Prayers for Epiphany 6 by Mrs Margaret Appleton

The bidding today is LORD IN YOUR MERCY and the response is HEAR OUR PRAYER
As members of the body of Christ, let us pray together now, confident of God’s promise that He is with us.

Loving God, we pray for your Church throughout the world with its variety, diversity and richness and for all Christians who are eager to learn more of your message and to follow in your ways. We pray especially for Churches where practices are rigid, unbending in attitude and where the teaching of your Gospel is uninspiring. Bless them with your light and joy so that they may be renewed with a new vibrancy which reaches out to your people.
We pray for all people who work to make your word known whether within the Ministry of the church, in junior church and youth groups, in Bible study meetings, in schools, theological colleges and in religious communities. May they all be confident in the name of Christ by whose authority they speak.
We pray that the weak will be encouraged and strengthened, the wanderers return: those besieged by doubt be granted the assurance of faith and the jaded refreshed by your living Spirit.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer

Loving God, we pray for your ever-changing world, a world often depleted in energy and short of vision: a world in which the resources are often misused. We thank you for all people who are working to improve your world by being true stewards of your creation. We pray for areas of the world hit by natural disasters in recent weeks, especially for Australia, Sri Lanka and Brazil as their peoples try to come to terms with loss and destruction. May your love flood their lives to comfort them and bring them hope.
We pray for those who are working to make your world a more peaceful place; and we pray that lasting peace will come to areas of the world torn apart by war and that their leaders will lead in ways which are good, just and honest and so find a better way. We ask that your light will shine in the dark places of the world so that all your people will be filled hope and with the knowledge that following you is the only way, the truth and the life.
Loving God, we pray for all impoverished peoples, remembering those who live in sordid dwellings or among violent and evil people. We pray for the perpetrators of terrorism who destroy innocent lives for no just reason. May they come quickly to the realisation that true power is from you alone and that peaceful actions are the only way. Be with all those affected by the bombing in Moscow and grant them the assurance that you are with each one of them.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

Loving God, we pray for and ask for your blessing on everyone here this morning and also for our families and our friends near and far. May we all be transformed through the richness of your presence. Come with your generous care into our homes and to all homes within our community. Grant to each one of us deeper insight, more awareness and a greater love for one another. Help us to put the needs of others before our own and so truly follow in your foot steps.
May we all be blessed with the wisdom and opportunity to speak of our faith to others so that more lives can be enriched by coming to know you. We thank you for all those who have revealed your glory to us and still continue to do so. We pray that your light will reach out to those who do not know you.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer

Loving God, we pray for your blessing on the poor, the hungry, the abused, those struggling financially, for the unemployed and for those in danger of losing their homes or are facing redundancy because of the economic climate.
We pray for those whose lives are dull and whose work is boring; for those who are unable to achieve through illness or disability; for all who are frustrated or thwarted in their hopes through no fault of their own and for those who feel lost – without vocation or purpose. Help each one of us to be thankful for the gifts that you have given us and not to leave them unused or taken for granted.
Lord, bless all people enslaved by drugs, alcohol, hatred or fear. May they and all who are slipping into dangerous paths be drawn back into the way of your truth and be reassured that you love them.
Look with mercy on homes where love is threatened by poverty and we ask that you will strengthen and support parents who struggle to provide adequately for their children and especially those from within this community.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our Prayer
This morning we pray for all who are ill at this time whether at home or on hospital and for those awaiting diagnosis or treatment and we remember, in a moment of quiet, those known only to ourselves……….
May your healing love encircle each one of them and bring them your peace.
We thank you, Lord for your constant loving provision for us throughout our lives and we commend your safe keeping all those who have died, and for those mourning the loss of loved ones.

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. This morning we pray especially for………………………….
May they have peace in the joy of your presence for ever.

 

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

And finally a prayer as we celebrate Candlemas.

Lord God, you are the source of everlasting light.
Your Son, our beloved Lord Jesus was presented in the temple 40 days after His birth. He was recognised by Simeon and Anna, and welcomed as the promised Messiah. May we, like them, behold the glory of the Lord Jesus.
Grant that we may stand before you with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love. May we serve you all our days and make your name known as we worship you as our Lord. So may we come by your grace to eternal life.

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

Let us conclude our prayers by singing together the prayer which Jesus taught us:………………………………….