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Church Prayers and Intercessions

Prayers Sunday 16 March Lent 5

Prayers of Intercession Apr. 6th. 2014

Family Worship at 9-30 am
(prayers 87.doc) (Lent 5 )
Readings:
Ezekial 37: 1-14 The promise of a restored Israel.
Romans 8. 6-11. Life through the Spirit.
John 11: 1-45 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

The bidding today will be:- Lord, in your mercy  .
and the response will be: - Hear our prayer.
And afterwards we will say together the words of the Lord’s Prayer which are as printed in your order of service.

We pray together,
Father God, we acknowledge your greatness as revealed in both the vastness of the universe and in the rich variety of life we see in the world. That you care for your creation is undeniable for you sent Jesus that we would be shown the way to live, both in harmony with our neighbours and with the rest of creation.

So hear us now as we bring before you, in our prayers of intercession, our hopes and dreams in the days leading up to Easter with the promise of lives reborn. As we pray for better human relationships, for lives restored to wholeness and for Peace on Earth we seek no more than your grace allows. And so…….

Lord, in your mercy  - 'Hear our prayer’

Lord we pray for your Church as it journeys through Lent and prepares for the great Easter celebrations, that its message will reach beyond the flowers and Easter eggs to carry the hopes of all Christians _ for a rebirth of the spirit and for a strong witness for Christ which touches the hearts of those beyond its bounds.
We pray for Christians who face daily persecution because of their faith and especially those in Pakistan today who face the death penalty. 

So we pray for our own church here at St. Mark’s and at Putnoe Heights; for new ways of being a Church and for all who give of time and talents in so many ways. We pray for Charlie, Jane and Sam that through their leadership our churches may be guided with inspiration that can only come through your spirit.

Lord, in your mercy  - 'Hear our prayer’

Regrettably we still live in a world riven with divisions, conflict and wars. The words of the Prince of Peace have not been heeded and so we ask for dialogue and reconciliation in those areas of the world in turmoil. Especially we pray for the unending sectarian conflicts in Syria and the Central African Republic, the tension and stand-off in Ukraine, the ongoing instability in Egypt and Lybia and the fragile state of Afghanistan.    

We remember the consequences of conflict in the plight of the displaced families and those who flee conflict and become refugees. We pray for all aid agencies and especially the work of the United Nations.

We continue to remember and pray for our armed forces overseas especially those in Afghanistan as they run down their operations and we pray also for their families who have endured the waiting and wondering over the years.

Lord, in your mercy  - 'Hear our prayer’

We are blest with a world of great beauty, of great extremes of climate and geography and of life in uncountable diversity. We pray for those scientists tasked with assessing our impact on the world’s climate and the consequences that any change will bring.

We remember all those caught up in the natural disasters that affect so many parts of the world and the distress they cause. We pray today for the victims of the recent earthquakes in Chile.

We remember those who still wait for news of the missing Malaysian airliner and pray that some positive clue about its demise is found soon.

Lord, in your mercy   - 'Hear our prayer’

We pray for our own country and its peoples.

We pray for our elected leaders; that the great issues of the day will be debated honestly and openly and that decisions reached will based on the best information available and applied with fairness at all levels across our diverse society.

We pray for all families in whatever shape or form - that children will be loved and nurtured and encouraged to lead active and fulfilling roles in society.

We pray for all agencies, both paid and voluntary, that support families through difficult times.

And as we have welcomed ………………………………… into the church family so we pray that they may grow up to reaffirm the commitments made on their behalf this morning.

Lord, in your mercy - 'Hear our prayer’

We pray for those in most need in our own families and neighbourhood, thinking of the housebound and those in hospital or hospice. We pray for all carers and visitors whether family members, volunteers or health care professionals - and so we ask that you bestow on them your gifts of patience, compassion and understanding.

We pray for those that we know who are sick, lonely, anxious or in some other special need at this time as we share a brief moment of silence together as we name them in our hearts.

(A short period of silence and reflection)

As we have named them in our hearts so let them feel your presence and friendship in their lives as we commit them to your loving care.

Lord, in your mercy  - 'Hear our prayer’

We also remember those whose journey through life has ended and we pray for those left behind to grieve. Let them know that nothing is more dependable in times of sorrow than your steadfast and encircling love.

For even in times of darkness and despair we can be assured that………..

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: -


For 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: -
Here Lord we stand at the beginning of a new week.
As you journeyed on trusting in your Father’s love-
So let us also go on in faith and hope-
Into the days ahead with all its joys and sorrows too-
Guided on our way with your Spirit’s presence within us.

And so - 
Merciful Father, “Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen”.

(We say together the words that Jesus taught us)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Authorised Version)

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