Prayers of Intercession for use in Church Prayers

Sunday before Lent Year B - Ian Farthing

The bidding for our prayers is Lord in your mercy and the response is 'hear our prayer'

Lord God our Heavenly Father we come before you today in the greatness of your love and lift up our hearts in prayer and praise.

Help us to pray simply and sincerely, unselfishly and gratefully, remembering the needs of others as well as our own, and giving thanks always for everything in your name.

Lord we bring to you our thanks and praise for the beauty of creation as we look around us we are amazed at the wonder and majesty of all that you have made.

Nature around us speaks of your greatness - the vast expanse of the sky, the mountains, trees, lakes and streams speak of your great design. You have given us such beauty in the colours of the rainbow, the beauty of flowers and fields. Help us to safeguard your world and may we show our love for you by showing reverence and care for all you have created for us and for future generations.

Lord in your mercy

Lord we pray today for you church and for Christians in other lands where they are a minority let them find strength in knowing you are with them; where they are persecuted let them find courage to continue in faithful service, knowing that you will never leave them;
where they are young in faith let your Holy Spirit build them up in the knowledge of your love; where they are affluent and accepted keep them constant in service to you.

We pray for our church here at St Marks and at Putnoe Heights, for our ministers Charlie, Sam and Jane and we ask for your blessing to rest upon them and all who serve this Church.

Lord we pray for the leaders of all nations who carry a heavy burden of responsibility and we pray that all who offer their
services in the leadership of the affairs of the world may have the wisdom and courage to uphold what is right for peace and for the survival of mankind.

We pray particularly at this time for peace in all countries of the world where violence, war and terrorism are taking place
and we pray especially for those who seek to make peace in this divided world our prayers today are especially with the people of Syria as they struggle in their fight for freedom and justice.
Lord, take from us all those fears that burden us and bring life to a standstill. Purify the minds and attitudes of those involved in bringing violence and terrorism to the world.

May we be alive to your voice and vision for the world, without which society loses its direction and ignores your deep desire for us to live in peace and love for one another.

Lord in your mercy

Let us pray for those who are ill or in need of God's help at this time: We pray for the sick, both at home and in hospital or hospice and for those awaiting consultations and treatments.We think of the elderly, the infirm, 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 all 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

We pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them.
Give to them the strong comfort which no one else can give, and let them know the comforting power of the resurrection of Jesus.

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
Thomas James Harvey
Peter Graham

You turn our darkness into light in your light shall we see light.

Lord in your mercy

Lord as we go out from church today, we give you thanks for our happy times, but you know the fears and anxieties that sometimes fill our hearts at what each day will bring.

Free us from panic and worry,anchor our thoughts and minds in your great power and love and send us into each new day with your peace in our hearts and the sure confidence of your fatherly care.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

We will now say together, the prayer that Jesus taught us