INTERCESSIONS
Prayers of Intercession April 4th 2004
All-Age Worship at 9-30 am, Palm Sunday Led by Mike Elliott
Readings:
1. Isaiah 50, 4-9a
2. Psalm 118, 1-2,19-29 Rejected stone to Cornerstone
3. Luke 19, 29-40 “The stones will cry out”
After these prayers of intercession we shall say together the Lord’s prayer
using the traditional form 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 and everlasting God,
As the crowd on the road to Jerusalem shouted their praises to “him who
comes in the name of the Lord”, help us to be no less fervent in our
concerns for others as we ask these prayers in the name of that same
Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for our Church here at St. Mark's and our sister church at Putnoe
Heights and for our ministers, Charlie, Neil, Joan, and Sam. Guide and
uphold our ministers, leadership team and all who lead, organize and
contribute to the Church's vision of service and witness. We ask that all
who enter may continue to find a welcome and that, through the love of
Christ, none shall feel excluded.
As we approach the great Easter festival help us to use it as a vehicle for
telling those around us of the good-news of Jesus and that, in an age of
mixed messages, show that His love for us all is still unchanging and
unconditional.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We still live in a divided world Lord. Whilst the old divisions of the Cold
War have all but gone there still remain the deep divisions between Rich &
Poor, Christian & Muslim, Arab & Jew, Loyalist and Republican, Our-People &
Their-People. We remember the words of St. Paul that in your world Lord that
there should be no difference between Jew and Greek, Slave and Freeman. Give
to us that same vision of a world united in love and the strength and
conviction to help bring it into reality.
As stories about immigrants from Eastern Europe abound in the media help us
to remember that behind the statistics are men, women and children whom
Jesus asks us to call brother and sister. Support those in authority who
have to monitor and control such movements of peoples that rules and quotas
are tempered with justice and humanity.
And so in our imperfect world we pray for all the regions of the world where
there are divisions and conflicts, thinking especially of Iraq, Afghanistan,
Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland and Cyprus. Support the efforts of the United
Nations and all involved in negotiations to build up trust and moves towards
peace and reconciliation.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for all families represented here this morning or who come to our
churches during the week.
Especially do we pray for Rosie Ellen, her parents and Godparents and others
members of her family. We give thanks for their words of commitment to Jesus
Christ and his Church given today and pray that in the years to come she too
will understand and respond to the good news for her self.
We pray for those who work with our children and young people, in whatever
capacity, that they may know the joy of seeing their work inspire and
encourage eager young minds and are given the strength to carry the
responsibility that their calling brings.
Lord in Your mercy. - 'Hear our prayer’
We pray for those on the margins of our complex society, the depressed, the
addict, those with learning difficulties and those in prison or on bail
awaiting sentence or newly released and trying to cope with freedom once
more. Lord Jesus you understand all their needs and so we commend them to
you along with those agencies providing support and rehabilitation.
We think of the elderly, the housebound and those in care homes. And we pray
for all those who minister to their needs, both from within the family, the
Churches and from the other professional and voluntary services.
Comfort and sustain those who are in need of your grace at this time and as
we share a moment of silence together, 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 whilst learning to adjust to a
new life without a loved one.
Help us to support all those who mourn, both with our prayers and with
neighbourly 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: -Audrey Elise Swan
& Greg Hutchings
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: -
As our Lord Jesus was obedient to the will of His heavenly father so help us
to be obedient to your holy will for us in facing whatever task you set for
us.
Merciful Father, “Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen”.
Gathering our prayers together into one, we pray the prayer our Saviour
taught us.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.