Church Prayers and Intercessions

Together we will now offer to our loving God our prayers and petitions for the needs of the world and ourselves.

Jesus said that those who remain faithful to him will bear much fruit. We pray for communities of Christians gathered throughout the world today, for church leaders and for those of us who follow, for all women, men and children who seek to know God’s will and to do it.

Help us to make your churches safe and nurturing places where everyone can find their true home, where the lonely, the marginalized and the rejected may be welcomed and where everyone can experience your unconditional love. 

Loving God, as we see the brokenness of the world we pray for healing among the nations, for food where there is hunger, for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain, for peace among all your children. Just as a mother watches her children, you see the damage we do in your world. Forgive our selfishness, greed and stupidity. May your love strengthen us so we can work to change ourselves and the world.

This morning we pray especially for mothers and for stepmothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and all those women who have loved and laughed, wept and worked to care for others. Let us be a source of encouragement, support and friendship for them as they courageously accept this inspiring responsibility.

Bless all parents and all carers and strengthen those families living under stress. We know that Mother’s day is not a celebration but a time of heartache for many. We ask you to bless all who live alone, those who have lost their partner in marriage, those who have never married, those whose families are grown up and away from home and those who have outlived other members of their families and many of their friends:
Be with them to assure them of your love and of their value to you every moment of their lives,
and enable them to rejoice in the fellowship of your Church on earth and in heavenmay they have the comfort of knowing that your love for them is constant, your understanding is perfect, your compassion is never-ending.

Loving God, we pray for the very old, for those living with serious illness and for those who love them and struggle as they witness their loved ones’ diminishing health and daily challenges. We pray for those who mourn. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, as we remember all those who have died we light a candle to remind us of his love and sacrifice. Almighty God is our eternal mother and father, we entrust to God every mother’s child who has died and we pray that all those departed will rest in peace and rise in glory.