All-Seeing God, Sometimes Your Church Feels A Bit Like Those Pharisees...
Intercession
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
These responses may be used:
Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.
Almighty God our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.
All-seeing God, sometimes your Church feels a bit like those Pharisees who were pure on the outside but not very clean within. Years later, awful tales emerge of abuse within your Church, which has seriously damaged the victims. Give your Church the courage to act responsibly even when its reputation is threatened. And help it in humilty and openness to constantly examine its inner being, so that through your Spirit the Church may be the same inside as outside.
Today with the world-wide church we continue to pray especially for your Church in Central Africa, that it may grow ever stronger in humility and openness.
Strengthen N our bishop and all your Church in the service of Christ; that those who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, it often seems that nations are engaged in a constant process of blaming each other. Poor nations blame their poverty on rich nations. Rich nations blame less developed nations for corruption amongst their officials. The East blames the West for its decadent Western lifestyle, and the West blames the East for uprisings and wars. Help all our leaders to take responsibility for their own actions, and to acknowledge that all countries and peoples have their failings. And may they all turn to you, that you may pour your light into their inner darkness and that the world may become a place of peace and tranquillity.
Bless and guide Elizabeth our queen; give wisdom to all in authority; and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, right and wrong are absorbed early, within a family context. Help young parents to understand that inconsistencies damage a child's ability to distinguish between good and evil. And help us all to be so gentle and accepting and non-judgmental, that children may learn always to tell the truth.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours; that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, as you taught us, unrecognised and unadmitted guilt can cause serious illness. We hold in your presence any whose lives are blighted because of the pain of unresolved inner conflict. And we bring into your presence those of our own friends and families who are sick, asking you to lay your healing hands upon them ...... We name them in our own hearts...
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit...; give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, death can be terrifying to those who feel they have some deep, buried secret which no-one else knows. Help them to understand that Jesus died for all that hidden sin, and that you are waiting to welcome them not with stern words of horrifying judgment, but with open arms. Today we remember the families of those who have died recently...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....
Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ....; according to your promises grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of (N and of) all your saints, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
These responses may be used:
Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.
Almighty God our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.
All-seeing God, sometimes your Church feels a bit like those Pharisees who were pure on the outside but not very clean within. Years later, awful tales emerge of abuse within your Church, which has seriously damaged the victims. Give your Church the courage to act responsibly even when its reputation is threatened. And help it in humilty and openness to constantly examine its inner being, so that through your Spirit the Church may be the same inside as outside.
Today with the world-wide church we continue to pray especially for your Church in Central Africa, that it may grow ever stronger in humility and openness.
Strengthen N our bishop and all your Church in the service of Christ; that those who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, it often seems that nations are engaged in a constant process of blaming each other. Poor nations blame their poverty on rich nations. Rich nations blame less developed nations for corruption amongst their officials. The East blames the West for its decadent Western lifestyle, and the West blames the East for uprisings and wars. Help all our leaders to take responsibility for their own actions, and to acknowledge that all countries and peoples have their failings. And may they all turn to you, that you may pour your light into their inner darkness and that the world may become a place of peace and tranquillity.
Bless and guide Elizabeth our queen; give wisdom to all in authority; and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, right and wrong are absorbed early, within a family context. Help young parents to understand that inconsistencies damage a child's ability to distinguish between good and evil. And help us all to be so gentle and accepting and non-judgmental, that children may learn always to tell the truth.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours; that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, as you taught us, unrecognised and unadmitted guilt can cause serious illness. We hold in your presence any whose lives are blighted because of the pain of unresolved inner conflict. And we bring into your presence those of our own friends and families who are sick, asking you to lay your healing hands upon them ...... We name them in our own hearts...
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit...; give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
All-seeing God, death can be terrifying to those who feel they have some deep, buried secret which no-one else knows. Help them to understand that Jesus died for all that hidden sin, and that you are waiting to welcome them not with stern words of horrifying judgment, but with open arms. Today we remember the families of those who have died recently...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....
Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ....; according to your promises grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of (N and of) all your saints, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
