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INTERCESSIONS

26 October 2003

Prayers by Mr Mike Elliott 



After these prayers of intercession we shall say the Lord’s prayer using the traditional form as printed on the Order of Service.
The bidding will be 'Lord in your mercy' with the response 'Hear our prayer'.

Almighty and everlasting God, we bring before you our thoughts, concerns and hopes for others. Help us to have that same faith and confidence as shown by blind Bartimaeus and to ask knowing that we will be heard and by Him who is the high priest overall even Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Many are the major world events that have been brought to our attention through the media these past few days and we lift them to you.

We pray for the rebuilding of Iraq and give thanks that the way forward for greater UN Involvement has been agreed. Let a region that once was the cradle of civilisation know peace and freedom once more. We continue to pray for the safety of our service men and women both in Iraq and in other peace-keeping duties throughout the world. Give also to their families courage and patience in their times of waiting.

There appears little progress towards peace in the Israel/Palestine conflict amid an air of mutual distrust and recriminations and further military action. We bring to you the hopes and aspirations of both sides of the conflict and those other nations involved that some way forward can be found to end the circle of conflict.

Once again hopes are raised then dashed in the Northern Ireland peace process. We pray that all men and women of peace will not be dissuaded by the recent set-back and that dialogue and democracy will prevail over bigotry and hatred.

Despite the conflict-dominated headlines there are regions which are rediscovering peace and stability, and we pray for all governments and agencies which support reconstruction of both buildings and lives. Especially do we pray for Christian aid agencies, often facing the most harrowing of circumstances, let those who work in the front line, and their supporters, know of your presence and unfailing love.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for this, our own, country and community the governing of which causes so much domestic criticism and yet is still held up as an example of civilisation and democracy.
So we pray for Queen Elizabeth, our head of state, her ministers and all in authority, that they will govern wisely balancing the needs of the state with those of the individual. Striving for solutions to the, oft conflicting, international issues of the day.

We pray for those in Commerce and Industry that as business becomes truly global that the human dimension is not swept aside in the march to boost profits. We pray for the work of the Trades Unions, Employers Organisations, Chaplaincies and mediation services and all that promote dialogue and help to find solutions to disputes in the work place.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all families represented here today. Especially do we pray for Toby Joseph, his parents and grandparents and others members of his family. We give thanks for their words of commitment to Jesus Christ and his Church given today and pray that in the years to come he too will respond and understand the good news for himself.

Lord Jesus we are aware of the pressures on modern family life, especially pressures on time together for which there is no material substitute. We pray for all involved in the nurturing of young lives through kindergartens and pre-schools through to full-time education. For all who give freely of their time and energy through Junior Church, uniformed organisations, youth groups and many others that the Christian message can be passed on to Children and Young people.

We rejoice in the thought of young minds wrestling with your truths afresh and finding new ways to share it with others and to praise your name.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the world-wide Christian church that it may continue to teach the Good News of Jesus with honesty, courage and sensitivity. For our parent Anglican and Methodist traditions that the recent covenant will be transformed over the years into tangible plans and actions for working together.

We pray for our Church here at St. Mark's and our sister church at Putnoe Heights and for our ministers, Charlie, Joan, Neil and Sam. Guide and uphold our ministers, leadership team and all who lead, organize and contribute to the Church's vision of service and witness, that, as new projects are conceived and begin to take shape we may continue to do bold things in Jesus name and to give Him the glory.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the sick, both at home and in hospital or hospice and of those awaiting consultations and treatments. We think of the elderly, the housebound and those in care homes. And we pray for all those who minister to their needs, both from within the family and from the professional and voluntary services. Let their care be as a continuation of that shown by Jesus who responded to the needs of all those who had faith.

Comfort and sustain those who are in need of your grace at this time and as we share a moment of silence together, we bring before you those known only to ourselves as we name them in our hearts and commit them to your loving care.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Especially do we pray for those who face the pain of grief and the difficult period of searching and emptiness that often follows the loss of a loved one. Help us to support all those who mourn both in our prayers now and in the months to come.


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.

Today we remember: - Cyril Edwards, Walter Holloway
Norah Flynn and Lillian Riseley
You turn our darkness into light; in your light shall we see light.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

A final prayer for ourselves: -
As the shorter days of winter once more close in on us help us to be alive to the joys of the good news of Jesus, and how we are to respond to him. Help us to be the ones who can dispel all the gloom and doubt around us.

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 pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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.
http://www.thisischurch.com/prayer_worship/liturgy/goodfriday_intro.htm 

Prayers by Sue Allen

Intercessions from Sunday at Putnoe:

As we pray for the needs of ourselves and others, we would first of all ask God to grant us quiet minds and hearts. We ask that our anxieties may be calmed to allow a space for the Holy Spirit to come in, for God to enlarge our vision, expand our understanding, increase our awareness of our world and all its diverse population and their situation.

Let us pray for the peace of the world. For communication, discussion and mutual understanding between world leaders. Grant them the wisdom to know and the courage to do what is right. We pray for all who work for international organisations that they may continue to seek the best ways to bring harmony between peoples of different race, creed or colour.

We ask that all people may be granted justice and freedom and the right to live in security and peace. We pray for children everywhere that they may have hope and optimism of a better world to grow into. We pray for the elderly that they may have comfort and care and help with infirmity. We remember all the Christian care organisations worldwide who seek to bring the love of Christ into present day situations.

As we feel the changing seasons around us, the falling of the leaves and the morning frosts which herald the coming of winter, we pray for all in need of proper shelter - the homeless, those sleeping in doorways. We pray also for all who are experiencing a bleak and cold period in their lives, all who are sick, or lonely and unloved, in broken relationships or feeling the emptiness of bereavement. Sustain, O Lord, those who long for the warmth of your love and compassion.

We remember all families where the pain of loss is heavy at this time. we remember those who have died and light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ which always conquers the darkness, always brings hope, the light which allows us to see light.