VICAR

Dear Readers, I wish you, as ever, a peaceful and blessed Sunday. I hope your week to come is full of accomplishment, happiness and progress.

With Brexit seemingly inevitable and our lawmakers, diplomats and representatives having to face negotiations which will likely get tricky at times, I thought that this Sunday we should remind ourselves of the power of prayer at the heart of the Palace of Westminster and pray these people on their way with God’s speed.

In these days of Richard Dawkins few probably realise but sittings in both Houses begin with prayers. These follow the Christian faith and there is currently no multi-faith element. Attendance is voluntary.

In the House of Commons the Speaker’s Chaplain usually reads the prayers. The form of the main prayer is as follows and it is my chosen prayer for this Sunday:

Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed.

Amen