E to matou Matua i te rangi,

Our Father in Heaven, 

We bring before You all who work within New Zealand’s media.

We ask for Your blessing on the producers, directors, presenters, writers, journalists, editors, technicians, publishers and the vast array of others who make up our media.

Your Word instructs us to pray for people in places of responsibility. So God, to these media professionals, please grant wisdom and discernment.

Help media decision-makers and content-creators to be sensitive to the well-being of their audiences and our communities. Use their words, pictures and stories to move hearts and engage people’s minds towards goodness, truth and beauty. May their work bring healing, laughter and hope.

Ka īnoi mātou mō rātou te hāpai ō, me rātou hoki kei te tihi o te aroaro.

We pray for those behind the scenes and those in the spotlight.

Mō rātou kāore e mōhiotia ana, me rātou hoki e rongonui ana.

For the nameless, and the famous.

Ākina rātou kia whakamahia ā rātou pūkenga e hua mai ai ko te mārama i te pō, ko te whakamārie ki te hunga mamae, ko te harikoa ki te hunga mokemoke.

Prompt them to use their skills to shine light where there’s darkness, to comfort those who are suffering and bring joy to the lonely.

Ka īnoi mātou e tūwhera ai ngā ngākau ki Tō Wairua, e tahuri ai te hunga pāpāho ki a Koe kia riro ai i a rātou te māramatanga me te whakaoho.

We pray for an openness to Your Spirit, that those who work in the media would look to You for wisdom and inspiration.

May we, as followers of Christ, be slow to criticise - and instead seek to uplift, love and bless. Help us, when we experience media that is destructive or divisive, to maintain a constructive attitude of respect and prayer. May we always see others as You see them.

By Your grace, we pray for our media to be raised to its highest purpose; to be a vehicle for good, for enlightenment and truth, and the flourishing of all people.

Lord, make our media a blessing in this nation.

Ki te ingoa o te Matua, o te Tama, o te Wairua Tapu

We pray all this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ

Āmene / Amen