Astute And Understanding God...
Intercession
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
The Church of Christ
Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
The local community
Those who suffer
The communion of saints
These responses may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Astute and understanding God, you always see beneath the surface to the real person inside, yet you still love me! It seems incredible that knowing who I really am, seeing the self I generally keep hidden for fear of disapproval, you continue to accept me. I wish I could do the same. But I find myself judging others on very little knowledge. I see their appearance, or hear about their circumstances, and wham! I've shot them into some category or other, and my judgement about them is coloured from then on. Loving God, help me not to fall into this trap. Enable me to see others with your soft eyes, so that I may discern their limitless value and treat them accordingly.
Astute and understanding God, we pray for those within all branches of your Church who have the task of discerning the gifts, talents and vocations of others. May they have the ability to delve beneath the surface and discover the real person. May they have the wisdom to appoint people to positions in which their talents can best be used. And may they be free from all self-seeking, self-importance and prejudice, seeking only to do your will.
With Christians world-wide we hold within your presence today the Church in Sudan with Archbishop Joseph Marona, praying for all Christians there that they might be free to live in harmony with their neighbours in other religions.
Astute and understanding God, we pray for your peace in areas of conflict where men and women hate and seek revenge. May those who have hearts full of hatred learn your peace. May those who are consumed with their own suffering learn to move onwards and closer to you. May those who are prostrate with grief feel your comfort and begin to rebuild their lives. And may the rest of us be so concerned for all humanity that we learn to sacrifice our own comfort for the sake of others.
Today we hold especially within your presence ....
Astute and understanding God, within communities it can be so easy to judge and so hard to accept without judgement. It can be so easy to listen to gossip, and so hard to stand aloof. It can be so easy to see only the outward appearance and never glimpse the inner person. And it can be so easy to take offence at some hurt or slight and so hard to forgive. Help us to live together in love and peace with your Spirit at the centre of our community. Help us to seek that which is right for our whole community, not just for ourselves. And help us to put aside prejudice and learn to accept each other unconditionally.
In our community we ask especially ....
Astute and understanding God, strengthen those who are sick and hide them beneath the shadow of your wings. Keep them safe as they fight their illness and enable them to be restored to health and wholeness as soon as possible. Comfort and support those who watch over them and care for them and enable them endure all that must be endured.
We name before you especially....
Astute and understanding God, the end of life brings such grief for those who are left here on earth. Surround the relatives and friends of those who have died with your warmth and support and love, that they may know you as their Heavenly Father who holds them at the centre of his being.
We name before you especially today the relatives and friends of ... and all who mourn those who have died at this time in previous years....
We ask these prayers through the one who died for us, Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Church of Christ
Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
The local community
Those who suffer
The communion of saints
These responses may be used:
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Astute and understanding God, you always see beneath the surface to the real person inside, yet you still love me! It seems incredible that knowing who I really am, seeing the self I generally keep hidden for fear of disapproval, you continue to accept me. I wish I could do the same. But I find myself judging others on very little knowledge. I see their appearance, or hear about their circumstances, and wham! I've shot them into some category or other, and my judgement about them is coloured from then on. Loving God, help me not to fall into this trap. Enable me to see others with your soft eyes, so that I may discern their limitless value and treat them accordingly.
Astute and understanding God, we pray for those within all branches of your Church who have the task of discerning the gifts, talents and vocations of others. May they have the ability to delve beneath the surface and discover the real person. May they have the wisdom to appoint people to positions in which their talents can best be used. And may they be free from all self-seeking, self-importance and prejudice, seeking only to do your will.
With Christians world-wide we hold within your presence today the Church in Sudan with Archbishop Joseph Marona, praying for all Christians there that they might be free to live in harmony with their neighbours in other religions.
Astute and understanding God, we pray for your peace in areas of conflict where men and women hate and seek revenge. May those who have hearts full of hatred learn your peace. May those who are consumed with their own suffering learn to move onwards and closer to you. May those who are prostrate with grief feel your comfort and begin to rebuild their lives. And may the rest of us be so concerned for all humanity that we learn to sacrifice our own comfort for the sake of others.
Today we hold especially within your presence ....
Astute and understanding God, within communities it can be so easy to judge and so hard to accept without judgement. It can be so easy to listen to gossip, and so hard to stand aloof. It can be so easy to see only the outward appearance and never glimpse the inner person. And it can be so easy to take offence at some hurt or slight and so hard to forgive. Help us to live together in love and peace with your Spirit at the centre of our community. Help us to seek that which is right for our whole community, not just for ourselves. And help us to put aside prejudice and learn to accept each other unconditionally.
In our community we ask especially ....
Astute and understanding God, strengthen those who are sick and hide them beneath the shadow of your wings. Keep them safe as they fight their illness and enable them to be restored to health and wholeness as soon as possible. Comfort and support those who watch over them and care for them and enable them endure all that must be endured.
We name before you especially....
Astute and understanding God, the end of life brings such grief for those who are left here on earth. Surround the relatives and friends of those who have died with your warmth and support and love, that they may know you as their Heavenly Father who holds them at the centre of his being.
We name before you especially today the relatives and friends of ... and all who mourn those who have died at this time in previous years....
We ask these prayers through the one who died for us, Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
