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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Intercessions for Easter 4 – 21st April 2024
Holy God, your Son remained with his disciples for 40 days after his resurrection, teaching them to love all people as friends and neighbours. We too are his disciples and we offer our prayers on behalf of the church, the world in which we live and all those with whom we share it.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, the letter of John reminds us that “ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” Help us as a Chaplaincy to try to aspire to love with actions and truth and not merely with words or speech.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God we pray for all world leaders that, using Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd as the ultimate model of leadership, they would lead and care for their own flocks in such a way that peace might abound, righteousness flourish and injustice be eradicated.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, help us to reach out to strangers in our midst. As we remember the way the early Church lived in one heart and mind and shared everything they had may we too in this Chaplaincy be always mindful of the needs of others less fortunate and always welcome the newcomer joyfully into our midst.
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God we pray for those who do not know your peace and for those who are struggling with their lives. We ask for your healing on those who are sick, your strength for those who are tired and your love for those who live with despair and fear
(Add names of those requesting prayer)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Gracious God, we pray for those who now walk in the valley of the shadow of death. We know from the Psalm that you are with them and have gone before them to prepare them a table overflowing with all good things. Guide those who are left behind in the paths of righteousness and uphold them in their sorrow with the assurance of your goodness and love.
(Add names of the recently departed or on Anniversary list)
(Short Silence)
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Everlasting God, we ask that you would bless us here at [Chaplaincy church name] with vision for the future and reverence for the past. Guide us each day as we minister to one another and to the world. Help us each day to bear witness to your name and to do your bidding, always mindful of your amazing love for us.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
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Dear Sisters and Brothers
A Joint Statement on Violence in Israel and Gaza
We watch with grief and horror as the violence in Israel and Gaza intensifies, following the dreadful terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. We remember that all people are created in the image of God, and therefore deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, to live lives free of fear and violence.
“We are grieved and deeply concerned at the violence in Israel and Gaza, and we unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas. We pray for those who are mourning, those who are injured, and all those fearing for their safety. We pray for restraint on all sides, and renewed efforts towards a just peace for all. The way forward must be for both sides to build confidence in a secure future through which Israel and its people can live in security within its internationally recognised borders, and Palestinians have their own state and live in their lands in security, and with peace and justice.”
We condemn the acts of violence, particularly those that are targeting innocent civilians – men, women and children who are killed and held hostage while simply trying to live. We ask that leaders seek a way forward that ends the vicious cycles of violence and finds a way to build peace among peoples and nations, in which everyone can flourish and prosper.
We pray that the peace of God will reign; that justice and mercy will bring an end to war and terror. We pray for the freedom of all peoples, that they may live in unity with their neighbours, that their humanity may be respected and that they may live without fear.
We pray too for an end to violence in this country, particularly for an end to anti-Semitic violence; our Jewish brothers and sisters deserve to live lives free from fear. No school should have to close because of security threats; places of worship should not need security guards to keep worshippers safe. We stand in solidarity with those in our communities who may not feel welcomed and respected. Prejudice has no place in our society, whether anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim, and the war between Hamas and Israel must not be used to demonise whole communities and destabilise the peace that we so value in our cities and towns.
In the words of Archbishop Hosam, with people around the world, we pray:
O God of all justice and peace
we cry out to you in the midst of the pain and trauma
of violence and fear which prevails in the Holy Land.
Be with those who need you in these days of suffering;
we pray for people of all faiths – Jews, Muslims and Christians and for all people of the land.
While we pray to you, O Lord, for an end to violence and the establishment of peace,
we also call for you to bring justice and equity to the peoples.
Guide us into your kingdom
where all people are treated with dignity and honour as your children
for, to all of us, you are our Heavenly Father.
In Jesus’ name we pray. 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.
