INTERCESSIONS
19 October 2003
Prayers by Mrs Alison Holden and Mr Edward Peck
Prayers by Mrs Alison Holden at St Mark's Church
Let us pray for all people, everywhere, whoever they are and whatever their needs.
O God, you created us and you love us as our father; teach us to trust you and help us all to know that you love us completely. Help us to trust that you will always answer our prayers and that we must not only ask, but also listen and look for the answer
We pray for those who hate, that they may learn to love. Grant, Lord that all people may live without fear and hatred as they walk in your ways.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We pray for the Church worldwide, its unity and its message. We pray particularly for John Paul as he celebrates 25 years of his papacy.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Lord, help us to understand and be tolerant of those whose views we may not share. We pray that conflict may not split the church, but that all may know we are Christians by our love.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
We pray that we might be granted the humility to listen to others and to hear what they have to say; help us to remember that our opinions, judgement or advice may not be required.
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 and the sorrowful; 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. 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 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
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 now sing the Lord’s Prayer.
-
Our Father in heaven,
-
hallowed be your 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 for ever. Amen.
Prayers by Mr Edward Peck
Eternal God, we thank you for all you have given us, for all you have done for us, for all you are to us in your beloved Son.. In our weakness you are strength, In our darkness you are light, In our sorrow you are comfort. For all your mercies, we bless you, our Father, May we live as ever in your presence and glorify you in our daily lives, for our Saviour's sake.
In one world week we pray for the nations of the world and our part in where they have lost their way. Look mercifully, O Lord our God ,upon us and heal the sorrows and suffering of mankind. Save the nations from the lust for power, from racial hatred and jealousy, and from the worship of material things. Grant that in every land the rule of tyranny may be broken and the cause of righteousness may triumph, that people everywhere may learn to serve you in the peace and freedom of your kingdom. Lord God, we live in a world where things have gone badly wrong because we have forgotten you and left you out of account. We have worshipped other gods and have not hallowed your name. We have adopted our own way of life and have not served your kingdom. We have chosen what pleases us and have not done your will. Lord, forgive our sin and folly and blindness, and turn us back to yourself, for the sake of your Son, the only Saviour of mankind..
We pray now for all in need be it sickness, job security, stress, family problems, or secret concerns which they may hardly wish to recognise. Come to us dear Father, in your understanding love, when all around us seems dark and uncertain; when our faith is low, and we cannot feel thee near, and we find it hard to pray. Come to us Lord, as you came to your disciples in the darkest hour of the night, and let the light of your presence dispel our fears, renew our trust, and bring peace to our hearts, for your tender mercies sake.
In a week when the Church of England has debated the question of the ordination of a gay priest as Bishop, a prayer on the matter of sexuality, a subject which we may not wish to discuss but will not go away. Let us pray for all those involved in our current controversy in the church in relation to sexuality .Let us pray for church leaders, in this country and world wide who are wrestling with the question of how to guide the church through difficult debates on this issue. Let us pray for all those directly caught up in the controversy, Christians, lay or ordained who are gay or lesbian, in a relationship or not, who may feel very exposed in the present climate; for their partners their families and their congregations. Let us pray for those who differ from us, seeking to understand their views and continuing to communicate with them across the wide gulfs which have opened up in the church on the matter. Let us pray for local congregations that they may strive to be open and inclusive congregations, in which those of different age, gender, ethnicity, physical or mental capacity and sexual orientation may all be welcome as children of God. ,...
Let us pray that we shall be able to measure ourselves against the plumbline of God's love for all people, and be willing to listen especially to those who bear the pain of rejection, of whatever kind. Lord in your mercy-
We bring before you now dear Lord the bereaved and all who mourn; 0 God our Father, we pray for those whose life is saddened by the death of a relative or friend, especially the families of (names). Be with them in their loneliness and give them faith to look beyond their present trouble to Jesus the one who died and rose again and who lives for evermore. Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can quench, we remember before God all those who have died, and we light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings hope.
You turn our darkness into light in your light we shall see light We now join together in saying tile prayer which Jesus taught his disciples.......