INTERCESSIONS
Intercessions for Sunday 14 December 2003 - For use in the Christingle Service
Lord we thank you for the joy of sharing in this Christingle service today. We join with many churches throughout the worldwide Church of Christ and pray that all who take part, children and adults, young or old, may absorb something of the symbolism and meaning of Christingle which will nourish and sustain us in the coming weeks.
In our homes and families at this time the anticipation and excitement of Christmas is building, especially for the children, we pray that the coming of the Christ child will bring love and peace and harmony into every home.
'Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
The oranges represent the world and so we pray for the needs of our world. Lord, restore the broken and troubled parts of our world. Make our planet as bright and sweet and perfect as this orange and help us all to learn to protect and care for it.
Lord, bring peace where there is conflict, healing where there is pain, food clothing and shelter where there is poverty.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
The fruits and sweets remind us of God's many gifts to us. As we experience the short, dark days of winter, we give you thanks for all the wonders of nature and the seasons as we can already see bulbs pushing through the earth to herald the spring. We give thanks for the gift of family life, of human love, mutual support and concern, one for another. For the gift of health and wellbeing, remembering all those who are ill or in hospital. In a moment of quiet we bring before you the particular needs of those known to each one of us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Our Christingle candle brings us the warmth and light of the love of Christ. We pray for all who are sad or lonely or in need of comfort. May they feel this warmth and may it restore them to wholeness. The light of Christ shines in all the dark places and always overcomes the darkness. We pray for all families in grief on the loss of loved ones. We light a special remembrance candle to symbolise the light of Christ and we remember those who have died
May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace and rise again in glory. Amen.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us now sing the Lord’s Prayer.
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Our Father in heaven,
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hallowed be your name,
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Your kingdom come,
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your will be done,
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On earth as in heaven.
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Give us today our daily bread.
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Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us. -
Lead us not into temptation,
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but deliver us from evil.
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For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
- Now and for ever. Amen.