With many thanks, and Every Blessing
Prayers of Intercession The prayers at our Sunday Eucharist usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
- The Church of Christ, our local church, and Diocese
- Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
- The local community, our families, friends, and neighbours.
- Those who suffer
- The communion of saints, the departed and the bereaved
Please use and share these prayers as you will. There is no copyright on communications with God our Heavenly Father, his beloved son Jesus Christ our Lord or with the Holy Spirit and Lord of Life.
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Blessings to all of you using these intercessions. I’ve just realised that this page is 10 years old! The intercessions, initially only intended for the 7 churches of The Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy, were first uploaded to the website in May 2014 and now attract some 18,000 hits a month. My wife and I are now retired and live in Robin Hood’s Bay, UK, but 1 agreed to continue posting weekly prayers when we returned from Spain in 2016.
I have now updated the Prayer Archives for years A & C
Yours in Christ
Rev’d Steve Foster (singingvicar@gmail.com)
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(Christmas Day below)
Intercessions for Fourth Sunday in Advent Year C – 22nd December 2024
Everlasting God, we share today with Mary and Elizabeth their love and joy as the waiting for Jesus’s birth nears its end. Quieten our hearts and lives so that we can hear your voice amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday life as Christmas approaches.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Holy God, we give you thanks for all of our Carol Services, Concerts and Social events that have been held during Advent and we pray that all who have attended will have had a glimpse of the life of the Gospel. We pray for all of our clergy leading Christmas worship and for our Bishops, Archdeacons and all the staff of The Diocese of Europe back in the UK giving thanks for the work they do for us in the Diocese.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God, we pray for our world leaders; for the Royal Families of Great Britain and Spain; for Heads of State in Europe, The Commonwealth and for the United Nations. We remember before you all those from aid organisations who will spend the Christmas period away from home bringing aid to those in conflict in Syria, the Middle East and Ukraine, praying earnestly for an end to war and terrorism.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, give you thanks for our community leaders and for the way that they make our towns and villages so beautiful and bright with colourful lights and decorations at this time of celebration. Thank you too for the shopkeepers, for their seasonal produce and nativity displays; for hotels, restaurants and bars that provide seasonal and special menus for our delight and for all the staff who serve and cater for us. Help us also to hold in our hearts the less fortunate as we give thanks for the work of Caritas, The Red Cross, The Franciscan Hospice and other charitable and animal rescue groups.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we call to mind all those who we know who are struggling with life. We especially ask for your comfort and healing for all those who are coping with terminal illness and ask you to be close to those who care for them. We give you thanks for those who have been healed or are in the process of recovery and recuperation.
(add names of those requesting prayer)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, we remember those who have departed this life and thank you for the good that you have worked in their lives. Comfort all whose lives are saddened by the death of a loved one, be with them in their loneliness and help them to know that Jesus born in Bethlehem is the light of the world which no darkness can quench.
(add names of the recently departed or on Anniversary list)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Son of God, your mysterious coming is beyond our understanding. Yet like your holy mother, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, we pray that you come to us, as you promised. Help us to serve you in any way that we can knowing that you are with us day by day, through the joys of Christmas and into the uncertainty of the New Year whatever it might bring.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
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Intercessions for Christmas Day Year C – 25th December 2024
“Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Mighty God, we pray for peace in the Holy Land and for all who live in Bethlehem today.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, in this season of giving and getting we so easily overlook your gifts to us. Thank you for so many reasons to celebrate especially for our families and friends.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for being with us in life’s trials, draw us closer and teach us to trust you more each day and be especially close to all those who need a prayer of healing in their lives.
(add names of those requesting prayer)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, your son Jesus’ radiance filled a lowly manger, give the glory of your resurrection to all who rest in you and the reassurance of your presence with all who mourn their passing.
(add names of the recently departed or on Anniversary list)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Jesus Christ whose star guided the visitors to your birth, guide us as we continue through the season of Christmas and be present with us as we continue to celebrate your holy birth.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
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We have been asked by The Archbishops of Canterbury and York to continue to pray for Ukraine:
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
We write to you as the world is in turmoil following recent events in Eastern Europe. I am sure that you will agree that the horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil.
Now, more than ever, we need to place our trust in Jesus Christ, as we remember that God is not the author of confusion but of peace; and so I urge you to pray for a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Russian forces and for peace to prevail. Pray for the innocent – the women, men and children who are displaced, whose lives are disrupted, and who live in fear of the atrocities of war. Pray for those with power – that they may make a resolute and public decision to never use force, to actively work for peace and seek peaceful solutions to dispute and disagreement. Pray that there may be a recognition of common and shared humanity and God’s promise of flourishing life for all people.
The Bishop in Europe has asked us to join them in prayer for the chaplaincy in Kyiv and the churches that serve Ukraine.
At this time of great uncertainty, we place our hope and trust in God, whose love never fails. Lord, have mercy.
