Sunday 16th February Reading and prayer

 Luke chapter 6: 20-26

Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.

 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.

 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

 But woe to you who are rich,
    for you have already received your comfort.

 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.



In the light of Jesus’s challenging words of blessings and woes in our Gospel reading so we pray.


Christ Jesus 

you taught us your kingdom values

turns the world upside down

We pray for that to become 

a reality in our world today.


For those who are hungry in Sudan and Gaza

may food deliveries pour in

that they might be blessed and satisfied.


Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 


For those who weep

because their land is being stolen 

in the West Bank

or because

Russian forces continue to destroy homes and take lives

May the day come soon when 

Palestinians and Ukrainians can laugh again

in freedom. 

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 


We pray for those who in church communities

speak out against prejudice and power,

and who  call for all to recognise 

that God loves all people

regardless of race, colour and gender

receive the encouragement to stay faithful

to the Gospel,

and we pray for forgiveness with transformation

where our churches 

still condone under the guise of church

that women should be subject to men

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 


We pray

for the transformation of the power 

that wealth and politics has created. 

Praying that those who are rich

with more than they could ever need 

yet fear sharing it,

That those who are so well fed they throw food away

That those who crave 

popularity and say what some people want to hear,

will have their world turned upside down

their bank accounts emptied

and their shallow lives

revealed for who they are.


Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 


We pray for our preparations for Lent

that our lunches will

feed people in body and spirit

and with generosity

the money given 

will enable us to support 

people through the work of Christian Aid.

Lord in your mercy 

Hear our prayer 


And we pray

for ourselves 

that as a community of faith

we may hear your teachings

and live them out in our lives

with courage 

and in Love.  Amen


(c) Mark Goodhand 15th February 2025

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