God Of Perfect Community...
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 perfect community - three-in-one and one-in-three - our pseudo-community functions well. We all like each other, and it's friendly and warm. And at times, there's quite a lot of intimacy. How can I risk losing all that? If I show irritation or anger, people will be upset. I may not only destroy the group, but be ostracised as well. God of community, I hesitate to lose what I already have, because it feels good. Yet sometimes I glimpse what could be. Help me to lose my life, knowing that only by losing it can I hope to gain eternal life, life in genuine community, life with you.
God of perfect community, how can there be community within your Church when we're all so different? We disagree on how to worship you, we disagree on our basic ideas about you, and we disagree on our interpretation of your word in the Bible. How can we blend into community when we're all so different? God of community, enable us all to drink of your living water so that we may worship from the depths of our being and learn that disagreements can be harmonious and enriching rather than damaging.
We hold especially in your presence today the Church of the Southwest province of the USA, with its President Bishop William E. Smalley, praying with that church for its ministry to Spanish-speaking people. We hold before you also Skara in the Church of Sweden, and its Bishop, Lars-Goran Lonnermark. In our own diocese we pray for ... and in our own church we ask.....
God of perfect community, as we in the UK contemplate a General Election next week, help us to face our differences with equanimity. As we decide how to cast our votes, may we listen to all political views and make our choices for the right reasons. We hold within your presence all those countries where the people are denied a free and fair vote and where differences of opinion are never allowed. Within the community of our own country we pray for those who find themselves on the margins because they are different, and ask that we might be especially sensitive to their needs.
God of perfect community, there's safety in numbers and in sameness so that it's tempting always to follow the crowd and to be acceptable to the leading figures. May we in this church be ever aware of the potential to develop cliques and the courage of those who stand alone. May we spot developing cliques and clear them before they have a chance to damage. And may we strive always towards true community, refusing to be satisfied with anything less than complete honesty and love as we work to be your body on earth.
God of perfect community, may those of our friends and families who are sick, drink of your living water. As we invite each other to come to you, may we be especially conscious of those who need more help, because they have less energy through their illness. Help us to show our love for those who are sick, through our words and actions. And give us the sensitivity to cease our ministrations if they cause unnecessary irritation or fatigue. We name before you for your healing touch....
God of perfect community, those who have died join the great communion of saints - that fellowship of all those who have died in faith - so perhaps they begin to discover what community is really about. But meanwhile, those who mourn their passing need strength and love and support, and so we commend them to your loving arms. We name before you....
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 perfect community - three-in-one and one-in-three - our pseudo-community functions well. We all like each other, and it's friendly and warm. And at times, there's quite a lot of intimacy. How can I risk losing all that? If I show irritation or anger, people will be upset. I may not only destroy the group, but be ostracised as well. God of community, I hesitate to lose what I already have, because it feels good. Yet sometimes I glimpse what could be. Help me to lose my life, knowing that only by losing it can I hope to gain eternal life, life in genuine community, life with you.
God of perfect community, how can there be community within your Church when we're all so different? We disagree on how to worship you, we disagree on our basic ideas about you, and we disagree on our interpretation of your word in the Bible. How can we blend into community when we're all so different? God of community, enable us all to drink of your living water so that we may worship from the depths of our being and learn that disagreements can be harmonious and enriching rather than damaging.
We hold especially in your presence today the Church of the Southwest province of the USA, with its President Bishop William E. Smalley, praying with that church for its ministry to Spanish-speaking people. We hold before you also Skara in the Church of Sweden, and its Bishop, Lars-Goran Lonnermark. In our own diocese we pray for ... and in our own church we ask.....
God of perfect community, as we in the UK contemplate a General Election next week, help us to face our differences with equanimity. As we decide how to cast our votes, may we listen to all political views and make our choices for the right reasons. We hold within your presence all those countries where the people are denied a free and fair vote and where differences of opinion are never allowed. Within the community of our own country we pray for those who find themselves on the margins because they are different, and ask that we might be especially sensitive to their needs.
God of perfect community, there's safety in numbers and in sameness so that it's tempting always to follow the crowd and to be acceptable to the leading figures. May we in this church be ever aware of the potential to develop cliques and the courage of those who stand alone. May we spot developing cliques and clear them before they have a chance to damage. And may we strive always towards true community, refusing to be satisfied with anything less than complete honesty and love as we work to be your body on earth.
God of perfect community, may those of our friends and families who are sick, drink of your living water. As we invite each other to come to you, may we be especially conscious of those who need more help, because they have less energy through their illness. Help us to show our love for those who are sick, through our words and actions. And give us the sensitivity to cease our ministrations if they cause unnecessary irritation or fatigue. We name before you for your healing touch....
God of perfect community, those who have died join the great communion of saints - that fellowship of all those who have died in faith - so perhaps they begin to discover what community is really about. But meanwhile, those who mourn their passing need strength and love and support, and so we commend them to your loving arms. We name before you....
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
