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Wilderness God...

Intercession
Mark 1:1-8
Second Sunday of Advent - B
Janice B. Scott
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.

Wilderness God, I'm so geared towards success that I always try to sweep my failures under the carpet. I push those painful memories of hurt and rejection as far away from me as I can, and set about enjoying life. Yet you expect me to revisit those desolate places, to deliberately seek out the dark places of my inner being. How can I face the pain of that?

Wilderness God, help me to understand that it's only when I've allowed you to peel away the layers of comfortable self-deception, that you can find me. And help me to realise that the pain is nothing compared to both the amazing and everlasting experience of resurrection that it heralds, and to the incredible freedom that it brings.

Wilderness God, you expect me to deliberately seek out the dark places of my inner being. Help me to understand that it's only when I've allowed you to peel away the layers of comfortable self-deception, that you can find me. And help me to realise the amazing and everlasting experience of resurrection and the incredible freedom that that brings.

Wilderness God, we thank you for the Retreat Movement within your worldwide Church and for all who are able to experience something of the wilderness through a retreat. We pray particularly today for those churches situated within bustling city areas, where it is difficult to find moments of solitude and quiet. Give all Christians the courage to face silence alone with you, that they might also experience the overwhelming joy of your presence.

With Christians world-wide we pray especially today for your Church in Nigeria with Archbishop Joseph Adetiloye and your Church in Sheffield (UK) with Bishop Jack Nicholls.

Wilderness God, we thank you for all who are able to experience something of the wilderness through a retreat. Give all Christians the courage to face silence alone with you, that they might also experience the overwhelming joy of your presence. With Christians world-wide we pray especially today for your Church in Nigeria with Archbishop Joseph Adetiloye and your Church in Sheffield (UK) with Bishop Jack Nicholls.

Wilderness God, we hold in your loving and understanding presence all those who live in constant fear of death, especially those who live in war zones or areas targeted by terrorists. Give them a sure faith and the certainty of your strong and everlasting arms around them. At this approaching season of peace and goodwill to all, we pray for those with hearts full of hatred and thoughts of revenge, that they may learn the freedom and release of forgiveness. We pray especially today for...

Wilderness God, we hold in your loving and understanding presence all those who live in constant fear of death, and we pray for those with hearts full of hatred and thoughts of revenge. We pray especially today for...

Wilderness God, in our community we pray today for any who are forced into the wilderness because they are shunned by most people. We pray for any who are different, and for all who are lonely or isolated. We remember especially those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly who live alone. May they be safe in their homes and look forward to Christmas love and cheer. In our own community we pray especially today for ...

Wilderness God, we pray for any who are forced into the wilderness because they are shunned by most people and for all who are lonely or isolated. We remember especially those who are vulnerable, particularly the elderly who live alone. In our own community we pray especially today for ...

Wilderness God, as we continue in this Advent season of darkness, we pray for those who are constantly in darkness because they are sick. We ask you to touch all whose quality of life is poor because of illness, and we bring them into your presence as we name them before you ...

Wilderness God, we ask you to touch all whose quality of life is poor because of illness, and we bring them into your presence as we name them before you ...

Wilderness God, we pray for those who know they have a limited time left to live on this earth. Give them the reassurance that there is life after death and that they will enjoy it with you. May they be able to use aright the time that is left to them, learning to love you more with each passing moment. We pray too for all those who have suffered a death of family or close friends recently, and we name them before you ... And we remember all for whom this time of year brings not the excitement of anticipation, but the dread of re-awakened pain because it commemorates the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

Wilderness God, we pray for those who know they have a limited time left to live on this earth. May they love you more with each passing moment. We pray too for all those who have suffered a death of family or close friends recently, and we name them before you ... And we remember all for whom this time of year commemorates the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ, master of the wilderness experience.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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