Prayer for Rain
GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Drought turns farmland to dustbowl,
drains rivers, lays bare the soil.
Gardens wither,
livestock die,
people lose heart,
communities crumble.
How long, O Lord, how long?
Refresh the parched and thirsty earth.
Revive our flagging spirits.
When will you give us the water of life?
Let us pray.
O God, the earth is thirsty for rain
and we wait for you
to refresh the land and all its creatures,
the rivers and lakes, the crops and gardens.
Send abundant rain, we pray,
and teach us to be better stewards
of all the blessings you provide,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
First reading: Philippians 2.1-14
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any
compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in
full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as
better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let
the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death-even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more
now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work
in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Music for reflection
Psalm 90
Lord, you have been our refuge:
from one generation to another.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the earth and the world were born:
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You turn us back to dust:
and say, “Go back, you children of earth”.
For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday when it is past:
or like a watch in the night.
You cut them off like a dream:
and like the new grass of the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flourishes:
in the evening it is dried up and withered.
When you are angry, all our days pass away:
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The span of our life is seventy years, or,
if we have strength, perhaps eighty:
yet the pride of our toil is but trouble and sorrow,
for it passes away quickly and we are gone.
Who knows the power of your wrath?:
who knows your indignation like those who fear you?
Teach us rightly to number our days:
so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Relent, O Lord; how long will you be angry?
take pity on your servants.
O satisfy us early with your mercy:
that all our days we may rejoice and sing.
Give us joy for all the days you have afflicted us:
for the years we have suffered adversity.
Show your servants your work:
and let their children see your glory.
May the gracious favour of the Lord be upon us:
prosper the work of our hands, O prosper the work of our hands!
Second reading: Luke 12.22-34
Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body,
what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens:
they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how
much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span
of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory
was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and
tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you--you of little faith! And do not
keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the
nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.
Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your
possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also.”
Music for reflection
THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
O God, we pray for the rain to come
so that our crops will grow and come to harvest,
so that our livestock can be fed and watered,
so that our families can make a living,
so that our towns and communities can flourish.
silence
As we wait, take away the worry that makes nothing better,
and give us a peaceful spirit of trust in you.
Make our families stronger, our friendships deeper,
our communities kinder.
silence
As we wait, show us the blessings that are ours for good:
your forgiveness for our wrong actions and mistaken choices,
your healing for our weary bodies and wounded spirits,
your promise of love that we cannot earn and never deserve.
silence
As we wait, teach us to let go of the things that hurt us and others:
the pride that stops us from asking for help,
the self-doubt that paralyses us,
the resentment that blames and envies others.
silence
As we wait, come close to those who are most afraid
of the changes that the future will bring for them.
Protect them in body, mind and spirit through their darkest days.
Bring them in safety to new beginnings and new callings.
silence
As we wait, give strength to those who work to relieve suffering,
run programmes, make policies, plan for the future.
Give them compassion, patience and wise insight
and calm courage when pain and anger are all around.
silence
As we wait, give us the energy to make a difference to others,
in conversations where burdens are shared,
in practical help where resources are shared,
in prayer where griefs and longings are named and offered to you.
silence
As we wait, comfort us as we weep for all that is being lost:
livelihoods and identities, relationships and dreams.
Do not let us be overwhelmed by sorrow,
but be our companion even through the valley of the shadow of death.
silence
As we wait, give us courage to put our life into your hands
and to trust you with everything we are
and everything we will be, by your grace.
Keep us very close to your heart.
silence
So we pray as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE
We pray this blessing together
God our creator, Lord of earth and sky, rivers and seas,
bless us and keep us in faith.
Jesus Christ, our brother and companion,
bless us and keep us in hope.
Holy Spirit, weaving neighbours into communities of care,
bless us and keep us in love.
And the blessing of the holy and glorious Trinity
be among us now and for ever. Amen.
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.