God Of Surprises
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 surprises, the tomb was empty. Just when you should have been neatly boxed up, you were gone. And it's always like that. When we think we have you nailed, you slip through our fingers, free, unpredictable, gloriously alive. Yet in your church we go on and on trying to contain you, hemming you in with rules and regulations, afraid to let you rise up in unexpected places. Lord of surprises, forgive our cramped vision.
God of surprises, the tomb was empty, yet in your church we go on and on trying to contain you, afraid to let you rise up in unexpected places. Lord of surprises, forgive our cramped vision.
Creator God, it's spring, a time when creation itself reflects your resurrection by bursting into new life. Yet just as there were those who denied your resurrection, so we collude with those who deny our world a chance to regenerate. We allow rainforests to be destroyed. We fail to to protect the ozone layer. We ignore the fact that our natural resources are rapidly dwindling. Creator God, forgive us for continuing to crucify and for failing to care about resurrection.
Creator God, forgive us for continuing to crucify our beautiful world and for failing to care about regeneration and resurrection.
Hidden God, no one recognised you that first Easter morning. As Mary Magdalen failed to see you in the gardener, so we fail to recognise you in others, especially if they refuse to match our expectations. Hidden God, help us this Easter season to look at others (those we don't love or care about as well as our families and friends) with fresh and open eyes.
Hidden God, help us this Easter season to look at others (those we don't love or care about as well as our families and friends) with fresh and open eyes, so that we may recognise you within them.
God of wholeness, when you rose you were healed. Despite your awful wounds which Thomas later saw, you were whole and fit and healthy again after your resurrection. We bring into your health-giving presence all who suffer (especially.....) that they too might be made whole.
God of wholeness, when you rose you were healed. Despite your awful wounds which Thomas later saw, you were whole and fit and healthy again after your resurrection. We bring into your health-giving presence all who suffer (especially....) that they too might be made whole.
Risen and restored God, your resurrection is at the heart of the Christian gospel. After your death you came back with new quality to your life; with new vigour and energy and strength. And you brought a new promise for us, that we too shall rise to new life after we die. And so we commend into your love those who have died, especially....
Risen and restored God, your resurrection brought a new promise for us, that we too shall rise to new life after we die. And so we commend into your love those who have died, especially....
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 surprises, the tomb was empty. Just when you should have been neatly boxed up, you were gone. And it's always like that. When we think we have you nailed, you slip through our fingers, free, unpredictable, gloriously alive. Yet in your church we go on and on trying to contain you, hemming you in with rules and regulations, afraid to let you rise up in unexpected places. Lord of surprises, forgive our cramped vision.
God of surprises, the tomb was empty, yet in your church we go on and on trying to contain you, afraid to let you rise up in unexpected places. Lord of surprises, forgive our cramped vision.
Creator God, it's spring, a time when creation itself reflects your resurrection by bursting into new life. Yet just as there were those who denied your resurrection, so we collude with those who deny our world a chance to regenerate. We allow rainforests to be destroyed. We fail to to protect the ozone layer. We ignore the fact that our natural resources are rapidly dwindling. Creator God, forgive us for continuing to crucify and for failing to care about resurrection.
Creator God, forgive us for continuing to crucify our beautiful world and for failing to care about regeneration and resurrection.
Hidden God, no one recognised you that first Easter morning. As Mary Magdalen failed to see you in the gardener, so we fail to recognise you in others, especially if they refuse to match our expectations. Hidden God, help us this Easter season to look at others (those we don't love or care about as well as our families and friends) with fresh and open eyes.
Hidden God, help us this Easter season to look at others (those we don't love or care about as well as our families and friends) with fresh and open eyes, so that we may recognise you within them.
God of wholeness, when you rose you were healed. Despite your awful wounds which Thomas later saw, you were whole and fit and healthy again after your resurrection. We bring into your health-giving presence all who suffer (especially.....) that they too might be made whole.
God of wholeness, when you rose you were healed. Despite your awful wounds which Thomas later saw, you were whole and fit and healthy again after your resurrection. We bring into your health-giving presence all who suffer (especially....) that they too might be made whole.
Risen and restored God, your resurrection is at the heart of the Christian gospel. After your death you came back with new quality to your life; with new vigour and energy and strength. And you brought a new promise for us, that we too shall rise to new life after we die. And so we commend into your love those who have died, especially....
Risen and restored God, your resurrection brought a new promise for us, that we too shall rise to new life after we die. And so we commend into your love those who have died, especially....
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
