Prayers of Intercession for Harvest

Prayers 2 October 2011 - Harvest

Let us pray for the worldwide church and for people all over the world as well as for our own friends and families.

We are celebrating Harvest today.  We may not be farmers cultivating the fields and raising stock, but we and all the world rely on the work of those farmers. We have all been busy all year, whether going out to work, looking after families or going to school. Good things have come to us – food to eat, clothes to wear, places to live. Our achievements have been both great and small, but all are of value and we thank God for them.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

But there are many people for whom there will be no harvest because of drought, the greed of others, war or natural disaster and who have nothing to look forward to but starvation and struggle.  We pray for the organisations which work to relieve the suffering of these people and help them to build a future for themselves. We pray that all may have the wisdom to preserve, protect and care for our world and its precious resources for the sake of generations to come.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all the people who help us – families, teachers, clergy, doctors, nurses, vets, firemen, policemen, people in shops, people who make things, people who mend things that have gone wrong and everyone who supplies our needs. We ask God to help them and to help us to remember to be thankful for them and what they do.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer in mind or body and for those who care for them. We pray for the sick; for those who mourn; for those without faith, hope or love.
We pray for any known to us who are in special need of our prayers at this time, especially those known personally to us.  We remember them now in a moment of silence ….
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which cannot be extinguished.  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  ...

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.

Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us say the Lord’s Prayer together. 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen