Will you stand with us ?

Here’s the closing litany of prayer from our second JUST LENT course session which explored issues of solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable, and our calling to strengthen community

You, who look beyond the scorched mountain,
with hopes of a safe place,
seek a paradise compared to the pounding of the earth by missiles and explosives
which disrupted and destroyed your home,
whilst we sit here so comfortably
and where only rain falls from our sky.

We stand with you.

You, who reach your hand into the deep back of the sofa
looking for coins, like lost treasure,
or count pennies found at the back of the drawer
for bus fare to the next job interview.

We stand with you.

You, who share what you have with others,
give of your time and your talents,
and fall into bed after a day of work and worth
as you try to make the world a better place.

We stand with you.

You, who have given up some time ago on seeking work,
because your name does not fit,
or your postcode means your application is overlooked,
raises alarm bells of discrimination.

We stand with you.

You, who skirt the supermarket aisles
avoiding the security guards and cameras,
to walk out with a meal for the night,
hidden beneath your coat.

We stand with you.

You, who take to politics to change the world,
and find the decisions too difficult to make,
but remain to fight your corner,
and walk the unpopular route.

We stand with you.

You, who bow your head into the Foodbank’s doorway,
clutching an empty bag,
waiting for your tinned food
to take home to make the most of other’s giving.

We stand with you.

You, who take the whistle to your lips,
shuffle your studded feet on muddy ground,
and kick a ball around with the young,
to let them know you care and they have a future.

We stand with you.

You, who speak to power,
although you feel so powerless and feel like giving up
when the odds are stacked against you.

We stand with you.

Sovereign God,
whose Word took flesh,
living as one of us,
standing alongside us
living for us.
May we stand with him now,
present in the poor and the vulnerable,
calling us to create communities of love and peace,
strengthening the weak,
and raising up all who are bowed down with burdens too great to bear alone.
May we, your church, speak out against injustice,
and be open to the unsettling power of your Spirit,
who empowers us to bring change
and believe in the possibilities of your Kingdom.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen