God Of Forgiveness...
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.
God of forgiveness, I can point the finger at others committing awful sins, but I seldom identify my own deep sinfulness. I never think to question my own attitude towards money and possessions and standard of living. I fail to notice those invisible people outside my own level of comfort. God of forgiveness, prod me into wakefulness that I may become aware of the iniquity of financial inequality, and then so trouble my conscience that I may finally be prepared to play my part in bringing in your kingdom.
God of forgiveness, sometimes your Church is clothed not with Christ, but with riches and possessions. May your Church have the courage to look with open eyes and open heart, and give away position and wealth to help feed and clothe those in need. And may your Church be aware that in so doing, the Church will truly become clothed with Christ.
We pray especially today for Christians in Cuba and their bishop Jorge Hurtado, and for Christians in Stockholm and their leader Caroline Krook.
God of forgiveness, we pray for world leaders who tackle the problems of the overuse of energy and the exhaustion of the world's natural resources. We pray especially that Western leaders will look unselfishly at the whole world, and begin now to seriously plan for the future of our planet. May they become fervent about green issues, but may their fervour grow into reasoned and reasonable debate. And may we all support our leaders as they raise our awareness of global problems.
God of forgiveness, I don't have enough time! I don't have time to follow up all deserving causes. I don't have time to visit my neighbours near or far. I don't have time to read my Bible or pray. And I certainly don't have time to sit around doing nothing or meditating. God of forgiveness, I'm so busy looking after my family and holding down a job that when I have any free time I'm too tired to start thinking about you, I just want to relax. God of forgiveness, help me to change. Help me set my priorities right, help me to become immersed in you and so to become clothed in Christ.
We pray especially today for any who are on holiday. May they return refreshed and renewed, and eager to pick up the threads of their life once again. We name before you....
God of forgiveness, some of our friends and families need your gentle healing touch because they are sick. We hold them within the fountain of your love, knowing that as your blessings cascade over them so they have only to open themselves to your presence and allow you to do the rest. God of forgiveness, we love them so much and hate to see them hurting. We name them before you ....
God of forgiveness, we hold in your presence those of our friends and families who have recently lost someone they love very much. Be with them through their pain, and enable them to slowly heal. May they be very aware of the support of our prayers, and may they know that we love them. We pray too for those who are finding this time difficult, because it marks an unwelcome anniversary. We name before you ....
We ask our prayers through the one who practised an option for the poor, 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.
God of forgiveness, I can point the finger at others committing awful sins, but I seldom identify my own deep sinfulness. I never think to question my own attitude towards money and possessions and standard of living. I fail to notice those invisible people outside my own level of comfort. God of forgiveness, prod me into wakefulness that I may become aware of the iniquity of financial inequality, and then so trouble my conscience that I may finally be prepared to play my part in bringing in your kingdom.
God of forgiveness, sometimes your Church is clothed not with Christ, but with riches and possessions. May your Church have the courage to look with open eyes and open heart, and give away position and wealth to help feed and clothe those in need. And may your Church be aware that in so doing, the Church will truly become clothed with Christ.
We pray especially today for Christians in Cuba and their bishop Jorge Hurtado, and for Christians in Stockholm and their leader Caroline Krook.
God of forgiveness, we pray for world leaders who tackle the problems of the overuse of energy and the exhaustion of the world's natural resources. We pray especially that Western leaders will look unselfishly at the whole world, and begin now to seriously plan for the future of our planet. May they become fervent about green issues, but may their fervour grow into reasoned and reasonable debate. And may we all support our leaders as they raise our awareness of global problems.
God of forgiveness, I don't have enough time! I don't have time to follow up all deserving causes. I don't have time to visit my neighbours near or far. I don't have time to read my Bible or pray. And I certainly don't have time to sit around doing nothing or meditating. God of forgiveness, I'm so busy looking after my family and holding down a job that when I have any free time I'm too tired to start thinking about you, I just want to relax. God of forgiveness, help me to change. Help me set my priorities right, help me to become immersed in you and so to become clothed in Christ.
We pray especially today for any who are on holiday. May they return refreshed and renewed, and eager to pick up the threads of their life once again. We name before you....
God of forgiveness, some of our friends and families need your gentle healing touch because they are sick. We hold them within the fountain of your love, knowing that as your blessings cascade over them so they have only to open themselves to your presence and allow you to do the rest. God of forgiveness, we love them so much and hate to see them hurting. We name them before you ....
God of forgiveness, we hold in your presence those of our friends and families who have recently lost someone they love very much. Be with them through their pain, and enable them to slowly heal. May they be very aware of the support of our prayers, and may they know that we love them. We pray too for those who are finding this time difficult, because it marks an unwelcome anniversary. We name before you ....
We ask our prayers through the one who practised an option for the poor, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
