Christians are being urged to pray for marriage this Sunday, 3 Feb., ahead of an important vote on same-sex marriage next week in the House of Commons.
The day of prayer is backed by five Christian groups: The Christian Institute, CARE, Christian Concern, the Christian Medical Fellowship and the Evangelical Alliance.
MPs will vote on whether to redefine marriage on Tuesday 5 Feb.
While encouraging open prayer, a written prayer has also been released.
The prayer in full
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the gift of marriage which you established at the dawn of time, to be a blessing for all generations throughout the earth, down through the ages.
We pray that you would fill each and every marriage with your love and grace, and that every husband and wife would know the joy that comes from sharing and giving.
We thank you for establishing marriage to be a secure and stable environment for raising children.
We pray for all those who do not enjoy those blessings, remembering that you are a father to the orphan and a husband to the widow.
We pray, as you have commanded us, for those in positions of civil authority.
We pray that our Government will act with wisdom and righteousness, upholding marriage as the voluntary union of one man to one woman for life, for the good of all people.
We pray for forgiveness for our nation, as our Government seeks to redefine marriage. We pray that these plans would fail.
And we pray for ourselves, that we would speak out in support of marriage with gentleness and kindness, but also with courage and confidence.
In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord we pray. Amen.