Prayers of Intercession and Petition (Ian Thomas)

Prayers of Intercession and Petition

Let us pray

Uppermost in our minds are our personal and collective concerns for all those suffering the devastation of the bushfires. We pray especially for all those whose loved ones have died, those who have lost homes, treasured possessions and livelihood, for those who have seen and experienced very traumatic things. We pray for the clean-up and recovery that has just begun and for all those who are providing much needed services and support. We know that events like these take a long time to get over and we pray for the long term needs of the affected communities.

Lord in your mercy – Hear our prayer

As we enter this New Year and contemplate the challenges of your Holy Spirit acting in and through our lives, we pray for the well-being of our nation and our community; for the politics, commerce, culture, values, education, mass media and recreational pursuits that define who we are. We pray that self-interest, injustice, arrogance, complacency and deceit may not have dominion over our people and leaders. We pray that we shall continue on the path to a true and meaningful reconciliation with our indigenous people and learn from their affinity with this wonderful land. We pray that we shall learn the skills of dialogue with those who uphold a different faith. We pray that we shall retain a spirit of fairmindedness, respect, compassion and generosity in all our business and personal interactions.

We pray for clergy, elders, administrators and all who minister in your name. We pray for our local parish as we undertake our faith journey and stewardship here in Armadale. We give thanks for the caring ministry, leadership, energy and wisdom of our minister Fiona. This week in our Church family we pray for …….

Today we are challenged by the Holy Spirit to commit ourselves to your service through our care and concern for others in your name. We pray for the wisdom, the vision and the grace to recognize your calling to us, to affirm the gifts we have individually and collectively; and the courage to respond and act.

Let us be your ears, eyes and hands:

     With the friends whom we have taken for granted.

     With enemies whom we have ignored or derided.

     With work colleagues of whom we have been jealous.

     With the folk we forget to thank in shops, garages and banks.

Lamb of God, help us to share your respect and love:

     With ethnic groups whose differences make us feel uneasy.

     With politicians whom we elect then endlessly criticise.

     With other churches for whom we might have shown little respect.

     With the sorry millions whom we will never meet yet whose poverty, hunger, disease, and oppression cry out for our compassion.

We give you thanks for your faithful servants of every age, for those from this Parish who have gone before us, for all who have drawn us closer to you.

Lord in your mercy – Hear our prayer

So let us sum up our prayers in the words that Jesus taught us:

Our Father in heaven

Hallowed be your name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread,

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now, and forever.

Amen

Please note. This prayer has used part of a prayer posted on Bruce Prewer’s website for Epiphany 2A