Intercessions for the Second Sunday of Lent – 28th 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 thank you for the gift of our Christian faith, that of knowing and believing in you, loving you and following you. We now humbly bring our prayers to you in the name of your Son Jesus Christ who has promised us that you would answer the prayers made in His holy name.
Gracious God, as we have begun to reflect on your story in our story in our Lent booklets, help us to see this time of Lent as an opportunity to grow in our Christian call as followers of Jesus. May we accept your gift of grace and follow Jesus during this journey of 40 days of Lent and the years ahead.
After a short silence:
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy.
All hear our prayer.
Loving God we now pray
for the health workers tending the seriously ill,
for the scientists working on a vaccination,
for the researchers and media outlets analysing data and identifying trends,
for the supermarket workers, hygiene and sanitation providers,
for those vulnerable because of underlying conditions,
for those watching their entire income stream dry up,
for those who are more lonely than they’ve ever been …
and for so many of us are quite tired and weary of the lockdown.
Father God, 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.
Gracious God, we pray for the sick and the suffering. For those undergoing treatments and surgery; for those convalescing and those who are recovered.
We pray too for all who administer to the sick and infirm; for those working in our local health centres, surgeries and hospitals; for those working in care homes and those who daily give help at home; for all of our local charities and Help organisations.
We now remember especially….Audrey, Diana, Mel, Paul, Roy, Jennifer, Desirée, Margaret, Christina, David Keene and others we know of who are unwell.
Comfort and heal them, give them courage and hope in their hearts
and bring them the joy of your saving and healing love.
Almighty God be near to all those who are grieving today over the loss of a loved one. We raise before you those who have died in the faith of Christ and for those whose belief is known only to you. Lord, we thank you for those who have travelled before us on the way
After a short silence:
Let us pray to the Lord: Lord, in your mercy.
All hear our prayer.
And finally we pray for ourselves … and we bring before you the immediate concerns of our hearts and our families … trusting in your provident care for us in Jesus.
(After a silent, longer pause … if a couple are leading the prayers, they might like to say the following prayer together …)
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]