separation and divorce;

... DutchOma, as she grieves for Bob, that she may find peace of mind, love and support at this time;

... Gingercurl, for her relationship with her DH, for the final 'tweaks' to her thesis, and for friendship for her DS;

... ALittleFaith, for baby Faithlet as she approaches her first birthday, for Faith's work to bring her joy and not exhaustion, and for her to find happiness and fulfilment in her church;

... jan2014 for her to understand what the right thing to do is vis-a-vis her relationship with her DH, and for her to have the courage to do what needs to be done, and to find support in doing it; also for her new church to be a place where she finds love and support and welcome;

... JugglingFromHereToThere, for her sister and her family as they grieve the loss of Juggling's nephew;

... Kaykat, giving thanks that she is now settled and happy in her new home with her DS, and continuing to pray for her situation, that she receive the moral and practical support she needs for herself and her DS

... MadHairDay, for her health to improve this spring and for her to stay out of hospital, and for health, friendship, and freedom from bullying for MHD's DD;

... PandaG, as she and her family grieve the loss of her mum; and for

... PositiveAttitude, praying for the right outcome for PA's DH as he decides between a career opportunity at home and a return to Cambodia; also praying for PA's parents health, for her DD3 and DGS as they move into their own home, and for her other three DDs and one DS in their various situations; and finally praying for peace for PA herself and - whatever happens work-wise in the UK and/or abroad - for God to provide for her and her family.

We pray also for all regular and occasional visitors, and those we haven't seen for a while, including: boxofdelights, bountyicecream Bluetinkerbell, CheerfulYank, cloutiedumpling, EasyCompadre, FairPhyllis, fluffieduckie, FriendOfDorothy, GoodbyeRubyTuesday, harbinger, JakeBullet, ktef, LollipopViolet, MaryBS, NeverKnowinglyUnderstood, niminypiminy, notquiteagrownup, PloddingDaily, revivingshower, RoomForALittleOne, saintsalive, SchrodingersFerret, SEStheBrave, Soozi, SunshinemMum, thegreenheartofmanyroundabouts, thehorridestmumintheworld, trish5000, weegiemum, youretoastmildred, ZingSweetApple, and zulubump, and for anyone I've forgotten to name-check (don't take it personally, please!). And we pray for those who read and pray but don't post, for those who need our prayers but are afraid or too uncertain to post them, and for all those known to us in our own lives who need God's love.

Keep Your people, Lord, in the arms of Your embrace.
Shelter them under Your wings.
Be their light in darkness.
Be their hope in distress.
Be their calm in anxiety.
Be strength in their weakness.
Be their comfort in pain.
Be their song in the night. Amen

OP posts:
Tuo · 20/04/2014 02:08

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Happy Easter my lovely prayer-thread friends!

(I'm away for a few days after tomorrow afternoon, so may go quiet for a bit, but wishing you all joy and hope and love in the coming days.)

OP posts:
amberlight · 20/04/2014 06:24

Easter Sunday!! Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful celebration.

Dutchoma · 20/04/2014 06:36

He is risen HALLELUJAH

Kay, that's why I went to the town centre church on Friday and, when someone asked whether I had been before said no, I was a visitor. If I had been on my own today, as I nearly was, I would have gone to the parish church where I have friends, but which will be a calmer service that the church where I'm a member.
As it is we will go there as ds and ddil will come with Rose and we will go there.
Dd, in spite of her apology, obviously did not like what I wrote back to her and has been out of contact again since. Back to the prayer board.

jan2014 · 20/04/2014 07:00

good morning happy easter. dd is hard work already after being at dhs. i am very tired too... i am going to mums for the day its a long drive so i think i will skip church which is in the opposite direction.... i feel a bit bad it being easter sunday and that.

kaykat i like doing that too sometimes just slipping into somewhere new, no questions asked... i hope it goes well for you. Tuo enjoy your time off! DO, your dd sounds like hard work i hope you are ok and enjoy the time with the rest of your family

SESthebrave · 20/04/2014 08:06

Happy Easter! Oh how beautiful is the alleluia which has been silent so long!

Our Easter vigil was very special and I stayed in the bar afterwards where we carried on the celebrations until nearly 1am. (Yes, a good Catholic Church always has a parish bar Easter Grin ) I took a couple of photos outside at the start for the blessing of the fire and the new Easter candle. We all have our own candles and the flame from the new Easter candle is spread to our candles. We then all process back into a dark church and the main lights are only switched back on as we sing the joyful Gloria and the bells ring out for the risen Christ.

DO - I'm sorry DD hasn't been in touch again. Prayers for you both in what sounds like a sometimes difficult relationship.

KayKat - I hope you enjoy the service you go to this morning. I'm a creature of habit and couldn't imagine going anywhere than my own church but the way you described things, maybe I will go and be anonymous somewhere one time!

TUO - prayers for your time away

Jan - safe trip to your mum.

Prayers for all for a very happy and blessed Easter. Coming back to the thread in the last few days, I realise I've missed you all. I will endeavour to be a better part of this lovely little prayer thread community.

A new Christian prayer thread, just in time for Easter!
A new Christian prayer thread, just in time for Easter!
CharlotteCollins · 20/04/2014 08:30

SES, that sounds a fantastic service. (Is everyone wearing white robes or are there just a lot of priesty people?)

Jan, all the more time to reflect and worship in the car? Don't feel bad about not making it to church. Hope DD sleeps or at least is peaceful on the journey and praying for a restful time at your mum's.

Kay, hope you enjoy the service and they hit the right note of welcoming but not intrusive! :o

DO, praying for a peaceful Easter for your family, especially that your DD will do the right thing.

Amber, and everybody else, Happy Easter!

JugglingFromHereToThere · 20/04/2014 08:50

Thanks for the picture of the Easter fire SES, that looks beautiful, and extended Easter vigil sounds good too Smile

SESthebrave · 20/04/2014 08:50

Those are the altar servers who help have everything the priest needs to hand. We also had our Deacon there.
As a rule they carry the books for the priest to read from, the crucifix, the thurible for incensing. For the blessing of the Easter candle, they also pass the priest 5 pins filled with incense that he pushes into the candle at the appropriate points on the cross to represent the 5 wounds of Christ.

For me, once I understand all the symbolism, I love it, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Also meant to say that after all the discussion about hope on here yesterday, our priest's sermon last night was all about hope. Hope is more powerful than despair. It gave me encouragement that in my times of doubt, I usually still have hope and that, for God, is enough.

sunshinemmum · 20/04/2014 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thegreatestMadHairDayinhistory · 20/04/2014 10:04

He is risen indeed, Hallelujah! Thanks :)

SES that looks beautiful!

I was privileged this morning to be able to join some of our little church in decorating our Easter crosses around our community with flowers and having a little service. It was amazing! Am shattered now and that's me out for the rest of the day, but it was so very worth it :) Thank you Lord for this grace for today :)

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"
See God's salvation plan,
Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping, "Where is He laid?"
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty.
Honor and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned with pow'r and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks Thanks

PositiveAttitude · 20/04/2014 10:08

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Happy Easter to you all.

I have had trouble getting on MN for most of the week, but I have returned now......I need to catch up on the thread later today.

CeruleanStars · 20/04/2014 11:24

hi...just popped in as this thread was mentioned on another thread.
I'm a non-church going semi atheist/semi Christian if that makes any sense at all.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 20/04/2014 11:36

Hi Cerulean and welcome to this lovely thread Thanks

Am intrigued as to where we were mentioned?!

Personally I am round about a humanist Quaker, but I fluctuate quite freely according to mood, company, and circumstance. That's just me!

I especially like Tuo's traditional prayers from the Northumbria Community Smile

thegreatestMadHairDayinhistory · 20/04/2014 11:38

Welcome Cerulean - glad you popped over :)

Kaykat · 20/04/2014 11:54

It was a disaster I made a complete idiot of myself. They were welcoming and noticed I was new. Nice style of worship. Vicar noticed me and said hello. But I was so overwhelmed by the whole experience and seeing all the happy families reminded me what I have lost. I couldn't stand or sing. They projected some words about Jesus coming for the broken and I was too broken to even read the words. I didn't just feel broken I felt destroyed. I left in tears half way through. If I'm not strong enough to get through a church service two years after my heartbreak I don't think I ever will be. Thank goodness I have you lot on here.

CeruleanStars · 20/04/2014 12:06

thegreatest mentioned the thread on an Easter thread :)

JugglingFromHereToThere · 20/04/2014 12:10

Dearest kaykat I'm so sorry the service was so difficult for you seeing so many being (or playing to some extent?) happy families.
Sometimes a couple cannot stay together though, and it would not be right for them or their children to try and do so against the reality of the situation.
I don't know everything about your situation but wanted to say "where there's life there's hope" I'm sorry you cannot all be together but you still have one another, and especially your DC, in your life?
I cannot help but think of my DSister who has recently lost her DS Sad though of course I don't want to minimise what you are going through or play competitive heartbreak in any way x
I just thought something in what I'm thinking might help you slightly at a difficult time Thanks

thegreatestMadHairDayinhistory · 20/04/2014 12:17

Oh kaykat Thanks

I'm so sorry it was so hard for you.

Praying that today, the joy of the resurrection will come to you in the midst of the brokenness, that you will know God's astounding love for you and his tears of pain with you.

It sounds like it was a nice church. You haven't made a fool of yourself. Just been real. That's OK. It's OK to go back if you feel drawn back, at the right time. You've been so badly bruised, dear one.

'The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.'

Thanks
Kaykat · 20/04/2014 12:18

Thanks Juggling. My h was cheating and abusive so there's no way I would want him back and you're right it doesn't come close to losing a child. It's just annoying that I went to pieces and couldn't cope with a simple church service.

Kaykat · 20/04/2014 12:23

Thank you MadHairDay and its great o hear that you got out this morning.

CeruleanStars · 20/04/2014 12:24

Kaykat I have the same problem with church.

BlackeyedSusan · 20/04/2014 13:42

hugs Kay. you can cry on my shoulder if I can cry on yours! losing a marriage you thought was good will take a lot of grieving, along with the continual hurt and dragging out of the abuse. it is hard to move on and start to heal when your ex is still making life difficult and poking the wound. it is also a difficult thing to bear in that there can be so much judgement in the church about divorce. (not from everyone but one or two comments can really have an effect. [understatement]

juggling, I am so sorry that everything is still so raw. it must be really hard when your wound is so raw and so deep. May the God of comfort hold you in his arms and bring you peace.

BlackeyedSusan · 20/04/2014 14:01

oh dear AMber. I may need to pick your brains... the service was anything but peaceful and joyful. it was too noisy, even in the foyer. they managed to turn the music down there, but it still left us not actually in church. the nosise was far too loud for all three of us but I can only complain on behalf of ds with his disabilities.

the not joyyful was down to me feeling really pissed off. the noise sent me into a bit of stress mode.

DontstepontheMomeRaths · 20/04/2014 14:10

Kaykat ((hugs)) I struggled not to cry in the Church service today too. Different reasons.

I can be fine and go into a Church and suddenly want to cry.

Happy Easter all.

ZingHasAHotCrossBunInTheOven · 20/04/2014 14:28

Christ is Risen, Alleluia!

Happy Easter to you all!