Prayers with the Nenagh Walking Club, Aonach ar Siúl

The Nenagh Walking Club, Aonach ar Siúl, held a walk on 13th November 2022 in memory of deceased members, beginning at the Nenagh Famine Graveyard, behind the hospital, walking through the town to St John's Well, and back along the river. I was invited to contribute prayers on behalf of the Church of Ireland community, but did only parts of the walk.

At the Famine Graveyard

As we remember all those buried in this tranquil graveyard, 
we pray for grace to live in the light of eternity.

Grant us, Lord, the wisdom and the grace 

to use aright the time that is left us here on earth. 

Lead us to repent of our sins, 

the evil we have done and the good we have not done; 

and strengthen us to follow the steps of your Son, 

in the way that leads to the fulness of eternal life; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Father of all, in whom we are one with your saints,

We remember members of the Nenagh Walking Club 

that you have gathered to yourself, 

and we rejoice in the fellowship we have enjoyed with them.

We remember walkers and mountaineers of previous generations,

including Anthony Adams-Reilly, the pioneering C19th alpinist,

who is buried in Kilbarron CofI graveyard.

We give you thanks for those whom we love but see no longer.

Keep us in unbroken fellowship with your whole Church, 

and grant that at the last we may all rejoice together in your heavenly home; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At St John's Well

Let us pray

Today is marked as Remembrance Sunday in churches of my Church of Ireland tradition. On this day we pray not to glorify war, but for all who suffer as a result of conflict, and ask that God may give us peace:

To the bidding May God give peace, please respond God give peace.

 

We pray for the service men and women of every nation who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered by and known to God;

May God give peace

God give peace

 

We pray for those who love them in death as in life, experiencing the distress of grief and the sadness of loss;

May God give peace

God give peace

 

We pray for civilian women, children and men whose lives are disfigured by war or terror, in particular today those in Ukraine, as we call to mind in penitence the anger and hatreds of humanity;

May God give peace

God give peace

 

We pray for peace-makers and peace-keepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free, and in particular for our Irish service men and women on peace-keeping duties with the UN;

May God give peace

God give peace

 

We pray for all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious; asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve in the search for reconciliation and peace.

May God give peace

God give peace

 

O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory

we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. May we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever. Amen.

 Adapted from CTBI

We pray for ourselves, in the words of John Henry, Cardinal Newman, who before joining the Roman Catholic church was a priest in the Anglican tradition in the Church of England.

O Lord, support us all the day long

until the shades lengthen,

and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed,

the fever of life is over,

and our work is done.

Then, Lord, in your mercy

grant us safe lodging,

a holy rest, and peace at the last;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen