Elijah and Jesus Prayer

As the rain comes down to wash a parched and brittle land, so we long to see your reign.

As the sun sweeps the sky with light, we, groping in shadows, long for light to kindle and blaze into the darkening corners.

As waters surge across the beach to carve through sand, so we long for the sweet power of your will to carve redemption into our rock.

This is our prayer again.

And, in our praying, we are not alone.

We pray with Elijah
who strode the stage of history
who battled with idols
who knew you.

We pray with Elijah who faced the cost of obedience to your will as he felt the force of opposition.
We pray with Elijah who hid in the cave and struggled to hear you speaking.
Help us to join him in listening to your still, small, voice – your whisper that is balm to our souls.
Help us to pay enough attention to all around us that we will hear your voice again.

We pray with Jesus
who strode the stage of history
who battled with idols
who knew you.

We pray with Jesus who faced the cost of obedience to your will as he felt the force of opposition.
We pray with Jesus who took himself off to quiet places to hear you speaking.
Help us to join him in walking with you through all our days.
Help us to worship and adore you with all the passion we have within us.
But make our praying real as we follow Elijah and Jesus into the midst of life and live to your praise and glory.

As we know our world's dryness, face its darkness, feel its harshness,
may our faith kindle deeds of love that let your sweet reign prosper and your bright light blaze.
In the name of Jesus, your Son, our Saviour, we pray.
Amen.

An Invocation

Bless to us, O God, this day and all its meetings.
Bless to us all the encounters that lie ahead.
Bless to us the journeys we will travel.
Bless to us the sights and sounds and tastes and smells through which creation and creativity will embrace us.
Bless to us the touch of friends.
Bless to us the silent spaces.
Bless to us the noisy places.
Bless to us the chaotic moments and the times of calm.
Bless us in the crowds.
Bless us when we are alone.
Bless us, O God, we pray.

And may we be channels of your blessing in all we do this day, with all we meet, in every place, through every moment.

Amen.

By the Rev Neil Thorogood, Director of Pastoral Studies, Westminster College, Cambridge

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