INTERCESSIONS
9 November 2003
Dear God, Why do you listen to the cries of the innocent as they are
slaughtered and massacred by cruel people?
Why do we read each day of more and more disgusting crimes taking place in our country and across the world?
Why do you allow genocide and unspeakable outrages to take place in which we display hatred of one another?
Heavenly father do you despair of your children as we despair of ourselves?
Are you as appalled and disgusted as we are at our capacity for evil?
We are ashamed to share in the responsibility for so much killing and violence. We know that we have little to be proud of.
We remember today those who have laid down their lives in the service of others, they too show us a way to live and die with pride and dignity. May we use their lives as an example of how we may give of ourselves in the service of others. Dear God, may we understand that you too made a complete sacrifice, showing us a way to rise above the terrible deeds which make us ashamed to be part of this human race. Thank you that in our Lord Jesus Christ we see a life which inspires us to be different. Help us to learn how to practice your ways of peace. Give us pride and dignity, a knowledge that you will share with us and give us grace to live our lives in a manner which makes us worthy to call you Father and Christ our friend.
O God, we pray for all those in our world
who are suffering from injustice:
For those who are discriminated against
because of their race, colour or religion;
For those imprisoned
for working for the relief of oppression;
For those who are hounded
for speaking the inconvenient truth;
For those tempted to violence
as a cry against overwhelming hardship;
For those deprived of reasonable health and education;
For those suffering from hunger and famine;
For those too weak to help themselves
and who have no one else to help them;
For the unemployed who cry out
for work but do not find it.
We pray for anyone of our acquaintance
who is personally affected by injustice.
Forgive us, Lord, if we unwittingly share in the conditions
or in a system that perpetuates injustice.
Show us how we can serve your children
and make your love practical by washing their feet. Mother Theresa
Prayer for Social Justice
Pope Pius XII
Almighty and eternal God, may your grace
enkindle in all persons a love
of the many unfortunate people
whom poverty and misery reduce
to a condition of life unworthy of human beings.
Arouse in the hearts
of those who call you God
a hunger and thirst for social justice
and for fraternal charity in deeds and in truth.
Grant, O Lord, peace in our days,
peace to souls, peace to our community
and peace among nations.
Sabbath Prayer
Slow us down, O Lord,
So we may "let the land lie fallow,"
So we may take the time
To view your Creation with Reverence,
To see the needs of all Your family,
To share with our brothers and sisters,
To celebrate with them
the abundant life You offer,
As we create Sabbath time in our own lives
And in our communities.
Help us to become sensitive to
The rhythms of Your seasons
And to rest in the security
Of Your grace.
Amen.
Mother/Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we praise and thank you through Christ Jesus
for your presence and action in the world.
In the midst of conflict and division,
we know it is you who turn our minds
to thoughts of peace.
The Spirit changes our hearts:
enemies begin to speak to one another,
those who were estranged join hands in friendship,
and nations seek the way of peace together.
The Spirit is at work
when understanding puts an end to strife,
when hatred is quenched by mercy,
and when vengeance gives way to forgiveness.
For this we never cease to thank and praise you.
Amen.
Prayers from Putnoe Heights Church
We begin our intercessions with a prayer of Thanksgiving:
We thank you, 0 Father, for your readiness to hear and to forgive, for your great love to us, in spite of our unworthiness, ~ for the many blessings we enjoy above our deserving, hoping or asking.
You have been so good to us in our ingratitude, thoughtlessness, and forgetfulness of you. For your pity, long-suffering, gentleness and tenderness, we bow our heads in humble thankfulness of heart. We worship you who are infinite love, infinite compassion, infinite power.
Accept our praise and gratitude~ through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Lord in your Mercy; Hear our prayer.
A prayer for Remembrance Sunday.
As we remember past wars we also continue to remember those involved in the recent conflict in Iraq and those service men and women who are still there striving to bring peace and stability to that country: We remember today, 0 Lord, all those who have died in any kind of war, soldiers who perished in the honour of battle, householders buried beneath the rubble men, women and children hacked to death in their villages. Today we remember especially the victims of the two world wars, including those who were close to us, or to our parents or grandparents. We also remember those who came home with terrible injuries, those who became mentally ill through the trauma of war, and those who lost someone they loved. Have mercy on us, Lord, for all the damage done to people by people in war, and strengthen those who are striving to bring peace in our world now.
Lord in your Mercy; Hear our prayer,
0 God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sonows, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts.
Lord in your Mercy; Hear our prayer,
We pray for those who are unwell at this time, and especially any known to us personally: Lord God, whose son, Jesus Christ, understood people's fear and pain before they spoke of them, we pray for all those who are ill at home and in hospital; surround the frightened with your tenderness; give strength to those in pain; hold the weak in your arms of love, and give hope and patience to those who are recovering. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Lord in your Mercy; Hear our prayer.
We bring before God now those who have died and those who have been bereaved, whether in recent days and weeks, or in time past: We give back to you, 0 God, those whom you gave to us. You did not lose them when you gave them to us, and we do not lose them by their return to you.Your Son has taught us that life is eternal and love cannot die. So death is only a horizon, and a horizon is only the limit of our sight.Open our eyes to see more clearly, and draw us closer to you, so that we may know we are nearer to our loved ones, who are with you.You have told us that you are preparing a place for us; prepare us, that where you are we may be always, 0 dear Lord of life and death.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
You turn our darkness into light and in your light shall we see light.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer.