Church Prayers and Intercessions for Easter 4

Prayers – Sunday 22 April 2018

O God from whom every gift derives, we gather to worship you today.  We have come to you in thanksgiving and praise, to know that you are God and to place our lives anew into your perspective. Enlarge our vision with your Word. Instil in us, again, your hope in place of our despair, your peace where our hatred threatens, your joy amidst our depression, your love overwhelming our apathy.  May your Holy Spirit surround and dwell in this congregation now, and forevermore.
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Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our own Church, for the progress of Christ’s mission here at St Marks and seek God’s guidance and help in the tasks to which he has called us in this parish. 

• Guide us by your Holy Spirit that our services of worship may be a worthy offering to you and may attract, include and inspire people of all ages;
• that our inner life of prayer and our attention to scripture may be nurtured, and that the journey of faith may not be seen as the province of a few;
• that children and young people may be listened to, encouraged, and challenged to become committed Christians;
• that our church premises may convey a message of openness, be a means of Christian service, and forge effective links with community groups;
• that we may be reaching out to those on the fringes of faith or outside it and be proactive in meeting social and community needs;
• that we may express solidarity with our neighbouring churches and develop imaginative strategies for involvement in mission and justice issues.
  

Give us the vision and clarity that we need: show us the specific directions we should take, give us the courage to experiment and move forwards, enable adequate resources of money and personnel to be found for the vision to be carried forward into action.

Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer

We pray for our church in every part of the world, the great family of which we are part.  For those who struggle against injustice, for men and women who live in violent and oppressive societies - may they be filled with your wisdom in their war against inhumanity.

We pray for our fellow Christians in the developing world, those for whom hunger is a daily reality, and for those who feel powerless to change the ways of nature or the ways of nations.  bring nearer Lord the day of their deliverance.

We pray that ways of aggression and violence against fellow-humans and against God’s creation may be renounced, and that world leaders may lessen the threat of war and terrorism. 

Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer

We pray for people who are ill, in hospitals, at home, or wherever they may be.  Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering.  May the skills and knowledge of those who care for the sick be fully used to help and to heal.

Heavenly Father, 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 today
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

The Lord's Prayer