Caring God, why are you asleep when the Church is tossed about by storms?...
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.
Caring God, why are you asleep when the Church is tossed about by storms? When difficult issues arise where Christians take opposing stances, why are you curled up in the stern of the boat, oblivious to the tempests? And don't you care when your Church is in a crisis of falling numbers and draining confidence? Calming God, when storms hit, teach us to turn to you. And when your Church is stripped, use our nakedness and vulnerability to encourage a spurt of spiritual growth. May we be aware of your presence and your work outside the Church as well as inside, and join with all those who are seeking your truth to hasten the coming of your Kingdom.
Caring God, why are you asleep when extreme weather conditions or natural disasters devastate human life? Why don't you wake up and prevent earthquakes and floods, droughts and famines? Why do you allow your children to suffer through no fault of their own? Caring God, teach genuine compassion to the rest of the world so that we may never be content while others endure life-threatening conditions, but may work constantly towards justice and basic human rights for all. We pray especially for....
Caring God, why are you asleep when tempests ravage human relationships? When marriages begin to founder and families begin to split apart and long-term friendships begin to crumble? Why do you sleep through the havoc caused by alcoholism or drug abuse or domestic violence? Caring God, teach us, our families and our friends to seek you while you may be found, and not just under extreme conditions. Show us how to pray regularly and seriously, so that when disaster strikes we may have sufficient inner resources to cope. And give us the faith to know that you're always there, and that you wake up at our quietest whisper.
Caring God, why are you asleep when human beings endure sickness and ill-health? You weren't always asleep. You constantly healed the sick when you were on earth, for those who suffered were very close to your heart. Caring God, teach us that miracles come in many shapes and sizes, and that sometimes we have to learn to spot them. But most of all, show us your huge love for us, and enable those who are sick to be so aware of that love that healing begins from the very centre of their being. We pray especially for....
Caring God, even the winds and the waves obey you. At that very darkest moment in human life, when a loved one dies, command the tempests of emotions, the storms of grief. May those who have been bereaved allow you to take control of their turbulent lives so that they may emerge from the turmoil battered but intact. We hold in your quiet and gentle presence those who have been bereaved recently ... and those who still suffer from bereavements in previous years....
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.
Caring God, why are you asleep when the Church is tossed about by storms? When difficult issues arise where Christians take opposing stances, why are you curled up in the stern of the boat, oblivious to the tempests? And don't you care when your Church is in a crisis of falling numbers and draining confidence? Calming God, when storms hit, teach us to turn to you. And when your Church is stripped, use our nakedness and vulnerability to encourage a spurt of spiritual growth. May we be aware of your presence and your work outside the Church as well as inside, and join with all those who are seeking your truth to hasten the coming of your Kingdom.
Caring God, why are you asleep when extreme weather conditions or natural disasters devastate human life? Why don't you wake up and prevent earthquakes and floods, droughts and famines? Why do you allow your children to suffer through no fault of their own? Caring God, teach genuine compassion to the rest of the world so that we may never be content while others endure life-threatening conditions, but may work constantly towards justice and basic human rights for all. We pray especially for....
Caring God, why are you asleep when tempests ravage human relationships? When marriages begin to founder and families begin to split apart and long-term friendships begin to crumble? Why do you sleep through the havoc caused by alcoholism or drug abuse or domestic violence? Caring God, teach us, our families and our friends to seek you while you may be found, and not just under extreme conditions. Show us how to pray regularly and seriously, so that when disaster strikes we may have sufficient inner resources to cope. And give us the faith to know that you're always there, and that you wake up at our quietest whisper.
Caring God, why are you asleep when human beings endure sickness and ill-health? You weren't always asleep. You constantly healed the sick when you were on earth, for those who suffered were very close to your heart. Caring God, teach us that miracles come in many shapes and sizes, and that sometimes we have to learn to spot them. But most of all, show us your huge love for us, and enable those who are sick to be so aware of that love that healing begins from the very centre of their being. We pray especially for....
Caring God, even the winds and the waves obey you. At that very darkest moment in human life, when a loved one dies, command the tempests of emotions, the storms of grief. May those who have been bereaved allow you to take control of their turbulent lives so that they may emerge from the turmoil battered but intact. We hold in your quiet and gentle presence those who have been bereaved recently ... and those who still suffer from bereavements in previous years....
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
