ICF - Prayer Focus

Those who work in transport and logistics

HGV drivers and operators; bus and coach drivers, aircrews, railway staff, taxi and minicab drivers; freight handlers, timetable planners, airport and seaport employees; delivery drivers, couriers, parcel and post service workers, motor-cycle couriers; constructors, designers and maintenance staff of transport networks, maintainers of traffic lights and road signs, traffic police and staff of the highways agency; driving instructors and test supervisors; staff at the DVLA

Oh God who is present in every place, when the road is congested, the train is delayed and the airwaves are full of concerns about carbon emissions, it is easy to criticise and become impatient with those who provide and maintain our transport networks. As the HGV lumbers its way through our streets, we too quickly forget that its presence has been summoned by our consumer desires. Our supermarket shelves are stacked high, because people have worked hard to bring us produce from across the globe. The samples will be there in the morning, because someone is willing to drive through the night. We pour in excitement over the holiday brochure, because there are those who have scheduled the flights and shuttles to get us to our dream destinations. Lord God, we have made this vast planet so much smaller with our high speed link, next-day delivery, inter-city, jet-setting, trans-continental way of life. But in it all, may we not lose sight of the Saviour who chose to ride on the back of a donkey. Help us to use transport responsibly, as stewards of your creation; to distribute the world’s resources in a just way, and not simply as a means of enabling the wealthy to consume the produce of the poor. Be with all those who make transport possible, and particularly we pray for the safety of those whose working lives expose them to the hazards of high speed travel. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.