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I am feeling a great sense of good company as we are united in prayer for those whose initials you have provided below — around 2500 people for whom we are praying.

There is an ancient prayer of Pope Clement I (the fourth pope) who was martyred around 50 years after the resurrection of Jesus.

I thought we might use it today, each praying it once for those on our list, and knowing that this prayer has been used by Christians to pray for others for almost 2000 years.

Take two minutes now to be still and silent, to know that Jesus is with you, and call to mind those for whom you are praying individually, all we pray for collectively, and for our world.

Let us pray together:

May God who created everything
keep the number of his chosen people
throughout the world,
up to the strength he fixed for them
through Jesus Christ.
Through him he called us from darkness to light,
from ignorance to knowledge
of the glory of his name.

We have confidence in you:
you were at the beginning of creation;
you have opened our inward eyes
to give us knowledge of you,
who alone are the Most High,
in highest heaven,
the Holy One,
at ease among the holy.

You curb the arrogance of the proud,
lift up the modest
and bring the mighty down,
give riches and poverty,
death and life.
You alone watch over
the interests of spiritual beings,
you are the God of all flesh.
You gaze into the depths,
you watch what people are doing.

You are our help in danger,
you save the despairing,
Creator and Keeper
of all that is spiritual.
You give increase
to the peoples of the earth,
and from them all
you chose us out to love you,
through Jesus Christ,
who brought us instruction,
holiness and honour.

We beg you, Lord,
to help and defend us.
Deliver the oppressed, ‘
pity the insignificant,
raise the fallen,
show yourself to the needy,
heal the sick,
bring back those of your people
who have gone astray,
feed the hungry,
lift up the weak,
take off the prisoners’ chains.
May every nation come to know
that you alone are God,
that Jesus Christ is your Child,
that we are your people,
the sheep that you pasture.

You have shown
by what you have made and done
how the world
has been planned from eternity.
The earth is your creation, Lord,
yours that are true to every generation,
just when you judge,
your strength and splendour a marvel.

Such competence yours in creating,
such skill in setting firm the things you make,
your goodness apparent in this world to see.
You are loyal to those who trust you,
merciful, compassionate.
Forgive us our sins, our injustice,
Our falls, our jarring deeds.

Do not count every one
of your servants’ sins,
but cleanse us
with the cleanness of your truth
and guide our steps
in inward holiness,
that so we may do
what is just and pleasing
to you and to our rulers.

Let us see your face,
sovereign Master,
and we shall peacefully
pursue what is good,
protected by your strong hand,
kept from all sin by your mighty arm,
preserved from those
who hate us without cause.

Give concord and peace
to us and to all living on the earth,
as you gave them to our ancestors
when they prayed to you,
believing truly,
ready to obey the All Powerful,
the all-Holy.

To those who rule and lead us
on the earth
Grant them, Lord,
the health, peace,
concord and stability
to use aright
the sovereignty
you have bestowed on them.
For you, King of heaven,
Lord of the ages, you it is
that give to mortals
glory, honour and power
over what is on the earth.

Lord, make their counsels
conform to what is good
and pleasing to you,
that using with reverence,
peacefully, gently,
the power you have given them,
that they may find favour with you.

You alone have the means
to do this for us,
this and more than this.
We thank you for it
through Jesus Christ,
the High Priest,
our souls’ Protector.
Glory and splendor
be yours through him,
now at this moment,
in every generation,
age after age.

Amen.

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