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	Christian worship, sermons, prayer and Bible study from St. Mark's Church and Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford, England - The world is our parish

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Intercessions

Lord God our loving heavenly Father –

We are here because we know you are here.  We offer our prayers to you because we know you are listening and that you hear us.  We offer our prayers and await your answers to us because we know that you care for us as our Father; your understanding and wisdom have no boundaries.

We pray firstly for those who are closest to us – for the ones we love the most.  Help us to recognise the needs of those with whom we share our space and help us to create harmony in our homes.  We pray for those who live alone, that they may know peace and contentment and the feeling of your Holy Spirit as companion.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

We pray for all those we love who are away from home; for students as they prepare for a new university year; for all in the Armed Forces facing danger.  We ask your blessing on all young people growing up in a turbulent world, a world full of temptations and wrong turnings.  Support and enable all who work to counsel and advise the young.  We pray for foster parents, Social Services, and, here in Bedford, key workers in alcohol and drug abuse and HIV and AIDS.  Lord, as we seek to follow Christ, help us not to shut out that which we find unacceptable, but to offer whatever help we can.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

Comfort, we pray, all who are sick at this time; those isolated by mental health problems; those who can see no purpose in their life.  We remember all those who are in hospital, all who need encouragement in their recovery, and all with life-limiting diseases, that they may be granted inner peace and freedom from pain.  We give thanks for the work of St John’s Hospice as they celebrate 25 years of offering hospice care.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

Lord, we pray for your healing of divisions across the world: divisions between Arab and Jew, Moslem and Christian; divisions between rich and poor, black and white.  Give understanding and maturity to all peoples that we may be one world with respect for each other and respect for the earth.  Lord, give us peace: let us lay down arms; pursue the common good; build a better world in our own lifetime.  In your name do we ask it.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer

We also pray for the people of Louisiana and Texas in this hurricane season.  May those who have lost everything be able to start new lives and see their communities rise again.

We pray for those in our own community and neighbourhood who feel the pain of loss; for the recently bereaved; for those who cannot find relief from the pain of parting.  Grant them acceptance and peace in your love.  We pray for the souls of the departed.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light no darkness can quench.  We light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ which always overcomes the darkness.  Today we remember …

You turn our darkness into light; in your light may we see light.

Lord, as we bring our prayers to a close, one simple prayer for each of us to take and hold for the coming week:

O Lord, bring your light to the world – and begin with me.  Amen

Merciful Father,

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

Gathering all our prayers into one, let us join together in faith as we sing the Lord’s Prayer together.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.  Amen