Join Ros, Grace, Sally and myself as we pray the Lord's covering over the span of our nation, and Shirley Richards, Helen Rees, Cathie Muncey, Chian Lewis Lim, Corinne Frost (strings) and Fontane Liang (keyboard) as they lead us in the beautiful music of the second movement of Vivaldi’s Concerto in D minor Op. 8:7 RV 242.
This is followed by a well-known piece that we are offering as an Interlude to provide space for a prayerful response. We asked Thomas Herzog (recorder) Susanne Herzog and Anne Seidel (violins) and Alex Koderisch (cello) to record this most traditional of English pieces from Germany as a way of blessing England as we in turn bless Germany - and Vivaldi’s home country of Italy.
Bless all who even now are waking up on the far side of the world and looking to You.
Hold our nation in the palm of Your hand.
As night falls and the workers of darkness bestir themselves,
Protect our land from their malice and from acts of wanton destruction.
Loose each victim from those who send out tormenting spells,
from all snares of seduction and bewitching,
from lust and depravity,
from despondency and despair.
May the outstretched hand of the Lord push back the frontiers of darkness, and grant such strength and succour that those who follow You may never tire of serving You.
Lord, we follow Your leading now, as You prompt our spirits to pray,
far beyond our place of work or neighbourhood,
far beyond our Christian circles and connections,
Holy Spirit of Prayer, set our hearts free to follow Your leading now.