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notre dame montreal

Prayers for Easter 5

By Mrs Morag Stewart

Prayers – Sunday 24 May 2009

O God from whom every gift derives, we gather to worship you this day. 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 this hour with your Word. Instill 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 indwell this congregation now, and forevermore.

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 at Putnoe Heights 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 world 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 children as they grow up in our family circle. Give us understanding of their needs and show us how best we can help them as they face their problems and prepare for life in the world. Help us to establish a relationship of trust between them and ourselves and to make our homes a place where at all times they may find love and security. We remember all those young people who are sitting public examinations at school, at college or at university and pray that their efforts will be justly rewarded and that they will achieve what is necessary to move forward along their chosen path.

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for people who are frightened because they are ill. Reassure them that because of the knowledge that you give to men, many diseases can now be cured. Help them to have confidence in those with medical knowledge to diagnose illness and care for the sick. Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering.

Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall. Help us to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit within us, and the fellowship of the church family around us until we are reunited once more in your heavenly kingdom.

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.