ICF - Prayer Focus

Historians and those whose work involves preserving and understanding the past

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Historians, antique dealers, archaeologists, curators, archivists, genealogists, those entrusted with listed buildings, those who care for ancient monuments and historic houses, biographers, diarists, researchers and preservers of ancient manuscripts, authenticators, palaeographists, librarians, microfilmers and record office staff. Those who work with living history projects, Staff of the National Trust, the National Trust for Scotland, English Heritage and Cadw.

God of all ages; the same yesterday, today and forever; though we live in the present, part of what it means to be human is to have a sense of heritage; to have the capacity to understand and learn from those who have gone before. We thank you that our faith, preserved in manuscript, story and institution has been faithfully handed down to us through successive generations, strengthening our belief through the knowledge that it has sustained your people in so many eras of history. So we give you thanks for those who seek to help us understand our past; who make it accessible to us through books, monuments and museums; who preserve, restore and study its artefacts; who stretch our knowledge through research and exploration; who catalogue and record so that it’s stories will not be lost. May we not become so obsessed with the past, that we lose our sense of a Gospel that is relevant and pertinent to our contemporary world, and may we not become so dismissive of the past that we fail to appreciate the lessons that can be learned from it, and may we live our faith in a such a way as to make it meaningful to those generations that follow. AMEN

Regular prayer for the world of work can be a significant feature in Sunday services. ICF seeks to provide a variety of resources to help those who prepare these. Prayer of this nature is important because:

  • It encourages Christians to see their working lives as part of their Christian Identity

  • It helps those involved in the world of work, particularly when their job makes it difficult to participate in church activities, to feel affirmed and valued.

  • It is a vital part of our intercessory responsibility to the community around us.

  • It communicates a faith that is relevant to real issues to those who visit our churches

Each week, we highhlight different groups of workers and encourage our members and followers to particularly pray for people who work in that sector. We also encourage local churches to include regular prayers for the world of work

As you pray, Consider what might be said in the context of thanksgiving, confession and intercession, both for the workers concerned and for those present.