Father 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.
Father God, nurturing is such an important aspect of human life, because it plays such a strong part in determining the sort of people we become. You placed us all into human families so that we could be clothed with love within those families and grow up into mature, responsible adults. May your Church take a big lead in encouraging and supporting the skills of parenthood, for good parenting is so essential in helping your children to reach their own full potential.
But Father God, your Church doesn't always practice what she preaches. Sometimes there is abuse of varying kinds buried within the structure of the Church, and the Church may be reluctant to deal properly with this. May your Church always remember her trusted position, and may she nurture a true family within her walls.
In some ages, Father God, other things seem to be regarded as more important than the nurturing of your people. In our own age, the pursuit of money and leisure activities sometimes takes precedence over the needs of children, so that some of our children turn into little monsters. Then there are cries for increased measures of law and order. Father God, teach us to follow your pattern of gentle nurturing, so that our children may grow up into happy and confident and law-abiding adults.
In the family you chose for your Son, Father God, there was hard work and probably not much money. But it was a family which nurtured your Son so well and so successfully that he was at one with the God within him, with you his heavenly father. May our families show concern and love for all family members from the youngest to the oldest, so that those who are now growing old may also be growing in beauty, because you dwell richly within them.
Father God, sometimes extra love and care and compassion are needed from families and friends, when one family member falls sick. While it's easy to show compassion for a short time, only compassion which comes from within can be sustained throughout a long illness. Bless all those who care for and nurse their sick relatives or friends. May their strength be sustained throughout the long, hard days and weary nights, when they anxiously watch and wait at the bedside. And pour your own fatherly love into those who are sick, that they may feel your healing touch and gradually be restored to full health and strength.
Those who die, Father God, are coming home to you where they become part of that great community of the other side of death, the community of saints. Calm their fears as they journey towards you, and comfort those they leave behind them. We remember before you the families and friends of those who have died recently, especially ... and those for whom this time of year always reawakens sad memories....
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.
Father God, nurturing is such an important aspect of human life, because it plays such a strong part in determining the sort of people we become. You placed us all into human families so that we could be clothed with love within those families and grow up into mature, responsible adults. May your Church take a big lead in encouraging and supporting the skills of parenthood, for good parenting is so essential in helping your children to reach their own full potential.
But Father God, your Church doesn't always practice what she preaches. Sometimes there is abuse of varying kinds buried within the structure of the Church, and the Church may be reluctant to deal properly with this. May your Church always remember her trusted position, and may she nurture a true family within her walls.
In some ages, Father God, other things seem to be regarded as more important than the nurturing of your people. In our own age, the pursuit of money and leisure activities sometimes takes precedence over the needs of children, so that some of our children turn into little monsters. Then there are cries for increased measures of law and order. Father God, teach us to follow your pattern of gentle nurturing, so that our children may grow up into happy and confident and law-abiding adults.
In the family you chose for your Son, Father God, there was hard work and probably not much money. But it was a family which nurtured your Son so well and so successfully that he was at one with the God within him, with you his heavenly father. May our families show concern and love for all family members from the youngest to the oldest, so that those who are now growing old may also be growing in beauty, because you dwell richly within them.
Father God, sometimes extra love and care and compassion are needed from families and friends, when one family member falls sick. While it's easy to show compassion for a short time, only compassion which comes from within can be sustained throughout a long illness. Bless all those who care for and nurse their sick relatives or friends. May their strength be sustained throughout the long, hard days and weary nights, when they anxiously watch and wait at the bedside. And pour your own fatherly love into those who are sick, that they may feel your healing touch and gradually be restored to full health and strength.
Those who die, Father God, are coming home to you where they become part of that great community of the other side of death, the community of saints. Calm their fears as they journey towards you, and comfort those they leave behind them. We remember before you the families and friends of those who have died recently, especially ... and those for whom this time of year always reawakens sad memories....
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
