Prayer Wall

On behalf of Evening Daily Prayers Group

Father, last week we passed the significant milestone of 100,000 Covid-related deaths in this country alone. The Archbishops reminded us that this isn’t just an abstract figure, that each is a person who loved and was loved. I heard a list of some of the recent names being read by an actor on Radio 4. Forgive me that I switched off before he reached the end. Help me to grasp the enormity of the loss and grief that are being felt by so many families. Praise you that you never switch off, you hear our prayers, and you know by name each victim of this terrible disease.

Worldwide, about 100,000 people died of Covid in this one week, and over 5 million more people caught the disease – and those are just the reported deaths and detected cases. Help me to comprehend the enormous scale of the problem we face. In your mercy, Father, give healing to the sick, and please touch especially our friends Archbishop Mouneer Anis and his wife with your breath of life and healing grace. Sustain all those who treat the severely ill, who care for those recovering, and who bury the dead.

This week, a political argument broke out over vaccine supplies. Father, forgive that momentary (or perhaps if I’m honest, not so momentary) feeling of smugness that Britain is so far ahead of the rest of Europe in approving vaccines and rolling them out. Guard our imperfect human hearts against “vaccine nationalism”. Help AstraZeneca to overcome their production difficulties in Belgium. Thank you for good news in the past two days of two further effective vaccines. Grant wisdom and a sense of justice to our leaders, to the leaders of all nations, and to all the vaccine manufacturers. May they achieve justice and fair treatment for those who most need vaccination in all countries.

This week we were told that schools will not re-open in England until at least 8th March. When lockdown seems interminable, and the weeks seem to pass ever more slowly, help us to see this time from the perspective of eternity. When we feel despair, give us hope. When all seems dark, shine your light into our hearts. When we see or hear of people who are struggling more than we are, help us to count our blessings. When we think of those who are facing this situation without knowing you, help us to uphold them before you in prayer.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1) Amen.

Received: February 1, 2021