Intercessions for the Mothering Sunday – Fourth Sunday of Lent – 14th March 2021
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby says: “Prayer is at the heart of our Christian life. If we want to see things changed, it starts with prayer. It starts with a new spirit of prayer, using all the traditions, ancient and modern. It comes from Christians seeking Christ.”
Jesus is alive.
Love has won the victory over evil and death.
Let us pray:
Almighty God and loving Father, on this 3rd Sunday of Lent, we bring our prayers to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. We know that you are with us as we seek to build on our awareness of the purpose of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection and its meaning for the Christian faith and all our lives. Please support us as we grow in our knowledge of your love and your hopes for us.
(after a pause) Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Father God, as we work through our Lent booklet, give us renewed understanding that Jesus’ life is the model for our lives, rather than what other people want of us. Give us the confidence to share our stories of our faith with each other, as we read in Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians, so that we learn more about belief and faith in God and help to help others build-up their knowledge of you.
(after a pause) Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Father God, we thank you for the sunshine and the budding flowers that give us pleasure and comfort during the long pandemic. Continue to inspire our scientists, guide our political leaders and strengthen our resolve to do everything that we can to support their efforts. Protect and care for all those people struggling at this time so that they have hope in their futures.
(after a pause) Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Loving God, we pray to you on behalf of those who are ill or worried about their health both in our Parish as well as outside especially the Duke of Edinburgh, Audrey, Diana, Mel, Don Whyles, Chris, Paul, Jennifer, Desiree, Margaret, Christina, David Keene and anyone else we know of.
Please comfort them and give them hope in their hearts, confident in your healing love and compassion for them all. Please also give strength to the family and friends of those who are ill, for whom this is a very worrying time.
(after a pause) Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Merciful God, we also remember those who have died and all those who are saddened by the death of someone close to them. Comfort all who mourn for those that they love and miss. Heavenly Father, we know that those who have died are safe in your love. May they be granted eternal peace and rest in your kingdom.
(after a pause) Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
And finally we pray for ourselves —– We tell the Lord the things that are of deepest concern in our hearts, knowing that he loves us, forgives us and hears our prayers. Loving Father, we thank you that when we are in need, we can come to you.
(Longer Pause)
Father,
we feel loved,
we feel forgiven,
we feel saved.
Thank you for Jesus Christ your Son
who died for us on the cross
and rose again from the dead
and who offers us
true peace and true hope.
Help us to hold on to him
and to follow him
the way, the truth and the life
as we entrust you our prayers
in the name of your Son Jesus Christ.
Amen.