Church Prayers and Intercessions for Candlemas
Prayers for use in church by Mr Ian Farthing
Loving God like Simeon in the temple we have seen in Jesus your promise of salvation.
We trust that you will hear us as we bring before you our concerns and intercessions as we pray to you through Christ who is our light and our life
Throughout today and every day in every part of your world countless men and women will worship you, trusting their lives to you and to those promises, and we pray for them.
We pray especially for all who worship at risk of their lives, and ask that you will uphold them in their danger and keep them faithful come what may.
We remember all who are called to lead your people and pray for them that they may be given clarity of vision and courage to follow their calling wherever it may lead.
We pray for the leaders of the Church in this country as they face the challenges between the call of faith and the impact of society’s vision of justice, care and equality.
We pray for Charlie, Sam Wendy and Richard as they minister to us in this parish and congregation. May they and we find the way to witness and show what your love means for all people.
Lord in your mercy
Jesus was called the Prince of Peace and we pray that your promises fulfilled in that title may become real in our time and lives.
May those who exercise power in every land be ruled not only by their heads but by loving hearts and work to create a brotherhood and sisterhood between all men and women and all nations.
We remember the fighting in Syria Somalia and Yemen and so many other parts of your world and pray for all those caught up in these conflicts as participants or victims.
Whatever Jesus calls us individually to do to contribute to peace in our community and our world, may we do it wholeheartedly and with love and vision..
Lord in your mercy
Throughout his life Jesus was with people in their joy and strength and in their weakness and fear.
We thank you for the experiences of your nearness in our own lives and we pray that all our neighbours and friends, all those with whom we know at work or in our leisure time,
those who we like and who like us, those who we dislike and who dislike us, that all may know your love your light and your presence.
In the quietness of our hearts and minds we remember and pray for those known to us who are in need - in their illness……their loneliness…… their agony of mind as they search for meaning in life…Be especially near them today.
We pray for all who work to tend the needy, doctors, nurses, social workers, and those who help to shape lives – parents, teachers in school or nursery, youth workers.
May we play our part in building up lives and bringing your love to all.
Lord in your mercy
Simeon saw Jesus as a light for revelation and we remember those who are now in the full light of your heavenly kingdom.
We thank you for their lives and pray that those who mourn them may find comfort, assurance and peace
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 in your light shall we see light
Lord in your mercy
As we go into the coming week help us to trust once more in the promise which Jesus brings of life, light and hope, and make us willing to respond to whatever may happen, expected or unexpected, secure in the salvation which Jesus offers us.
Merciful Father:
accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen