A prayer to God, the Light of all life

It was my turn to read the intercessory prayers at church again on Sunday. During my holiday I read J.Philip Newell's new book, 'Christ of the Celts' and found it very interesting as well as affirming. I really love some of the ideas the Celts had, such as that the light of God is at the heart of all that has life. When the Bible says that God made light on the first day, they didn't necessarily take it literally, but understood it to mean simply that God's light is fundamental to all life.

This was confirmed for them when John, the disciple the Celts looked to as their authority, refers in his gospel to 'the light of life' and 'the light that enlightens everyone coming into the world'.John also says, 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it'.

At the beginning of September, when the days are growing shorter and the weather is often gloomy, it seems a good time to remember that God is the light of the world and his light and love continue around us and within us however dark it may seem.

Another thing the Celtic Christians believed was that God's love and light is very much at the core of our being, since we have been made in the image of God and also God made us and all creation from his own substance.

So not surprisingly I chose light as the theme for the prayers.


Dear God, who is the light of all life, help us to be aware of your light and love within us and around us. When the evenings begin to draw in, when life is difficult and we find it hard to be hopeful, when we feel down and everything seems dismal, and when, eventually, we realise our own lives are coming to an end, help us to know that your light and love are always there deep down inside us and all around us.

The darkness shall not overcome the light.
The Light of God within us and around us is greater than the darkness.


O God who gave us life, who inhabits the realms of shimmering light, help us not to lose sight of your light when the news all seems bad, when money is tight, when life is uncertain, when the neighbours are annoying, when family life is not a bed of roses and when important relationships seem to be falling apart.

The darkness shall not overcome the light.
The Light of God within us and around us is greater than the darkness.


Tender, healing God, let your gentle, forgiving light shine into all the damaged, hurting parts of our lives so that when we feel strong we may be able to reflect your loving, healing light into the lives of the people around us.

The darkness shall not overcome the light.
The Light of God within us and around us is greater than the darkness.

God of light and peace we remember all the people in the world who suffer because of war, hurricanes, floods, famine, drought and the oppression of injustice. We ask that you will bring justice, peace, healing and plenty to these people. Give us the guiding light of your wisdom to make choices that do not add to the world's problems and to see when we are being dazzled by the bright lights that bring only a fleeting and hollow satisfaction or when we are being blinded by our own selfishness and greed.

The darkness shall not overcome the light.
The Light of God within us and around us is greater than the darkness.

Heavenly father and mother of us all we remember those known to us who are unwell or going through difficult times of another sort.

(Read list from weekly sheet.)

Let us now take a moment to quietly remember any others we know who need our prayers.

The darkness shall not overcome the light.
The Light of God within us and around us is greater than the darkness.

O great Light of the universe illuminate us from within.
Make us lights set on lamp stands that shows others the way;
with a generosity which spills into darkest corners,
with a level of understanding which reveals what is true,
and a strength of love which glows amidst distrust and fear.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.