Liverpool Cathedral has asked people to share their hopes for the city in the forthcoming year. Laura Davis reports

"IS HE listening?” wonders the man on bended knees, expressing his hopes and dreams to the Father he has never met but believes in with all his heart.

That is a question that has been on the lips of the religious for thousands of years – some prayers will be answered, others not in the way hoped, but they will keep on praying for happiness, love, the gifts of patience and understanding . . .

And some will pray for their city – a city blessed with two cathedrals, each beautiful in its own way.

This year, Liverpool Cathedral is inviting people to share their prayers for Liverpool in 2009 – their hopes for the place that has risen from its own ashes and become reborn for a new millennium.

Many have already contributed, among them well- known names including Les Dennis, news anchor and University of Liverpool graduate Jon Snow and Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and Merseyside Police chief constable Bernard Higan-Howe.

But there are also the prayers of ordinary people – as important in the eye of God as any celebrity.

“Prayer for Liverpool is a simple way for people to mark the end of a historic year. Through prayer, the world can be transformed and so can we,” explains Justin Welby, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral. “We look forward to continuing to see the different ways this city expresses their hopes and dreams.”

Merseytravel has become the latest of the region’s businesses to take part, with staff, including chief executive Neil Scales, sharing their aspirations for Liverpool in the New Year.

A panel, chaired by David Poulter, the Cathedral’s director of music, will select some of the prayers to be set to a melody and performed later this year.

* ADD your own prayer at www.prayerforliverpool.org.uk or visit the Cathedral.

I WISH Liverpool peace and prosperity and a future even greater than its past.

Angela Rippon, TV presenter