Here is a calendar with a theme for each month of the year dedicated to a different aspect of family life.You may find it helpful to focus on the family theme each month by:
- spending time with those specific family members
- praying for your family members who have died
- praying for difficult family situations close to you
- praying for situations that you may not be involved in
- praying for peace among all families world wide
- praying for governments and other organisations to continue supporting family life

January
Children & Young People

Loving Christ,
you welcomed children into your presence;
we pray that children and young people
may be loved and nurtured in a peaceful environment,
and allowed to grow in wisdom and confidence
so that they may experience the peace of God in their lives.

February
Mothers & Fathers

We pray for mothers and fathers everywhere,
for all the joy and happiness that children bring.
But in the times when parents feel stressed and overtired,
give to them spaces to relax, times to recover
and peace in mind and heart.
Thank you Lord that you are our father and mother.
As we experience your parent’s love and care for us,
may we reflect that in our relationship with our own children.

March
Sibling Relationships

Lord, thank you for our brothers and sisters
and for the strong tie of a shared past
that binds us together.
Place a guard on our mouths,
a sentry at the door of our lips.
Help us to be gentle, compassionate,
courteous and tender-hearted
towards each other;
to be peacemakers in our home.
Help us to treat each other with respect,
and to learn to live together
in harmony and accord.

April
Grandparents

Lord, thank you for grandparents,
for the support and encouragement they give,
the warmth and love they show their grandchildren
and their wisdom and patience in difficult situations.
We give thanks too, for the joy that grandchildren bring
and pray for their relationships with their grandparents.
We pray for grandparents who have lost sight of their grandchildren
through global movement or family breakdown
and for those who care full time for their grandchildren.

May
Single parents

Lord,
we pray that you will give strength, patience and wisdom
to single parents trying to be both mother and father to their children,
while at the same time facing up to their own needs.
Put into the hearts and minds of loving family, friends and neighbours
the need to give support and help,
to provide the benefits that are lacking.

June
Families with fostered or troubled children

Lord, we commit into your special care those families
where there are fostered or troubled children.
We pray that you will give all family members
the resources and wisdom they need
to build up loving relationships and a sense of belonging
in even the most difficult situations.

July
Blended Families (Step-families)

Lord, we pray for those brought together in a new family
following a second marriage.
Grant them ever growing love in their new relationship.
We ask your blessing upon the children in these families.
fill parents and children with wisdom and love
as they grow together as a family.
When relationships are strained
give them strength, patience,
an ability to understand
and the grace to persevere,
so that they may grow close to each other
and live in unity to your praise and glory.

August
Families at times of adversity

We pray for all families who are suffering
through poverty, sickness, war
or broken relationships.
We pray that God’s presence
may comfort and strengthen them,
and that we may work in Christ
to ease their burdens
and minister to their needs.

September
Families with adopted children

O God,
you have warmly accepted us into your family,
we give thanks for adopted children
who bring such joy to the families they join.
May adopted children be received
into their new, wider families with love
so that they may be nurtured
and enjoy many loving relationships.

October
Families who are separated or isolated

Lord, we bring to you families that are separated or isolated.
We pray for young families isolated from
the natural support of their wider families,
for families where one parent has to work away from home
for much of the time,
for those who do not know where their loved ones are
or even if they are alive,
for families separated through broken relationships.
Show us how best to maintain relationships with people
that we are separated from by distance,
and bring the comfort of your loving presence
to those suffering from painful separations.
Encourage them in the certainty
that they can come close to those they love
as they bring them to you in prayer.

November
Bereavement in families

We give back to you, O God,
those whom you gave to us.
You did not lose them when you gave them to us
and we do not lose them by their return to you.
Open our eyes to see more clearly and draw us close to you
that we may know that we are nearer to our loved ones,
who are with you. (From a prayer by William Penn)

December
Relationships in Extended Families

O Lord, our faithful redeemer and friend,
help us to realise the importance of families
and how to nurture our relationships with others.
Help us not to carry resentments and grudges,
but to support, strengthen and enjoy one another
as family members should.
May our homes be places of acceptance and trust,
give us understanding and compassion
so that we can help mend broken lives and restore love.
We ask this of you, who knows the perfect love of the Trinity,
with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Prayers compiled by The Mothers' Union