Understanding 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.
Understanding God, through Jesus you have experienced the whole range of human emotions, and you are familiar with the effects of tiredness and stress. Help me to accept my human reactions without undue guilt. And help me to learn to express frightening emotions in a way which is honest and straightforward, and which doesn't damage other people.
Understanding God, human relationships seem so delicate I'm often afraid to say what I really feel in case I destroy relationships beyond repair. Help me to realise that truth comes from you, and love must be built on honesty. And give me the strength and courage to hang on in there, even when I'm faced by subtle hostility and ridicule.
Understanding God, your Church has often struggled, throughout the centuries. Sometimes your Church is plunged into feelings of despair, and the stress on the body of Christ seems too hard to handle. Sometimes we feel as though we're beseiged by antagonism, and the only response is to pull up the drawbridge. Help your Church to boldly proclaim you - alive and glorious - from the rooftops. Protect us from the undermining of our confidence and enable us to speak your word in terms that the world can hear.
With Christians worldwide we pray especially today for the Church in the Caribbean, Latin America and Northen South America, and their president, Bishop Jose Larrea. We pray too for the Church of Norway, and Bishop Odd Bondevick.
Understanding God, people who are oppressed eventually fight back, often with terrifying results. May our world leaders be very aware of potential oppression, both economic and physical. May those nations which are wealthy always fight for the rights of the poor, and demand economic justice on behalf of poor nations.
We remember before you today the rights of women oppressed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the rights of boys oppressed by the rituals bringing them to manhood in some African countries, the rights of all those who have had their land seized...
Understanding God, although our physical life is much easier than life was years ago, we seem to suffer from much greater emotional stress. Instead of small communities and large extended families giving support, many live in huge, faceless communities with no family anywhere near. Help those who are lonely. Comfort those who miss their families. Restore a sense of worth to those who feel they are useless. And enable people today to withstand the stress and depression and fatigue of modern life.
Understanding God, we hold in your presence those of our friends and families suffering from depression or stress. May they be aware that you know how they feel, that you share in their pain, and may they know that you continue to heal if they can only turn to you. We pray for all those who are sick, and name before you today ....
Understanding God, be with all who are suffering that final and excruciating pain of bereavement. May they feel your arms warm and strong around them. May they be very aware that their loved ones live on, in your presence as part of the great Communion of Saints. May they know that they can meet with their loved ones week by week at your table, even though those loved ones are in a different dimension. We name before you today those who have recently lost someone they love .... and those for whom this time of year arouses inner feelings of sadness ....
We ask these prayers through the one who was thoroughly human in his divinity, 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.
Understanding God, through Jesus you have experienced the whole range of human emotions, and you are familiar with the effects of tiredness and stress. Help me to accept my human reactions without undue guilt. And help me to learn to express frightening emotions in a way which is honest and straightforward, and which doesn't damage other people.
Understanding God, human relationships seem so delicate I'm often afraid to say what I really feel in case I destroy relationships beyond repair. Help me to realise that truth comes from you, and love must be built on honesty. And give me the strength and courage to hang on in there, even when I'm faced by subtle hostility and ridicule.
Understanding God, your Church has often struggled, throughout the centuries. Sometimes your Church is plunged into feelings of despair, and the stress on the body of Christ seems too hard to handle. Sometimes we feel as though we're beseiged by antagonism, and the only response is to pull up the drawbridge. Help your Church to boldly proclaim you - alive and glorious - from the rooftops. Protect us from the undermining of our confidence and enable us to speak your word in terms that the world can hear.
With Christians worldwide we pray especially today for the Church in the Caribbean, Latin America and Northen South America, and their president, Bishop Jose Larrea. We pray too for the Church of Norway, and Bishop Odd Bondevick.
Understanding God, people who are oppressed eventually fight back, often with terrifying results. May our world leaders be very aware of potential oppression, both economic and physical. May those nations which are wealthy always fight for the rights of the poor, and demand economic justice on behalf of poor nations.
We remember before you today the rights of women oppressed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the rights of boys oppressed by the rituals bringing them to manhood in some African countries, the rights of all those who have had their land seized...
Understanding God, although our physical life is much easier than life was years ago, we seem to suffer from much greater emotional stress. Instead of small communities and large extended families giving support, many live in huge, faceless communities with no family anywhere near. Help those who are lonely. Comfort those who miss their families. Restore a sense of worth to those who feel they are useless. And enable people today to withstand the stress and depression and fatigue of modern life.
Understanding God, we hold in your presence those of our friends and families suffering from depression or stress. May they be aware that you know how they feel, that you share in their pain, and may they know that you continue to heal if they can only turn to you. We pray for all those who are sick, and name before you today ....
Understanding God, be with all who are suffering that final and excruciating pain of bereavement. May they feel your arms warm and strong around them. May they be very aware that their loved ones live on, in your presence as part of the great Communion of Saints. May they know that they can meet with their loved ones week by week at your table, even though those loved ones are in a different dimension. We name before you today those who have recently lost someone they love .... and those for whom this time of year arouses inner feelings of sadness ....
We ask these prayers through the one who was thoroughly human in his divinity, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
