I prepared this prayer for the Second Sunday of Easter (Low Sunday) to tie in with the preacher's mention. She was taking the story of the disciples in Acts and the story of Christ's appearance to the disciples (without and with Thomas) and drawing the message of needing to see Jesus more clearly. (Maybe the lectionary editors made the link of locked doors - the disciples being released through them, Jesus entering through them)
Risen Lord Jesus, we thank you that we can
bring our prayers and petitions to you, and have confidence that you will hear
us.
Risen Lord Jesus, we thank you for the joy
of Easter, for our celebration of the resurrection. We thank you for the way that Christians
across the world have been celebrating this wonderful fact together.
Today we pray for the church across the
world. We pray for Jane, and ask that
you will refresh her on her holiday. We
pray for the preparation for the Annual Church Meetings later this month, and
ask that you will be there to guide and inspire us. We pray for our diocese, and today we
remember the visit of the evangelists from the Melanesian brotherhood as they
preach the joy of the resurrection this week.
We continue to pray for our bishops, and our new archbishop, that they
may teach people to see Jesus more clearly.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Risen Lord Jesus, we thank you that this
world is God’s creation, and that God continues to control and sustain the
world He created. We thank you that the
leaders of nations and businesses take their authority from You.
We pray that you will guide the nations of
the world to know that real authority and wisdom come from you. We pray for peace between the nations, and
within the nations. So we ask for peace
in Afghanistan,
in the far east and in the middle east.
We pray for those parts of the world where men, women and children are suffering
because of drought and famine, and ask that you will provide the funds and
expertise needed for the relief agencies in their work.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Risen Lord Jesus, we thank you for the work
of those who provide our food. Thank you
for the variety of the food that we can buy and grow.
We pray for the farming community in Devon, for those who grow crops and fruit and raise
animals for food. We pray for those who
work on the land to prepare it for spring, summer and autumn growing. We ask that you will give wisdom to those
Christians who minister to the agricultural sector of society, that they may be
sensitive to the needs of farmers and their families. And as we pray for the producers, we pray for
justice and fairness for the chain of supply of our food, through distributors
and retailers.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Risen Lord Jesus, we thank you that you
have promised to be with us in all that we do, day by day, as we follow, serve
and trust you.
We pray that each member of our church, and
of our Mission Community, may see you more clearly this week, and grow in grace
with you as our Lord and Saviour.
We pray for those in our church who have
special needs this week. We remember
those who are sick, and those who are anxious because of the sickness of a
loved one. We pray for those whose work
brings tensions and ask that you will grant such people special wisdom.
And we remember how Thomas recognised Jesus
– help us this week to echo his words and see that you are “Lord and God”
Merciful Father
