Prayers for Young Minds

Sunday 19th January

Loving Lord, we pray for those going through the turbulent teens. Young people with so much potential, but subject to many influences which may adversely affect their mental health. We pray for their guidance, support and encouragement as they find their way, that each might discover their true worth as human beings uniquely made in your image. Let not their gifts and talents be squandered, but in developing them may they find purpose, direction, positivity and the abundant joy in living which you desire to bring to all through Jesus Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sunday 26th January

As we lift up to you children and young people and their mental wellbeing, we pray for school teachers who are in contact with them each school day and may notice the signs of trouble. In their busy lives, with their many responsibilities, may teachers be aware, alert, compassionate and skilled, to be the first defenders of those children who are suffering. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sunday 2nd February.

Loving God as we continue with our year of prayer for the mental health of children and young people in our Circuit and beyond, we pray especially today that Children's Mental Health week, which runs from tomorrow until next Sunday, will raise awareness of this challenging problem that is facing so many, both locally here and across our country. We pray for all those from Place2Be and the other organisations involved this week, and all who will be supporting in so many ways. We pray that the aim of the week to empower and give a voice to all children and young people in the UK will come to pass through your love, so that children will not have to face mental health problems alone. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sunday 9th February.

Loving God, we pray for all children and young people who are living at home. We think and pray especially today for those who are not blessed with a surrounding loving family, and who have difficult relationships. We know that this can make them vulnerable to mental distress and, sadly, potentially to physical abuse. We pray for them that they might find love and happiness where at present there is none, and we ask that you would be with them and comfort them. We pray also for all the members of such troubled families that they may come to know the power of your love. And we pray also for all those who seek to help and support them, either in their wider family or from elsewhere. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sunday 16th February.

We pray for all those who work in the NHS who treat children suffering with their mental health. We pray for counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals, that they show understanding and empathy and make each child feel cared for and special. We also pray for those support workers in schools who often are the first adult the child talks to about their issues. May they be good listeners and able to discern what the next step should be. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sunday 23rd February.

Lord, we pray for children suffering loss of a parent. We know ourselves how the loss of a loved one can affect our mental health, and our heart goes out to children who are

unfortunate enough to lose a parent at an impressionable age. Be close to them and help those around them learn how to best support them. We also pray for children whose parents divorce or separate. That they are given support and time to adjust to the new situation and, if possible, maintain a relationship with each parent. However, we know that is not always the case, and in those circumstances, we pray for understanding and for feelings of rejection to be dealt with and not hidden. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The prayers for the month of April have been written by Revd Cameron Stirk and Deacon Liz Day .

Sunday 6th April

Today let us hold before God the lay employees within our Circuit and from various churches who work in part in our local schools. Let us pray for Michael Johnston (Christchurch); Fi Thompson (Burley); Hester Ayling (Guiseley; Yeadon & Bramhope) and Jean Snaith (Guisieley, Yeadon & Bramhope). Let us also remember our Ministers who often take school assemblies as part of their role and those who volunteer in delivering Open the Book. Let us especially remember our lay employees who have the responsibility and privilege of working alongside teachers and with students as part of whole school work, small groups or one-to-one mentoring. Let us pray for guidance, sensitivity, honesty, care and a wholeness in all they offer and lead. Let us also pray for wisdom, imagination and fun as they lead various children' and youth groups, praying that the love of Jesus may be communicated to all the young people they work with. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

13th April – Palm Sunday

Loving Lord, as we stand at the beginning of another Holy Week, we can only imagine the gamut of emotions Jesus experienced from riding triumphantly into Jerusalem to being laid in the tomb.

Today, let us pray for all young people who are living with severe mood swings. For those who experience such despair that they turn to self harm for release. For those whose behaviour is misunderstood and those whose stories are disbelieved.

May they find safe places to talk and realise they are of immense value and worth.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

20th April – Easter Day

On this joyful day as we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus we remember how he overcame death and evil so that we might know freedom. But particularly today, we also pray for those young people who do not feel joy due to mental distress and overwhelm.

May they glimpse moments of triumph over their situations and recognise resurrection within their own lives. Let us pray that coping strategies may be found and self acceptance discovered.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

27th April

As we live in these hope-filled days of Eastertide let us pray for all those entrusted with responsibility for support services for young people including our Government, local Councils and local Health trusts. Let us pray for a resurrection of thinking in terms of help and funding for those affected by poor mental health. Let us pray that those with difficult decisions about finances and where support is best employed may be given new hope and peace even through the living presence of our risen Lord Jesus Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

This month’s prayers have been written by Viv Pitts, Elizabeth Hall and Revd Roberta Topham with assistance from Rosie Al-Fatlawi.

4th May

Loving God, we are aware that this is a month of exams for some children. In primary schools SATS will be taking place, and at secondary level, GCSE’s and A.S. levels. We pray that you would be with the children and young people involved, especially those who find exam stress hard to bear. May they receive support to remain calm and focused instead of being overwhelmed by anxiety. May they have confidence instead of self- doubt, so they can perform to their best. We pray for every child to know they are valued whatever their attainment levels. God you desire for all to flourish in body, mind and spirit. Alongside all their learning, may every child have the opportunity to learn about you and your love.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

11th May

Dear God, we thank you for all the good news we can celebrate about children and young people. Jesus taught us: Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Help us to have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to love all the children and young people we know. Amen.

18th May

Creator God

You have made us all and you love us all. We give you thanks for children and young people who think differently and are neurodivergent. Especially for anyone who is on the autistic spectrum. Such a range, a three-dimensional rainbow of abilities and disabilities! Thank you for the talents, insights and alternative perspectives people with autism can bring. We pray for us all to understand more of the needs and gifts of children with ASC (autistic spectrum condition). We pray too for the many autistic children who also have sensory processing disorder and can experience light, taste, or sound as painful, or who crave more

sensory stimulation than ordinary life provides. And for those who feel lonely and misunderstood and in consequence suffer from anxiety and related issues. We pray also for children who are not able to talk for years beyond the typical time. We recognise how difficult life can be when we cannot communicate our needs and the big effect this has on mental health. Be with all those working to aid communication with people of any age who find it difficult to speak, hear or communicate.

May our governments come to understand and appreciate the needs of children, young people and adults with these conditions and to properly resource the support systems.

We pray for parents and carers who often feel very poorly supported and isolated. And for siblings who are affected too by the lack of support, and those who become young carers. Help us all to learn and care and share and be part of one world together.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer Amen.

25th May

Loving God

We bring to you the many children, young people and adults who long for help with their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The waiting lists can extend for years. And then when a diagnosis is given, there is still a very lengthy wait for the medicine that helps 80% of people with this condition. Help our governments to make this need more of a priority. Help doctors to care and understand the condition. Help us all to understand this a little more, and appreciate that not all our brains work in the same way.

We pray for the children and young people who find it difficult to stay focused on a task or control their impulses to move about and who in consequence often have trouble learning and relating to others. Some are at higher risk of accidents because of this condition. Help us as a country and as communities to create safe and welcoming spaces for all our young people.

Help us as churches not to judge the behaviour of others, especially children, and to do all we can to support parents and carers.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.