Prayers for 10th April 2016

Let us pray for the church and the world, and thank God for His goodness

Thank you, Lord for those who lead the church in our country and county.  Thank you for the wisdom that you have given them and the ability to teach and to encourage.

Today we pray especially for Archbishop Justin, as the media spend time and energy picking over aspects of his family life.  Give him the ability to speak graciously and honestly about his past, what that past means to his faith and family, and then help him to use his experiences as examples of the good news of Jesus.

We pray for our bishops, Robert, Sarah and Nick, and our archdeacon Christopher.  Give them wisdom in their day-to-day meetings and paperwork.  We pray especially for bishop Sarah, charged with implementing new safeguarding standards throughout the Anglican church.

We pray for the work of the Mother’s Union in the city and diocese, and ask that you will guide its members as they work to promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children and as a charity that helps those whose family life has met with adversity.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Thank you Lord, for our queen, her family and our national and local government.

First of all, we pray for wisdom for the Queen, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.  We pray for integrity, truth and compassion throughout Government and for the positive influence of God’s people for the good of all throughout all Government departments.

In the world, we pray that the British Government would be a strong force for good in foreign policy and for bringing relief to those suffering throughout the world.

And we pray that the wisdom of the Bible would be listened to in what it says about human flourishing across all policy areas locally, nationally and internationally.

And above all, we pray for peace in your world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

As we look ahead to the coming week, we pray to you, Lord, for those who are returning to work and to school after the Easter break.  We ask that each one may be refreshed and strengthened by a time of recreation and rest.  

We pray for those who are anxious or concerned about health – those who are sick, and we remember especially those in our prayer bulletin.  Give strength to those who are sick, Lord, and give encouragement and compassion to those who are anxious.  We commend to you, all who work in the caring professions.

We pray for those who work in shops and other businesses in the city, and ask that honesty and integrity may be the standards set in all business transactions this week.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the example of your disciples.  Thank you that we are free to read and learn from the Bible, Your Word. 

This week, we pray that we may learn from Peter, Paul and Ananias.  Help us to be like Peter, and accept your forgiveness for our past failures to stand up for you.  Help us to follow Peter’s example and to say yes to helping other Christians to grow in their faith.

Help us to be like Paul, who spent so much time in prayer.  Help us to be like him in sharing the good news of Jesus with other people.

Help us to be like Ananias, who obeyed your word for him.  Help us to be like him and trusting you wherever you send us.

So we pray for ourselves, that we may be faithful disciples in our day, helping, teaching and encouraging others to follow Jesus more and more closely.  Help us in each encounter with other people this week, at home, at work, in our leisure, in our phone calls and emails, to spread the beauty of Jesus in today’s world.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,

Our Saviour Jesus Christ

Amen

Some phrases taken from Christians in Parliament website and Mothers Union website.  The sermon was based on Acts 9 and John 21

Prayer for Second Sunday of Easter, seeing Jesus more clearly

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

The Word, the world, and us

Let us pray for the church and for the world and let us thank God for His goodness

Almighty God, our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith

We thank you, Lord, for those that You have gifted to be teachers of your Word and ministers in Your church.  Thank you for those who serve in this congregation and parish.  Thank you too, for the work of theological colleges and their staff, and for those who arrange training events and courses in Exeter.

We pray, Lord, for those whose calling is to be servants of Your people as shepherds, pastors and teachers.  We ask, Lord, that they may have the grace and humility which their work requires, and that they may be able to walk closely with you, day by day. We would pray for those who are in training.  As you equip such men and women, Lord, we pray that the Holy Spirit may be channelled through them to equip the whole church in the service of Christ; that those who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.

LORD IN YOUR MERCY--HEAR OUR PRAYER

Thank You, Lord, that You are Lord of Lords and King of Kings.  We rejoice that the affairs of the nations are secure in your keeping;  that the Holy Spirit is directing the ways of leaders of governments, leaders of commerce, the professions, industry and the unions.  Thank you, Lord, that you control the work of public and private industry as it affects us day by day, in our homes, in our neighbourhoods, at work.

We pray for Your world and think of the news items that have been headlines in the last few days.  We pray for the leaders of our nation, that you will give them wisdom in providing for all, particularly those who are homeless or unemployed.  We pray that the economic affairs of our land may be directed towards justice for all.  We pray for the work of the relief agencies and United Nations as they seek to relieve the problems of the world;  and we pray for peace, and especially for the peace of Middle East.  We pray that throughout the world, men may honour one another and seek the common good.

LORD IN YOUR MERCY--HEAR OUR PRAYER

We thank you, Lord, that you are in control of our households; that Jesus knew the joys and sadnesses of living in a family and in a community of people and families in the same street and town.  So we come to you with confidence that You understand the pressures and delights of daily living with people of all ages.

Help us Lord, to live a hundred percent for you;  help us to make Jesus the centre of our life and work every day, wherever You have called us to be.  Help us to draw closer to others, in friendship and fellowship, so that as ambassadors for you we may convey Your message to the world today.  We pray especially for those that You have placed in close proximity to us;  our relatives;  our neighbours;  those we meet day by day.  May they see You in us.  Help us to serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

LORD IN YOUR MERCY--HEAR OUR PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, that You are the great healer of those who suffer in body, mind or spirit.  Than k you that we can bring our concerns for others to you in the confidence that you will hear and act.

So we pray for those we know in the church or parish who mourn the death of a loved one;  for those who are ill, or are convalescing after sickness or an operation;  for those who have to live with constant weakness or pain;  for those who are anxious about the health of a loved one, particularly mothers anxious about children.  We ask for wisdom of action and words for those who care for all who suffer

Let us keep silence for a moment to remember individuals by name;

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.