Unpredictable 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.
Unpredictable God, to us humans, unpredictability is frightening. Sometimes you're terrifying, especially in those Old Testament stories, then again you're gentle and loving and kind and tell me even the hairs on my head are numbered. So do I love you or fear you? Because it's difficult to do both at the same time. Unpredictable God, help me to shed any false images of you which cloud my consciousness and my judgment. Remind me to hold onto what I know of you from my own experience, and remind me that my experience of you has always been of your love and your care and your tenderness. Loving God, take away my fear and help me to take up my own cross as I follow you.
Unpredictable God, help me to shed any false images of you which cloud my consciousness and my judgment. Take away my fear and help me to take up my own cross as I follow you.
God of Creation, your Church has to be so careful in today's world. The whole world thinks it knows how your Church should behave, but all opinions are so very different. In order to be all things to all people, sometimes your Church is just bland and nice. Enable your Church throughout the world to be so closely in contact with you that it is fearless in its love. Today we hold especially in your presence the Church and the people of Uganda as they fearlessly proclaim your gospel.
God of Creation, enable your Church throughout the world to be so closely in contact with you that it is fearless in its love. Today we hold especially in your presence the Church and the people of Uganda as they fearlessly proclaim your gospel.
God of justice, violence in your world is both terrifying and remorselessly damaging. People are hurt, people die. We remember before you those areas of the world where conflict has erupted into violence, and where people suffer needlessly.... May the leaders of the nations learn to negotiate peacefully but without appeasement, and if violence is occasionally necessary to prevent untold evil, may that violence be minimal.
God of justice, we remember before you those areas of the world where conflict has erupted into violence, and where people suffer needlessly.... May the leaders of the nations learn to negotiate peacefully and ask that necessary violence might be minimal.
God of compassion, it isn't easy to know how to bring up our children in your ways. We know that violence breeds violence and none of us wants that, but perhaps a refusal to face conflict can be almost as damaging. Help us to relate to each other always in love, and when we fail miserably, redeem our failures as only you can.
God of compassion, help us to relate to each other always in love, and when we fail miserably, redeem our failures as only you can.
God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. Some of them must suffer violence to their dignity and their person in order to become well again. May they know your arms around them, and your healing hands upon them ... We name them in our own hearts...
God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. May they know your arms around them, and your healing hands upon them as we name them in our own hearts...
God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died, either recently, or in previous years at this time. May the violent tearing apart they have suffered be healed by you, and may you give them the strength and support and love they need. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....
God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died. May the violent tearing apart they have suffered be healed by you. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....
We ask these prayers through Jesus, human enough to be violent at times, but divine enough and courageous enough to face crucifixion.
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.
Unpredictable God, to us humans, unpredictability is frightening. Sometimes you're terrifying, especially in those Old Testament stories, then again you're gentle and loving and kind and tell me even the hairs on my head are numbered. So do I love you or fear you? Because it's difficult to do both at the same time. Unpredictable God, help me to shed any false images of you which cloud my consciousness and my judgment. Remind me to hold onto what I know of you from my own experience, and remind me that my experience of you has always been of your love and your care and your tenderness. Loving God, take away my fear and help me to take up my own cross as I follow you.
Unpredictable God, help me to shed any false images of you which cloud my consciousness and my judgment. Take away my fear and help me to take up my own cross as I follow you.
God of Creation, your Church has to be so careful in today's world. The whole world thinks it knows how your Church should behave, but all opinions are so very different. In order to be all things to all people, sometimes your Church is just bland and nice. Enable your Church throughout the world to be so closely in contact with you that it is fearless in its love. Today we hold especially in your presence the Church and the people of Uganda as they fearlessly proclaim your gospel.
God of Creation, enable your Church throughout the world to be so closely in contact with you that it is fearless in its love. Today we hold especially in your presence the Church and the people of Uganda as they fearlessly proclaim your gospel.
God of justice, violence in your world is both terrifying and remorselessly damaging. People are hurt, people die. We remember before you those areas of the world where conflict has erupted into violence, and where people suffer needlessly.... May the leaders of the nations learn to negotiate peacefully but without appeasement, and if violence is occasionally necessary to prevent untold evil, may that violence be minimal.
God of justice, we remember before you those areas of the world where conflict has erupted into violence, and where people suffer needlessly.... May the leaders of the nations learn to negotiate peacefully and ask that necessary violence might be minimal.
God of compassion, it isn't easy to know how to bring up our children in your ways. We know that violence breeds violence and none of us wants that, but perhaps a refusal to face conflict can be almost as damaging. Help us to relate to each other always in love, and when we fail miserably, redeem our failures as only you can.
God of compassion, help us to relate to each other always in love, and when we fail miserably, redeem our failures as only you can.
God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. Some of them must suffer violence to their dignity and their person in order to become well again. May they know your arms around them, and your healing hands upon them ... We name them in our own hearts...
God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. May they know your arms around them, and your healing hands upon them as we name them in our own hearts...
God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died, either recently, or in previous years at this time. May the violent tearing apart they have suffered be healed by you, and may you give them the strength and support and love they need. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....
God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died. May the violent tearing apart they have suffered be healed by you. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....
We ask these prayers through Jesus, human enough to be violent at times, but divine enough and courageous enough to face crucifixion.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
