33. Prayer for “Raise the Flag”
Over the last few weeks, the English flag has appeared on lamp posts across our town and region and a large demonstration was recently held in London by a group linking itself with the movement. Their sudden appearance has worried some people but the people putting the flags up say all they want is to brighten up the streets and unify the whole community around the flag of our country. We give thanks for their desire to bring people together and the community spirit they feel as they put them up.
Although the flag has always been flown from churches and public buildings, and proudly waved at national sports events, it is also used by groups who have violently attacked people from ethnic minorities. We pray that God comforts those who are scared and that God causes those who are using our flag to express hatred to seek forgiveness.
Jesus, we pray for unity around the shared common values of England and against those who seek division. We particularly pray for the online space where people post views ridiculing and abusing both those who put up the flags and also those who want them taken down. We pray that people don’t use words that strip people of their humanity such as ‘gammon’, ‘leftie’, ‘snowflake’ or ‘illegal’ and that they treat each other online with the same respect as if they were with them face to face.
Prayer of St George
God of hosts, who so kindled the flame of love in the heart of your servant George, that he bore witness to the risen Lord by his life and by his death: give us the same faith and power of love that we who rejoice in his triumphs may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
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