Intercessions for the 2nd Sunday before
Lent (Epiphany 8) – 7th February 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, as we are on the 2nd Sunday before Lent, we are aware of the passage of time and the recurrence of feasts that remind us of your saving and personal love for each one of us.
We thank you for the gift of our Christian faith, that of knowing you, loving you and following you.
We now bring our prayers to you Heavenly Father through the intercession of your Son Jesus Christ who has assured us that our prayers made to you in his name will be granted by you.
After a short silence:
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, the world continues to be battered by the terrible coronavirus pandemic and its ever mutating variants.
We acknowledge fully the development of various vaccines to defeat this virus but we seek your blessing and comfort during this time of uncertainty and grief.
Father, your Son Jesus Christ travelled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well.
Come to our aid now, at the global spread of the coronavirus,
that we may experience your healing and saving love.
After a short silence:
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving Father, as we get tired and weary of the lockdown and the inability to lead normal lives, many of us working from home or our children doing home learning.
It is not easy for us and we need your help. We know that You are always with us. Where there is weariness, please bring Your rest; where there is hopelessness your fresh encouragement; where there is despair, bring us hope.
Merciful God, we also raise before you this morning those who are sad or lonely and those who are brave and patient when things are going wrong. We pray that they may be aware of your comforting presence and know that in your hands they are safe and loved.
After a short silence:
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We also pray for those who are sick in our Parish or elsewhere, especially….Audrey, Diana, Mel, Valerie, Paul, Margaret Allen, Roy, Matt, Jennifer, Desirée, Margaret, Christina and others we know of. Comfort and heal them, give them courage and hope in their hearts and bring them the joy of your saving and healing love.
Loving and eternal God, we also pray for all those who have died especially the over 107,000 people who have died due to covid-19. … we also remember Claire Scourse who passed away recently…we pray for Andy and the three children …May all who have died find rest in your peace. May all who mourn their passing find comfort and peace in faith and in love.
After a short silence:
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And finally we pray for ourselves … let us tell the Lord what is of deepest concern in our hearts …knowing that he loves, forgives us and hears our prayer …
After a silent, 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.
[Revd Dr ST Mattapally, Rector, Springline Parish, Diocese of Lincoln]