‘Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’
Isaiah 40:31
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I love you and adore you. I firmly believe that your love enfolds me, that you see me and that you hear me. I place all my trust in you, in your Son, Jesus Christ, and in your most Holy Spirit. Bless me now as I pray before you.
Hymn
I watch the sunrise lighting the sky, Casting its shadows near.
And on this morning, bright though it be, I feel those shadows near me. But you are always close to me, Following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
Following all your ways, Lord.
I watch sunlight shine through the clouds, Warming the earth below.
And at the mid-day, life seems to say:
‘I feel your brightness near me.’
For you are always close to me, Following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
Following all your ways, Lord
I watch the sunset fading away, Lighting the clouds with sleep. And as the evening closes its eyes, I feel your presence near me.
For you are always close to me, Following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
Following all your ways, Lord
I watch the moonlight guarding the night, waiting till morning comes. The air is silent, earth is at rest
Only your peace is near me.
Yes, you are always close to me, Following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
Following all your ways, Lord
Prayer
God of life and love; compassion and mercy
Companion through every shade of life’s journey
You inspired a Psalm writer centuries ago to declare
If I go up to the heavens, you are there
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there
If I rise on the wings of the dawn
Or settle on the far side of the sea
Even there your hand will guide me
Your right hand will hold me fast
You are there when the news is disappointing,
when the prognosis is uncertain
and the choices difficult,
when the symptoms are painful and the treatment hard to bear,
You are there in the love, care and commitment
of those who share this journey with me
and in the possibilities and hope I find in You,
in the memories, love and longings that never desert me
Guide me, comfort me, and hold me fast I pray
Through Christ our Lord R. Amen.
Candle lighting
At this point feel free to light a candle or candles for your own intentions or those dear to you or in memory of a loved one who has been lost to cancer. And spend a few moments in silent prayer.
Dear God, our loving Father,
the candles I have lit represent each one of us whose life has been touched by cancer.
Their light reminds me of Jesus Christ, your Son, who is the Light of the World and the light in my darkness. Give me, we pray, comfort in my anxiety and fear, courage and strength in my suffering, patience and compassion in my caring,
consolation in my grieving; but above all give me hope now and always.
Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
Scripture reading St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (4:8-10, 16-18)
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord,
At the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord,
At the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace.
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord,
At the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord,
At the end of the day.
Prayers
Dear Father
Be with all those whose lives have been touched by cancer and who need strength to face each new day with hope and courage. Please hold us fast in your hands, Lord, ease my fear and bring me your healing and wholeness.
Dear Father
Whose Son Jesus Christ loved to bring health and healing, may your Holy Spirit help all those who follow in his footsteps of caring love.
I give thanks for the work of our nurses and all who care for those with cancer. I pray that you will always give them the necessary strength and compassion to do their work with love and patience.
Dear Father
I bring before you today those who devote their lives to research into the causes of cancer trying to find a cure.
Help them to do their work successfully and to share their knowledge to the benefit of all.
Dear Father
I pray for all those in local and national government and for those who hold positions of authority in providing health care. As they allocate resources and plan services please grant them the wisdom, strength and compassion to ensure that everyone with cancer has access without delay to the best treatment and care. Bless them Lord in their work and sustain them in the responsibilities they bear.
The Lord’s Prayer and Pause for Hope prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Dearest Father,
we pray that cancer…
Will not cripple love
Will not shatter hope
Will not corrode faith
Will not take away peace
Will not destroy confidence
Will not kill friendship
Will not shut out memories
Will not silence courage
Will not invade the soul
And we firmly believe that cancer…
Cannot reduce eternal life
Cannot quench the Spirit
Cannot lessen the power of the Resurrection.
For thine is the kingdom
The power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer (John Henry Newman)
Soul of Christ be my sanctification
Body of Christ be my salvation
Blood of Christ fill all my veins
Water from the side of Christ
Wash out my stains
May Christ’s passion strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
In thy wounds I fain would hide
Never to be parted from thy side
Guard me when my foes assail me
Call me when my life shall fail me
Command me then to come to thee
That I for all eternity
With thy saints may praise thee.
Hymn
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hand has made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee: How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul …
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul ….
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart;
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul…
Final prayer
Heavenly Father. I thank you for the blessings which you have given to me through this short service. Your love for me is steadfast and sure. I am your child and I trust in you. Amen