May 15

Let us pray:
Loving Lord, inspire me
to bring out the best in others
and “touch hearts”
by being welcoming and generous
and always positive in attitude,
showing individuals
that they matter and are important.
May those
who are part of my life this day
treat me in the same way
as I treat them. Amen.

May 16

Let’s pray in silence for a moment
for all who are going through
great difficulties…
(pause… )
Let’s pray in silence
that we may be people
who support and encourage others…
(pause … )
Let’s think in silence for a moment
of two people
to set out to encourage today
(pause … )

May 17

We will use the word of a hymn
by Henry Lyte:

Abide with me,
fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens,
Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail,
and comforts flee,
help of the helpless,
O abide with me.
Swift to its close
ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim,
its glories pass away;
change and decay
in all around I see;
O thou who changest not,
abide with me.
I need thy presence
every passing hour;
what but thy grace
can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself
my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine,
O abide with me.

May 18

Let us pray:
Lord, I ask for the gifts
of knowledge and wisdom
and understanding.
What I pray for
I intend to work at,
so that I may be someone
with an open mind,
a thirst for knowledge,
and a wisdom that makes good use
of my knowledge and experience.
I know that any gifts are useless
if I do not also have
love and concern for others,
and so I ask that you inspire me
to live in such a way
that I am caring and compassionate
and promote understanding
between people.
May others respect me, Lord,
as much as I respect them. Amen

May 19

Let us pray:
Lord, most of us
will not become well-known
or be written about
because of great achievements,
but we will be known and loved
for our attitude
and the smaller ordinary things
that we do
that make our part of the world
a better place.
Inspire us, Lord, each day,
to find joy in giving
as well as in receiving,
and lead us to act justly,
love tenderly,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.

May 20

In the Church’s Year, May has been called
“the month of Mary”. In our prayer we
can think of the times that Jesus’ Mother
is mentioned in the Gospels as she supports
her Son. We pray:

Mary, chosen by God,
you believed the angel’s message
and became the Mother of Jesus.
You welcomed
shepherds and wise men:
Pray for us, Mary,
that Jesus may live in us.

Mary, you were beside Jesus
at the wedding feast at Cana,
and you noticed
that the servants were worried
that the wine was running out.
You told them to do
whatever Jesus would ask of them,
and then he changed
water into wine
in jars that the servants
had filled to the brim:
Mary, ask your Son
to fill us with the Holy Spirit.

Mary, your love met Jesus, your Son,
as he suffered on the cross:
Mary, in your love, support us
as we carry our crosses
in daily life.

Mary,
you stayed with the friends of Jesus,
waiting for the Holy Spirit
to change their lives at Pentecost:
Mary, wait with us
and our families and friends
so that we, too,
may receive all the promises
of Jesus, your Son.
Amen

May 21

Let us pray:
Lord God,
I can think of some of the chemicals
my body is made of
and the way
the different cells of my body interact,
but I know how much more
a human being really is.
I pray that I may always appreciate
the wonder
of the human body, mind and spirit.
I pray for good health,
an enquiring mind,
and a spirit that seeks all that is good,
knowing that I will only
be fully at rest and in peace
as I live in your presence. Amen.

May 22

Let us pray:
We who weep come to you, Lord,
because you always
share our sorrow.
We who suffer come to you,
knowing that you cure.
We who are afraid come to you,
because you smile on us.
We share in your life
because you share ours
and so we know, God of love,
that “to love another person
is, indeed, to touch your face”.
May we live in your love forever.
Amen.

Love this:

Les Misérables’ is one of the world’s most
popular musicals. The Finale includes
these words

The words of the Finale:
“To love another person
is to touch the face of God.”

MAY 23

1 We bring before the Lord
those who have recently
been baptised or confirmed
- or who are about to be -
that they may be true to themselves
and may live their faith
in a genuine and credible way.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
2 We pray for our families and friends
that the power of the Holy Spirit
may be in our lives,
so that we may live fully with his gifts
of wisdom and understanding,
of knowledge and right judgement,
of courage and reverence,
and of wonder and awe
in God’s presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer

3 Let’s pray for those about to sit exams,
that nothing may prevent them
from doing as well as they deserve.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
4 We pray for all in the mass media
- in TV, radio, films,
newspapers, advertising
and the Internet,
that they may be guided
by good principles
and the best motives.
We pray for wisdom ourselves
that, amidst the influences
and pressures around us,
we may make good decisions
and grow in wisdom and character
each day.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

May 24

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you promised
to be with your people always,
and so we know that you are with us
in good times and bad.
Nothing that ever happens to us
can separate us from your love.
Help us always to be positive
in our attitude
that we may seek and find
the best in people and in situations,
and so draw good
out of all that happens to us.
Amen.

May 25

Let us pray for God’s protection, using a
prayer of St Columba,
written 1400 years ago:

Be a bright flame before me, Lord.
Be a guiding star above ame.
Be a smooth path below me.
Be a kindly shepherd behind me
- today, tonight, and forever. Amen.

May 26

Let us pray:
Father, God of love,
as I come to recognise you
in the faces of those people
you have placed into my life,
I ask that I may grow
as the loving person
you call me to be. Amen.

May 27

Let us pray:
God our Father,
when times are difficult,
I ask for courage and determination.
When there is hostility between people,
lead me to see the best
in people and in situations,
and give me the gift of making peace.
Remove from me
whatever contradicts your love
that I may share more fullya
the Good News of your love. Amen.

May 28

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, we read in the gospel
that you spoke individually
to many people and said:
“Be cured”; Lk 513
“Get up and walk”; Lk 524
“What do you want me to do for you?”
Mt 2032
“Of course I want to cure you: be healed”;
Mt 83
“Let what you want be done for you”;
Mt 929
“Receive your sight”; Lk 1842
“Receive back your hearing”; Mk 734
“Young man, arise”; Lk 715
“Go, your son will live”; Jn 450
“Go, your faith has saved you.” Mk 1052
Knowing that you are present
in our midst,
we ask you today
to touch each one of us individually
and bring us your healing
of body, mind and spirit. Amen.

May 29

Let us pray:
Lord, I ask that you inspire me
always to do my best
- not comparing myself with others,
but only with myself.
Lead me, Lord,
to discover and use
my own talents to the full.
May I live in such a way
that I help others
to experience success.
Inspire me to be generous
in praising others
for the good use of their abilities
- looking not so much
at the degree of achievement
but at the effort put in. Amen.