Lord, in the strength of grace
With a glad heart and free … Charles Wesley
Today, in the grace of being Easter people, we pray for those who are supported by your grace alone in the turmoil and oppression of war, terror, famine, drought, prejudice, bigotry.
We pray for all in Guantanamo Bay military prison in Cuba. On Wednesday, a US official said that the Pentagon plans to transfer about a dozen (of the remaining 91) inmates to at least two countries.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray for members of Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli, defying threats by rival factions that it was not welcome in the capital, which effectively means that Libya has three governments.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray for Pakistan’s Christian community following the Easter bombing in Lahore. The government is reported to have no plans to amend the country’s blasphemy law, after protests in Islamabad supported it.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray for the more than 10,000 Afghan interpreters who have never received the promised visas for safe passage to the US when their jobs were complete.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray for the people of Myanmar, where a new president has been sworn in, while fighting continues in the northern Shan province and perhaps as many as 50% of the rural population are landless.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray for the people of Palestine who have once again marked Land Day on 30th March – the anniversary of the Israeli expropriation of land in 1976.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray for the people in the steel working areas of Wales and England, in need of a government who will protect them.
We, Easter people, pray.
We pray … Lord, there is too much to hold in our minds … those killed and injured in a bridge collapse in Calcutta, India … those caught by tornadoes in Oklahoma, US … workers endangered building stadiums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in Qatar … Japanese whaling … You, Lord, take all our concerns and hold and answer them.
As we live in the grace of being Easter people, knowing we are saved and cherished, we pray for more than we can know – for your whole world.
Amen
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