25th October 2026

Today Brazil goes to the polls to decide who will be its president over the next few years. Their choice is between the incumbent leftist president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who won the first-round vote. Serbia will also be going to the polls today, and in the next ten days there will be elections in Israel and the USA. According to the Sweden-based V-Dem Institute, the democratic freedoms enjoyed by the average global citizen are down to levels last seen in 1978 – long before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in Europe. 

Loving God, we pray for your guidance for all who are going to exercise their right to vote in these crucial elections over the coming days.  We pray that voters will consider the needs of the most vulnerable in their countries as well as their own personal desires. May the elections be fair, and the results honoured by all. Guide those elected to positions of authority and power that they will conduct themselves in public office with honesty, integrity, humility and humanity.  May the needs of the economically poor, and people socially marginalised, exploited and abused be high priorities on political agendas.  We also pray that the needs of the planet will also be urgently addressed and that new administrations will work collaboratively and conscientiously to reduce pollution of water, land, and air, stop the destruction of rain forests, mangrove swamps, and other important carbon sinks. May they implement policies which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Loving God, we pray that in Brazil, Serbia, Israel and the USA your will shall be done.   In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

A former bank employee in Kerala, India, Sarojam Radhakrishnan,, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. She was prescribed life-saving treatments but the monthly cost was over 63,000 rupees (£500), and so consequently unaffordable for her family. Sarojam realised that this kind of health care was only available to wealthy families, and that many others would be moved into poverty. She filed a petition to the Kerala high court in 2022 demanding government intervention to lower the costs.  As a result the Indian government has undertaken to reduce the price of cancer drugs. From next month, the price of 137 cancer drugs in India will be cut as the government tries to tackle the tragedy of poorer patients either forgoing treatment, selling land or falling into debt to meet the high cost of some medicines, which are making large profits for hospitals and pharmacists.  “The measure is expected to reduce medicine prices by up to 70% and help cancer patients save 2,500 crore rupees [£199m] annually, significantly reducing the amount they pay from their own pockets,” a statement from the Department of Pharmaceuticals said. 

Blessed be your name forever

almighty, eternal, loving God.

You are worthy of praise from every living creature,

for all were created by your Word.

Your love is at work in all that you have made.

Your might is beyond measure

your wisdom beyond our knowledge.

You are loving and merciful.

Praise and thanksgiving be to you heavenly Father

for all your loving kindness and goodness to us.

We give you thanks

for all the activities that fulfil our lives,

 for the companionship of valued friends

and all who support us

through the joys and challenges of life.

We praise you for Jesus, your Son,

who by his death upon the cross

redeemed the fallen world.

We give you glory for raising him to new life.

We thank you that he has opened the gates of heaven

that all may go in.

We thank you for the living presence of the Holy Spirit

at work in your Church,

and in our hearts.

Glory be to you one eternal God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.