God Of The Universe...
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 the universe, in my better moments I vow to serve you forever with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my strength. But in my wiser and more discerning moments, I occasionally catch a glimpse of the cost, and wonder whether I'm capable of paying that much. God of the universe, help me to find the endurance and courage I need to devote my life to you. But don't let me kid myself that my spiritual aspirations are more important than my family and friends. Give me sensitivity to other people's needs, for if I hurt them I'm sure to be hurting you.
God of the universe, for some it's costly to attend church. Some Christians are persecuted, some are tormented, some are ostracised and some are ridiculed. Courageous God, give these Christians endurance and strength and enable them to enjoy the rewards of relationship with you. May their guardian angels watch over them, especially when they are at their lowest ebb. Teach those who find church attendance easy, to count their blessings and to make worship a priority while they can.
Today we pray especially for Archbishop Peter Kwong and Shenh Kung Hui in the Province of Hong Kong, and Bishop Rosemary Kohn in Hanar in the Church of Norway.
God of the universe, help us all to count the cost of draining the earth's natural resources, and to press for kinder ways of living together within the world. As we see the horror of violence and hunger on our television screens and as we sigh over the effects of global warming, may we care so deeply that we respond not just from the armchair but with positive action. May those who suffer in our world come to know not division but solidarity within the human race, and may they know that there are those who care.
God of the universe, love is so very costly that it sometimes feels safer not to love too much. Teach us that the cost of love is but a tiny percentage in relation to its rewards. And teach us that as we give away love, reaching out further and further from ourselves and our own immediate families, so we can be touched by the angels in your great love for us. Help us when love is tough. Enable us to spot the difference between indulgence and real love, so that we can view our more critical friends and family members with gratitude for their honesty. Help those who don't know love to discover it, and help us all to take greater and greater risks as we learn to love as you love us.
God of the universe, we hold in your loving presence those who are sick. As their families and friends anxiously watch and wait, may they know your peace in their hearts. Touch those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, that they may be healed from the very depths of their being. We name before you ...
God of the universe, those who are bereaved suddenly discover the cost of love. Help them in their anguish. May they know your strength guiding them through the long days and nights of pain and loneliness. Give us the sensitivity to know when to approach and when to fall silent, and help us to help them to the best of our ability. We name before you the family and friends of .... who died recently, and of .... who died at this time ...years ago.
We ask all our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 the universe, in my better moments I vow to serve you forever with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul and all my strength. But in my wiser and more discerning moments, I occasionally catch a glimpse of the cost, and wonder whether I'm capable of paying that much. God of the universe, help me to find the endurance and courage I need to devote my life to you. But don't let me kid myself that my spiritual aspirations are more important than my family and friends. Give me sensitivity to other people's needs, for if I hurt them I'm sure to be hurting you.
God of the universe, for some it's costly to attend church. Some Christians are persecuted, some are tormented, some are ostracised and some are ridiculed. Courageous God, give these Christians endurance and strength and enable them to enjoy the rewards of relationship with you. May their guardian angels watch over them, especially when they are at their lowest ebb. Teach those who find church attendance easy, to count their blessings and to make worship a priority while they can.
Today we pray especially for Archbishop Peter Kwong and Shenh Kung Hui in the Province of Hong Kong, and Bishop Rosemary Kohn in Hanar in the Church of Norway.
God of the universe, help us all to count the cost of draining the earth's natural resources, and to press for kinder ways of living together within the world. As we see the horror of violence and hunger on our television screens and as we sigh over the effects of global warming, may we care so deeply that we respond not just from the armchair but with positive action. May those who suffer in our world come to know not division but solidarity within the human race, and may they know that there are those who care.
God of the universe, love is so very costly that it sometimes feels safer not to love too much. Teach us that the cost of love is but a tiny percentage in relation to its rewards. And teach us that as we give away love, reaching out further and further from ourselves and our own immediate families, so we can be touched by the angels in your great love for us. Help us when love is tough. Enable us to spot the difference between indulgence and real love, so that we can view our more critical friends and family members with gratitude for their honesty. Help those who don't know love to discover it, and help us all to take greater and greater risks as we learn to love as you love us.
God of the universe, we hold in your loving presence those who are sick. As their families and friends anxiously watch and wait, may they know your peace in their hearts. Touch those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, that they may be healed from the very depths of their being. We name before you ...
God of the universe, those who are bereaved suddenly discover the cost of love. Help them in their anguish. May they know your strength guiding them through the long days and nights of pain and loneliness. Give us the sensitivity to know when to approach and when to fall silent, and help us to help them to the best of our ability. We name before you the family and friends of .... who died recently, and of .... who died at this time ...years ago.
We ask all our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
