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Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing……they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there……. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. Acts 2:1-4
I felt inspired to use a language for today’s prayers other than the norm. Not a foreign language, well not all that foreign anyway. Understandable, I hope. And if I use the word ‘I’ then my prayer is that at some time that might become ‘we’.
Lord of wind and flame, of earth and water, of life and death and resurrection, we come to you with our prayers of intercession.
I hear the wind in the dead of night, and on it a million voices ride,
A world is crying out for help - vainly crying out for help,
But will it be denied?
I hear the babies at the milk-less breast; I hear them barely breathing.
I hear their mothers frantic wailing, “help my child” I hear them wailing,
And then I hear them grieving.
I hear the suffering of the sick; I hear their tired cough,
I hear their groaning, exhausted moaning,
That they’ve finally had enough.
I hear the echo on the streets, of footsteps through the night,
I hear the homeless search for shelter, anywhere offering secure shelter,
Who will ease their plight?
Lord, we pray for those who need help.
Set our souls alight with the Holy Spirit.
Fill us with understanding to hear the calls of the helpless,
and a burning to give them the help and support they need.
I hear the wind in the early morn, bringing sounds of war,
A world is crying out for peace, vainly crying out for peace,
With a voice we just ignore.
I hear the injured soldiers scream; I hear them as they die,
I hear their families broken hearts, shattered lives, and funeral carts,
I hear them as they cry,
I hear the rumble of explosions, of terrorist attack,
I hear the piercing shriek of sirens, the futile warning of the sirens,
My resolve begins to crack.
I hear the shouts of angry families, torn by abuse,
I hear the violence never ending, the pitch of voices all ascending,
And after, the excuse.
Lord, we pray for those at war – with countries, with family, with themselves.
Set our souls alight with the Holy Spirit.
Fill us with understanding to hear their calls for peace,
and a burning to create peace in ourselves, our home, our world.
I hear the wind that rolls the waves and whispers in the trees,
The world is calling out for care, vainly calling out for care,
But the consumer disagrees.
I hear the cracking of the earth, drying in the sun,
I hear the plaintive cries of sheep, as they lay them down to sleep,
The lullaby of the gun.
I hear the protestations of, a planet under stress,
The mournful cries of hunted whales, of ducks, of rabbits, and of snails,
The painful end to human pest.
I hear the heartbeat of the planet, no longer strong and sure,
I hear the earth’s lamentations, victim of our own temptations,
Exploited to the core.
Lord, we pray for your creation.
Set our souls alight with the Holy Spirit.
Fill us with understanding to hear it’s calls for moderation,
for compassion.
Fill us with a burning to take responsibility for the care of
Creation – as guardians rather than consumers.
We hear the wind that turns the sails of the windmills of our souls,
Calling us to Holy service, vainly calling us to service,
Away from earthly goals.
We hear the lost who call for sucker, unsure where to turn,
We hear their calls of confusion, in the dark of their illusion,
For truth they can’t discern.
We hear the praises of the foolish, for their paper gods,
We hear their babble of devotion, to experience and cheap emotion,
A faith that’s built on winks and nods.
And we hear the faithful calling out, trying to lead the way,
We hear their singing, and Good News bringing,
and join them as they pray.
Lord, we pray for those who need You – which is us all.
Set our souls alight with the Holy Spirit.
Fill us with understanding of your Word,
Fill us with a burning to bring Christ Jesus into the lives
of all we meet, as true pilgrims of the faith.
Amen.
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