Prayers: 3 May 2026

Prayers inspired by original prayers, Psalm 31:1–5,15–16, Acts 7:55–60, 1 Peter 2:2–10, John 14:1–14

An acknowledgment

E Ihowa o ngā mano,
Atua kotahi,
Titiro atawhai ki a matou,
E tangi ana
Mō rātou kua wehe atu,
i ngā marae maha o te motu,

He rākau whakaora
He tokotoko whakahaumaru
He rau ōriwa.
Awhinatia mai, e te Atua.

Lord of hosts
God of Unity.
Look with grace
Upon we who weep,
For all who have departed,
From our communities.

Your rod leads us
Your staff protects us,
Grant us peace.

We pray for the Church

E Ihu, Jesus
We pray for Your church to stand strong
Grant us the strength to act -
to lift our voices for love and truth;
To show another way;
The way that leads to you.
Bless this fallible body, your worldwide Church
And our many ministries in these islands.
Help us to lead each other into encounter with you,
Help us to show others
The way to go – how to follow
In joy and in hope.

[Bidding and response]

Out of darkness -
You have called us into Your wonderful light.

We pray for the world

E te Wairua Tapu, Holy Spirit
Where dark clouds of conflict
Gather around our world;
May your presence
Work on stubborn hearts,
greed and short-sighted pride,
May those who are like Saul,
Gleeful at the stoning of Stephen,
then see that light of glory
on the road to Damascus.

We pray for peace and righteousness
For all in our world.
May the influential and ordinary alike
Be enabled to do small, good things.
To God be all glory.

[Bidding and response]

Out of darkness -
You have called us into Your wonderful light.

Jesus, good shepherd, you know us
You lead us.
In this week to come
Strengthen us to know you,
And to follow -
Where-ever you lead.

[Bidding and response]

Out of darkness -
You have called us into Your wonderful light.