Intercessions for Lent 3
By Mr Ian Farthing
Let us pray.
God our Father in your love and goodness grant us the help of your Spirit as we bring to you our prayers for the world and the salvation of mankind. You have taught us to overcome our sins with prayer, fasting and generosity, accept our Lenten disciplines and when we fall by our weakness raise us up by your unfailing mercy.
We give you thanks for the universe, our great home, for its vastness and its richness, and for all the life which grows upon it, and of which we are part.
We praise you for the seamless sky and for the refreshing winds, for the warming sun, for the driving clouds and the rains they bring. We praise you for the vastness of the oceans and for fresh running water, for the everlasting hills, for the trees and for the grass which grows beneath our feet. We give you thanks for our senses by which we can see the splendour of your world around us today and everyday.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
We pray for the government of the world and all the world leaders, that they may uphold what is right for peaceful union between all countries. We acknowledge with shame and sorrow all the sin, hatred and injustice which have led and still lead to violence and war. We pray for the situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places in the world where tensions are high, and we pray that peace may reign over all in the end.
During this period of Lent, give us an awareness of your unique sacrifice on our behalf and teach us to be humble in acknowledging that all our gifts come from you for the service of people and the spread of your Kingdom. May you live in us so that in all our small acts of sacrifice the light of your resurrection may shine through and give them meaning.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank you for our neighbours, our friends and for the people around us with whom we work and share our daily lives. We pray for those who are old and lonely, those isolated because of ill-health, and those who find it difficult to make friends or be accepted. Show us all what we can do to help, and teach us to be good neighbours and true friends.
We thank you, O Father, for all the joys and blessings of family life. Forgive us when we quarrel and make us ready to forgive one another.
We pray and think of those for those who are subjected to abuse and live in constant fear. Strengthen the determination of all who seek to help them and make peace rule in their homes.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
We thank you Father for your many miracles of healing, and we pray for all who administer to the sick and infirm. We bring before you in a moment of quietness those we know or love who are ill or in need at this time, and we name them in our hearts...
We pray that your blessing be upon them and those who love and care for them and we pray that they may find encouragement and peace, that their sorrows and concerns be transformed into comfort ,and their loneliness into fellowship with you.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Almighty Father, be with all those who are grieving today over the loss of a loved one. May their sorrow be lit with the brightness of the Resurrection. May they be assured that they will meet again those whom they have loved and lost for a while.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember before God those who have died and light a candle to symbolise the light of Christ, which eternally shines and brings hope. We remember
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
God our father as we go out into the world today we remember that you son was tempted by the forces of evil but chose faithfulness rather than popularity, service instead of fame, sacrifice instead of power.. These temptations still come to us Lord and we are far weaker We pray for the strength to shun them as he did so that we may be of use to God and to man.
Merciful Father:
accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ.