God Of Fire And Earth And Sea...
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.
God of fire and earth and sea,
It's difficult to know quite how to follow you. Although baptism is entry into your Church, different churches worship you very differently, and many of them seem to think that their way is the only way to worship. God of fire and earth and sea, warn us when we're in danger of distorting your word. Make us so in tune with you that we dare to be open to your guidance and to hear when you invite us to reconsider our entrenched positions. May your Church respond to your voice and to the world with love and welcome. Today we hold in your presence especially the Church in ...
We have been guilty, God of fire and earth and sea, of treating this beautiful world you have given us simply as a never-ending resource for our own needs. As we've cut down the rain-forests and used up the fossil fuels and released CFCs into the atmosphere, we've ignored the needs of our poorer neighbours and ignored the needs of our planet. And yet you don't rain down fire from heaven upon us, you continue to treat us with love and respect. This year, may we begin to respond with love and respect for your world and for our neighbours.
We make communities, God of fire and earth and sea, of like-minded people, because we feel most comfortable with those who think like us and believe as we believe. But all kinds and sorts of people are baptised into your Church and as baptised members, become part of our Church community. As a Church family, may we increasingly learn to tolerate each other and to accept each other as of equal status and of great value. Remind us that all members of our body have their own essential part to play, and that none may be left out.
We hold in your gentle presence those who are sick, and who need your healing touch. If that touch must be a touch of fire, give them courage and strength and fortitude to bear it. And where that touch is soft as thistledown, give them the sensitivity and intuition to be aware of it. We remember especially....
And whilst mourning their loss, we thank you for the lives of those who have died and gone before us, especially ... and those who have died in previous years at this time, especially.... We thank you for those precious memories which bring so much pleasure, and ask you to heal those memories which bring pain. Remind us yet again that those who have died now form the great communion of saints who live forever in your dear presence, and with whom we worship, even now.
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.
God of fire and earth and sea,
It's difficult to know quite how to follow you. Although baptism is entry into your Church, different churches worship you very differently, and many of them seem to think that their way is the only way to worship. God of fire and earth and sea, warn us when we're in danger of distorting your word. Make us so in tune with you that we dare to be open to your guidance and to hear when you invite us to reconsider our entrenched positions. May your Church respond to your voice and to the world with love and welcome. Today we hold in your presence especially the Church in ...
We have been guilty, God of fire and earth and sea, of treating this beautiful world you have given us simply as a never-ending resource for our own needs. As we've cut down the rain-forests and used up the fossil fuels and released CFCs into the atmosphere, we've ignored the needs of our poorer neighbours and ignored the needs of our planet. And yet you don't rain down fire from heaven upon us, you continue to treat us with love and respect. This year, may we begin to respond with love and respect for your world and for our neighbours.
We make communities, God of fire and earth and sea, of like-minded people, because we feel most comfortable with those who think like us and believe as we believe. But all kinds and sorts of people are baptised into your Church and as baptised members, become part of our Church community. As a Church family, may we increasingly learn to tolerate each other and to accept each other as of equal status and of great value. Remind us that all members of our body have their own essential part to play, and that none may be left out.
We hold in your gentle presence those who are sick, and who need your healing touch. If that touch must be a touch of fire, give them courage and strength and fortitude to bear it. And where that touch is soft as thistledown, give them the sensitivity and intuition to be aware of it. We remember especially....
And whilst mourning their loss, we thank you for the lives of those who have died and gone before us, especially ... and those who have died in previous years at this time, especially.... We thank you for those precious memories which bring so much pleasure, and ask you to heal those memories which bring pain. Remind us yet again that those who have died now form the great communion of saints who live forever in your dear presence, and with whom we worship, even now.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
