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Writer's pictureRay Donnelly

A PAUSE FOR HOPE SERVICE FOR THOSE AT HOME, IN HOSPITAL OR IN CARE

Updated: Mar 22, 2021


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




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