Prayers from Garstang, Lancashire

Garstang URC 24^th October 2016

 

Prayers 1: For our town and the rural communities around it

We offer our prayers for the people of our town and its surrounding villages affected poverty and deprivation.

We pray for those on low incomes affected by fuel poverty, particularly those living in isolated communities away from mains services, often in houses with poor insulation. We pray for them and their families recognising the impact that this can have on their health and well-being.

We pray for those feeling increasingly isolated in their own homes often without their own transport, for example as reductions in public transport particularly in rural areas increasingly restrict their ability to visit friends or families; or to access social activities that they have traditionally enjoyed.

We pray that we may become a beacon of community in which all are included and are enabled to live life in all its fullness.

 

Prayers 2: For organisations working in our area

We pray for organisations working in our area to help people overcome poverty or isolation. We pray for the services from the public and from the voluntary sector working to provide opportunities for people to meet in community and for those working directly to address the impact of poverty on individuals and families in our area; offering our prayers for those working in:

• Food banks
• Money and other advice services
• Service supporting people’s health and mental wellbeing
• Community networks providing places to go and things to do accessible to people in their local setting

We pray that they may be sustained and enriched by God’s blessing on their work, particularly as reductions in public spending appear to make their tasks more challenging

 

Prayers 3: For our Church and its partners

We pray for our Church and the other Churches of our town.

We thank you for their witness to your kingdom here in Garstang, in the opportunities they provide for people to meet locally as communities in our buildings either as part of church activities or in their own social groups.

We thank you for the partnerships we have, working with other local organisations to address issues of poverty and disadvantage; praying particularly

• For the work of the churches to support local food banks
• For the offer of coffee and chat in many of our church halls
• For our church’s long standing links to the work of the Lancaster and District Homeless service

We pray that we will continue in our ministry reaching out to the needy and isolated in our community in your name.

 

Amen