Revd Bennett Spong leads both Morning and Evening Prayer this week, in the season of Lent (marking the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert). Our last Morning Prayer since these recorded prayers began in March 2020, in response to the dislocation created by living through a pandemic. Bennett reads a passage from Hebrews, Chapter 11, verses 1 to 16. This scripture considers the nature of faith; “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible..”

We pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia and for world peace. We pray for wise decision-making and for the moral integrity of all world leaders in the face of evil – most especially this morning.

Photograph with permission from St Olav’s Kirke, The Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Albion Street, Rotherhithe, London SE16 7JB, circa 1926.

Thank you to all who contribute to our prayers and pray with us.