Intercessions for the first Sunday of Lent – 21st 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 have begun the holy time of Lent, we are aware of the passage of time and the seasons 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 and believing in you, loving you and following you.
Father God, we now bring our prayers to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ who has promised us that you answer the prayers made in His holy name.
After a short silence: Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy.
All hear our prayer.
Gracious God help us to see this time of Lent as an opportunity to grow our Christian call as followers of Jesus. As your Son Jesus showed us how to reject temptations to do evil, may we accept your gift of grace and to follow Jesus during this journey of 40 days of Lent and the years ahead.
Father God, we also ask you to protect our loved ones, our friends and our neighbours. We pray that this Lenten season may enable those of our friends and relatives who no longer practice their faith to return to God and know your love and care for them.
After a short silence: Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy.
All hear our prayer.
Father God, our lives have been turned upside down by the terrible coronavirus pandemic and its changing variants. And we are quite tired and weary of the lockdown.
Your Son Jesus Christ travelled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. May we experience your healing and saving love today.
Where there is weariness, please bring Your rest;
where there is hopelessness your fresh encouragement;
where there is despair, hope.
Open our hearts to your comforting presence and your faithful love.
After a short silence: Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy.
All hear our prayer.
Loving God, we pray for those who are ill and in pain, longing to live full lives, for those who are sad and hurt longing for comfort, for those in hospital awaiting treatment, for those convalescing. We now pray for those who are sick in our Parish or elsewhere, especially…. Audrey, Diana, Mel, Valerie, Paul, Roy, Matt, Jennifer, Desirée, Margaret, Christina, David Keene 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.
Merciful God, we pray for those saddened by the death of someone close to them. Give them your comfort as they mourn for their loved ones and turn their darkness into light. We commend to your everlasting love and care those who have died praying that will rest eternal in the light of Christ. …
After a short silence: Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy.
All 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]