Church Prayers and Intercessions for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Mrs Morag Stewart

God from whom every gift derives, we gather here to worship you today.  We have come to you in thanksgiving and praise, to know that you are God and to place our lives anew into your perspective. Enlarge our vision with your Word; hold up before us the vision of your kingdom, a kingdom of justice and mercy, truth and compassion.  Help us to grasp the meaning of the gospel which you have entrusted to us, and give us grace to live by it. 

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our own Church, for the progress of Christ’s mission here at St Marks and seek God’s guidance and help in the tasks to which he has called us in this parish.  Guide us by your Holy Spirit that our services of worship may be a worthy offering to you and may attract, include and inspire people of all ages;
that our inner life of prayer and our attention to scripture may be nurtured, and that the journey of faith may not be seen as only for the few;
that children and young people may be listened to, encouraged, and challenged to become committed Christians;
that our church premises may convey a message of openness, be a means of Christian service, and forge effective links with our local community;
that we may be reaching out to those on the fringes of faith or outside it and be proactive in meeting social and community needs;
that we may express solidarity with our neighbouring churches and develop imaginative strategies for involvement in world mission and justice issues.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer

We pray for a world in which even ordinary humanity fails so often.  We pray for government ministers in every nation.  We pray that those who lead and take on great responsibilities may not simply wish to seem great in the eyes of other s, but may genuinely serve their people, searching continually for polices and strategies which will be for the good of all, especially for the weakest and most vulnerable.
We pray for the victims of war and violence among individuals and nations
We pray for the children who suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war
We pray for the multitudes in every country who do not want war and are ready to walk the road of peace
Hear our prayer and grant us insight and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need with the willingness to share, to war with peace.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We pray for people who are frightened because they are ill.  Reassure them that because of the knowledge that you give to men, many illnesses can now be cured.  Help them to have confidence in those with medical knowledge to diagnose illness and care for the sick. Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering.

Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall. Help us to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit within us, and the fellowship of the church family around us until we are reunited once more in your heavenly kingdom. 

Jesus Christ is the light of the World, a light which no darkness can quench.  We remember before God those who have died and light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings hope.  We remember today

You turn our darkness into light in your light shall we see light

Merciful Father, Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen

………………….