Prayer for families (May 2015)

We heard three sets of banns being read, and all three couples were in church to hear them.  None of my prepared prayers applied, so I scribbled this down during a hymn(!)

Loving Lord Jesus,
As the banns were read, we were reminded of Your care for families.  So we pray for each family here, and for the couples to be married soon, that all the homes we represent may be places where the love, peace and joy of God comes close; that we may know the grace of God and the presence of the Son of God daily.
Lord in Your mercy
Hear our prayer

Prayers on May 3rd 2015

I was short of time for preparing prayers this week, and so chose six pieces  which I found online as the starting point for the intercessions today.  The sources are acknowledged after each one, but (as always) I have added a little bit of my style, rearranged them so that each set of petitions starts with an invocation of the Lord Jesus.   They are topical: praying for the UK general election, for the victims of the Nepalese earthquake, the persecuted in Syria and Iraq ...

Lord Jesus, we come to you in prayer for the people of Nepal and India. We know you feel their pain and cry with them, and we pray that they will know your love and comfort close by.

We pray for those who are mourning loved ones and for those coming to terms with life-changing injuries. May they know your strength.

Lord, protect and encourage the staff of all the relief organizations, especially those in Shelterbox and Tearfund, the charities we support as they work in your name to help those in most need.

We also pray for the mission partners of CMS who are in Nepal at this time, asking for your strength and protection.

Tearfund

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

We pray for peace in Iraq and Syria

Lord Jesus, you give sight to the blind, you heal the crippled and you restore the dignity of the disenfranchised.

Give us renewed vision and hope for the future and restore the dignity of our Syrian and Iraqi Christian brothers and sisters.

We beg for mercy for the many children who have lost their fathers; for the many men who have been tortured, beaten and maimed; for the many women who have suffered from abuse; and for the many more who continue to live in fear and shame.

Where there is fighting and fear, please bring peace.

Where there is hatred, please bring love and forgiveness.

Where there is death and hopelessness, please bring the joy of your deliverance.

We pray because you are our only hope,

Tearfund

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Lord Jesus, we give thanks for the privileges and responsibilities of living in a democratic society.

Give us wisdom to play our part at election time, that, through the exercise of each vote, your Kingdom may come closer.

Protect us from the sins of despair and cynicism, guard us against the idols of false utopias and strengthen us to make politics a noble calling that serves the common good of all.

Church of England

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Lord Jesus, we hold up in prayer those for whom we are especially concerned.  We know that your will for them is the best and most loving thing imaginable, and we realize that you know their needs far better than we do.

So we pray for …

We ask you to keep each one free from pain, free from fear, that they may relax in your love, and know your healing hand on them.

(Source: A parishioner of Dundrum Parish, Dublin, Hands Up, Church of Ireland At prayer, P8)

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Lord Jesus, Grant us all a clear mind and discernment to make wise decisions this week, in our families and with our friends and colleagues.

Continually help us all to be people of high integrity as we talk with others this week

Help us all to know and speak the truth in love at home and at work.

Supply us all with grace for working with other people

Help us all to consistently make valuable contributions to the neighbourhood where we live.

(http://www.operationintercession.org/Employees.php

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

Finally, Lord Jesus, This week

Help us to follow your example,

by looking out for those who feel that they are marginalised,

who cannot find hope,

who believe that they have little to offer,

who are overcome by the challenges of poverty.

Help us to widen our horizons,

to make space for the stranger,

to watch out for those who feel invisible,

to give time to the outsider,

Give us the courage to undertake this, and the determination to join with others in seeing grace in every human face,

and the faith to embrace the opportunity in your name

Church Urban Fund

Merciful Father