God, revealed to us
in the vulnerability of infancy,
we pray for our church.
Give us hope that we will soon gather again,
to worship you together
to sing your praise
to celebrate the Eucharist
to share friendship and fellowship.
When we gather again,
may we gather in the love your require us to share,
in unity, not in conflict,
in hope not despair.
God, revealed as the Messiah
in the form of a vulnerable child,
we pray for the world you made.
We pray for the most vulnerable:
those whose healthcare systems
are not able to cope with the scale of the pandemic,
for the millions with no prospect of vaccination,
for our elderly in care homes,
for those made lonely by lockdown,
for the traumatised and exhausted.
But we also give thanks
for the natural world around us:
For the countryside on our doorstep
for snowdrops and catkins,
for walks in the fresh air,
the song of the birds
and for days growing longer
as we look forward to springtime.
Like Anna, help us always to pray and praise.
We pray for our local community:
for Blackburn Royal Infirmary only a mile away:
for the schools of our parish
especially for children unable to learn from home:
for those suffering in their homes,
especially victims of abuse and violence:
for our friends who we can reach only on the phone
and whose physical presence we miss.
Give us hope, we pray.
God who knew suffering and pain,
yet who brought healing and peace
we bring to you those who are sick …
and those who care for them.
We bring to you those who will die this day,
that they will be with you in paradise.
Help us to face pain and suffering
with honesty and courage.
We bring your beloved who are elderly,
tiny babies, new parents,
those who are faithful,
and those who wait in hope.
On this feast of Candlemas
our hearts turn from Christmas
to Lent and Passiontide.
Although the last year has felt to be
penance without end,
keep us faithful in our preparations for Easter,
able to acknowledge the sword that pierced you
And those that pierce us stil
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