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Sometimes I am lucky and have some money in my pocket.<\/p>\n
Certainly money is a necessity of life and our use of our money is a challenge in our lives.<\/p>\n
So today we think of our use of money and our pursuit of money.<\/p>\n
I have some euros in my wallet from our week in Barcelona last year. So we pray for both home and overseas.<\/p>\n
A slight warning – the prayers reflect my “leaning to the left” which I know some find unhelpful but these prayers poured out of me today and yesterday and so I include them. If your view is that governments are doing enough and the poor should help themselves, then I respect your opinion but do not agree with you. I hope you will respect my position equally.<\/p>\n
Let us pray for the world<\/b><\/p>\n
Loving Heavenly Father,
\nyour blessings come to us in expected and unexpected ways,
\nand you provide for us in wonderous ways.<\/i><\/p>\n
We thank You for Your grace and mercy to all people.
\nWe pray that You would provide everyone with sufficient,
\nthat you will assist us to remove the curse of poverty.<\/p>\n
We pray for the governments of the world.
\nAs they so often seem to “pretend” to care, for
\nthings beyond their own borders.
\nPromising aid but only delivering part or none of that promised.
\nWhere foreign aid budgets are seen as optional added extras
\nor worse used as negotiating weapons to secure commercial dealings.<\/p>\n
Lord we know that there is no real appetite to share equally
\nand even where there is,
\nthere is so often corruption,
\nwhich prevents resources reaching those who need them most.<\/p>\n
Lord in all things we place ourselves in humility before you,
\nknowing that we are helpless to solve these global issues.
\nWe pray that you will hear our cries for justice
\nin the world’s financial dealings,
\nin Jesus name we offer this prayer. Amen<\/i><\/p>\n
Let us pray for ourselves<\/b><\/p>\n
Lord as we pray for the world, so we pray for ourselves
\nyou freely give us so much
\nand we give you praise for those gifts.
\nfor our skills and talents which allow us to earn our livings.<\/i><\/p>\n
We pray for our social concerns,
\nthe way that we earn and use our money
\nour activism in political and pressure groups
\nwe pray for the many foodbanks around our own country
\nand that we may campaign against the injustices
\nwhich make these a necessity<\/p>\n
We see in our media the multi billion earning
\nmulti national companies evading and avoiding taxes
\nto the benefit of their wealthy shareholders but
\nto the detriment of the world.
\nWe pray for governments that they may not “fear the dollar”
\nbut implement fair taxation systems.
\nMay we ourselves seek to pay our fair share
\nnot avoiding our responsibilities to those less fortunate than ourselves.<\/p>\n
Lord, we see the greed in the world as lottery jackpots soar
\nand sales swell with the hope of vast wealth
\nSpending money needed for essentials,
\nspent on this falsest of hopes.
\n“Just a bit of fun – I can afford it – What if I win”!
\nWe pray for our church as we accept grants from the Lottery,
\nin order to maintain our buildings.<\/p>\n
We pray for our own judgement
\nas we decide where we will spend our money.
\nMay we spend wisely causing harm to no one.
\nLet our income support our families and
\nyour work in the wide world, near and far
\nIn Jesus’ name we pray. Amen<\/i><\/p>\n
Some resources which might be helpful in our times of devotion.<\/b><\/p>\n
Hymn<\/b> – Singing the Faith 702 – I will speak out for those who have no voices<\/p>\n
Reading<\/b> – Proverbs Chapter 30 Verses 1 -14 – “Wise sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh”.<\/p>\n
There were lots of passages I could have chosen for this theme so I choose a slightly unfamiliar one but a powerful one nonetheless.<\/p>\n