Barbara,s Intercessions for Trinity 16, Sunday 20th September
We clear our thoughts and open our hearts as we bring our prayers
to God.
Lord God, you led the Israelites through the wilderness. We are so
like them – ready to listen and be guided by you sometimes but
wilful and impatient at others. May we determine to look to you
and search for your directions in all we say and think and do.
We bring you our worries and problems – personal ones and world -
wide ones – strengthen our faith. Help us to recognise that your
answers may not be the ones we expect – just as, at first, those lost,
hungry Israelites didn’t recognise the mana you provided for them.
We thank God for our church – building and people. We ask God’s
blessing on all those who work to keep the church alive and to
spread the good news of his loving care for us all – from Archbishops
to the hardworking band who came to tidy up our beautiful
churchyard yesterday, showing their love for you in a very down to
earth and practical way.
Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer
Father, we pray for King Charles and the whole Royal family. We
thank you for the stability they bring to our country. We pray that
they too will search for your guidance in what they do and how they
live. May the people accept that they are only humans and so,
inevitably, will make errors but they still deserve our love and loyalty,
while they learn from mistakes and continue in their service to us all.
And we pray for all those in authority over us – our own government
and those with international powers and responsibilities. They all
face enormous problems – global warming; natural disasters; hunger
and poverty; wars over borders, resources and differences in faith;
the application of scientific advancement – for good or ill. Father –
guide them and drliver us all from the evils that could result from
bad people doing bad things.
As I wrote these prayers the music, Bring Him Home, from Les
Miserables, was played so very beautifully on a cello on the radio in
the background. Father we pray for all those who have loved ones
who have gone to war. So many of them will not ever be coming
home. Father, we pray most fervently for an end to all such conflict
and heartbreak
Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, we pray for our villages and our parish; for all who
live here.
We ask your blessings on all who suffer – from poverty, mental
anguish, bullying, domestic violence, loneliness, injustice, ill health.
We name Linda and her family and pray for their healing.
In silence, we bring to you the names of those we know who
particularly need to feel you loving presence.
We ask God’s comfort for all who mourn,
We pray for all who have died recently and for those whose years
mind falls at this time. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
The leaves are beginning to fall, flowers are fading and summer is
giving way to autumn. Father we have had an extraordinary
summer, bringing testing times for many and the joy of the sunshine
for others. We thank you for the much-needed soft refreshing rain.
We look forward to the calm and slowing down of the shorter days
and drawing in of the evenings and we thank you for our seasons and
the rhythm of our lives.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, or
Saviour, Jesus Christ
Amen