Prayers of Intercession Ordinary 17 Year A
By Mr Mike Elliott
Prayers of Intercession July 24th 2005
Morning Worship at 9-30 am
Readings:
1. 1 Kings 3, 5:12. Solomon asks for discernment.
2. Romans 8, 26:39 Who shall separate us from…Christ.
3. Matthew 13, 31:33, 44:52 Mustard seed; buried treasure.
After these prayers of intercession we shall say together the Lord’s
prayer as printed on your Order of Service.
The bidding for our prayers will be ‘Lord in Your Mercy’
With the response ‘Hear our Prayer’
Almighty, everlasting and Creator God –We come humbly before your throne
of grace to make known those issues and concerns which burden our hearts
and those of your people this world over. We come, not just because we
can, but because our Saviour Jesus taught us that you love us as a parent
and like that parent want only what is right for us.
Help us Lord as we try and focus on the big issues of the day about which
we often feel so powerless and the myriad of small, daily, concerns that
sometimes threaten to overwhelm us.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for the World-wide Christian Church praising your name in a
thousand different languages and styles. Especially do we pray for
churches in regions where any religious faith is suppressed or where
Christianity is seen as an unwelcome minority. Give courage and faith to
all who hold the name of Jesus central to their lives.
We remember our own Anglican and Methodist Churches. We pray for
Conferences, Synods and other meetings faced with difficult doctrinal or
personnel decisions; trying to discern the best way forward in the
furtherance of your kingdom. We pray that your spirit will lead their
thoughts and prayers and that ultimately your will be done.
We pray for our ministers Charlie, Neil, Joan and Sam and bless all who
hold office and have influence on decisions and we pray for guidance and
wisdom as the church encounters both triumphs and challenges in doing your
work today.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for a world seemingly forever caught up in violence and conflict.
Through the media we are witnesses to the recent terrorist violence in our
own capital city and in many countries across the world; and most recently
in Egypt. As we pray for peace in the hearts of all those involved
especially do we pray for the innocent victims and their families caught
up in conflicts not of their making.
Give us the wisdom to understand more about the root causes of conflicts
and how they might best be resolved without further mistrust. So we pray
for those forging stronger links between faith communities and for the
world’s leaders that they may be given insight and strength to continually
strive for just societies in all regions of the world.
We pray for the famine stricken African countries of Niger, Mali,
Mauritania and Burkina Faso where the combination of drought and locust
plagues has just caught the media’s attention. We remember all other
suffering regions in that great continent and pray that, through the
generosity of the world-wide community, aid may be swift in getting to the
people in such desperate need.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
As schools and colleges close for the holidays we pray for our children
and young people at the end of another academic year. May young lives no
longer fettered by timetables and homework deadlines find refreshment and
relaxation with friends and families. Be with those who will begin to have
concerns about exam results and those starting new lives in the world of
work. Especially Lord be with those who feel let-down or alienated by all
things ‘educational’ and don’t know where to turn. Help us, through our
allegiance to Christ, to create a society where both young and old, gifted
and less able feel valued and proud to be a part.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
And so we think now of those in need in our own community, the elderly,
the housebound and those in care homes, hospital and hospice. Also we
remember the victims of violence. And so we pray for all those who
minister to so many different needs, both from within the family, the
Churches and from the other professional and voluntary services.
So let us share a moment of silence together as we bring before you those
known only to ourselves as we name them in our hearts and commit them to
your loving care.
(A short period of silence)
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for those who face the pain of grief at the loss of a loved one.
Help us to support all those who mourn, both with our prayers and with
practical help both this day and in the days and weeks to come.
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.
Today we remember: -
Daphne Hilda Simons
You turn our darkness into light; in your light shall we see light.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
A final prayer for ourselves: -
Loving God who works for the good of those who love him, help us to
remember that nothing in this world can separate us from the love of
Christ.
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 pray with confidence as
our Saviour has taught us.
(Modern Form)
Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come, your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, forgive us our sins.
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours,
Now and forever. Amen