Bishop pens World Cup prayers

Our favourite story of the day must be the one reported in today’s News Letter about the three soccer-mad clerics who have got together to write a ‘trinity’ of World Cup prayers.

According to the paper the three Church of Ireland clerics penned the prayers – two for the teams, hosts and fans and one for those indifferent to the ‘beautiful’ game for personal use and for church services.  The prayers ask for blessings on all those involved, generous sportsmanship and for the competition to be a source of celebration.

The News Letter story quotes The Rt Rev Nick Bains, an avid Liverpool fan as saying that more than half of the population pray at some time and everyone will be affected by the World Cup in one way or another so it ‘makes sense’ to have some prayers for those that ‘want to use them’.

Clever tactical opportunism by the church?  Or a sign parts of those within ‘the church’ have really lost the plot?