Prayers of Intercession for New Year

By Mrs Alison Holden

At the start of a new year, let us pray for people everywhere and in every kind of need.

We pray that your wonderful Gift may be manifest to us, and that we in our turn may discover our own gifts and use them to your glory.  We pray for your church across the world and here in Brickhill.  May people of faith learn to live in harmony and mutual respect, recognising our similarities and celebrating our differences.  May this be the year when we keep our resolutions to be faithful in our Christian lives, to let our love shine forth and to live less for ourselves and more for others.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for all in authority, that this may be the year when they achieve wisdom, mercy and respect for all humanity.  We pray that new democracies which have emerged or are still struggling to emerge may go forward in peace and fulfil the hopes of their peoples. We pray for all who suffer indignity, deprivation, starvation, fear or loss of freedom at the hands of others.  We pray that this be the year when people who live with war may find peace and those who suffer oppression may find freedom.  May lessons be learned by all of us from the mistakes and misfortunes of the past year.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are without faith, hope or love. We pray for those who are sick, desperate or bereaved and for those who care for them and seek to bring them relief from their suffering. Give them the strength and courage to carry on, and hope for the future.  We pray especially for all those known to us who are in special need of our prayers, and 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 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