Eternal God,
We bring You thanks today for your liberating work –
bringing freedom and responsibility,
bringing to us the opportunity to live as fully human
with choice and thoughtfulness and direction.
Give us wisdom to make the best decisions
and remind us of the effect we have on other people
by everything that we do.
We live in a world of short-term thinking:
nations vying for short-term advantage
leaders trying to get votes by creating short-term solutions,
people making snap decisions they later regret.
Help us all to look beyond the immediate;
May we learn from the mistakes of the past
and consider how we can build a better society for the future.
We pray for those in authority;
for those trying to make ethical decisions to benefit people
for those who’ve given up trying,
for those simply trying to line their own pockets;
God of justice, end nepotism and corruption in the corridors of power,
and lead leaders to see the value of greater equality and shared hope.
We pray for people in our parishes living in poverty,
for those living in fear or anxiety,
for those living with secrets that weigh heavily on them.
We pray for them and for all who need Your help;
May those who seek You find You with them.
For all those on our minds at this time, we pray, especially this week for:
Ruth, Stuart, Margaret, Malcolm,
Robert H, Evelyn, John C, Eleanor,
John N, Ela, James, Emily,
Anthony, Jill, Cath, Henryk
Amy, Andrew, Jo, Peter,
Ron, Bill B, Mary, and Jean…
Bring to all we pray for – the balm of Your Presence with them.
Bring healing to the world in all its fractures and brokenness.
Bring hope to Your people, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Leith St Andrew's Parish Church 