Prayers of Intercession - Open our hearts and minds

Sadao Watanabe, Woman of Canaan, Smithsonian American Art Museum

Prayers of Intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St George’s Bloomsbury on Sunday 5th September 2021 ((Year B, Trinity 14, Proper 18) based on readings from Mark 7.24-end and James 2.10-17.

Let us pray to Almighty God that our hearts and minds may be illuminated to know the fullness of his love for us and the needs and concerns of our neighbours.

We pray for the church throughout the world, especially our brothers and sisters who face persecution for witnessing to their faith. We ask for your blessing on the ministry of our Bishops Sarah and Rob and  our clergy David, Rene and Jennie; and we pray Lord for your wisdom to be with us, your disciples, that we may become icons of your image, in which we are made.

Almighty God, we know that we are not worthy to gather up the crumbs from under your table, but your generous love for us calls us to sit with you and eat. May this holy meal renew the mission of this, your church. May our ears and tongues be opened to hear and to proclaim the good news of Christ crucified. May the example of your Son and the power of your Spirit guide us towards lives of humble service.  

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer 

We pray for the leaders of the world, this nation and this community, that they may follow Christ out of darkness and into his glorious light, where there is freedom and justice for all God’s people. We remember in prayer especially at this time the people of Afghanistan, Haiti, Yemen and Sudan. 

Merciful God, cleanse our hearts and minds of all that is unclean; the jealousy, the prejudice and resentment; the self-made boundaries that separate us from others. You have shown us that none of the gold rings and fine clothes of this world can compare to your glory. Grant us therefore the courage not to judge by what we see and hear on the outside; and to be bold in our choices and decisions; to share what we have fairly. 

Help us to love our neighbours as ourselves not just in our prayers but in our actions. Strengthen all who support those with little or nothing to eat; we pray especially for all those supporting foodbanks and striving to end food poverty. 

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer 

We pray for all who face prejudice as a result of illness; for all who are continuing to suffer from the effects of the Coronavirus; and especially today for all children who are sick and in pain.

Loving God, may your healing presence rest on all who cry to you in need. Bring hope to the hopeless and relief to those in pain. We hold before you the names of those for whom we have been asked to pray including Fr Ronald and Angela. And we call to mind those in need whose names are unspoken but written on our own hearts.

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer 

We pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful who have gone before us.

Eternal God, welcome into your kingdom the recently departed, including Brian Sharpe whose funeral was on Friday and  we pray for those whose years mind falls at this time. Comfort all who mourn through the power of your Spirit and by your promise of eternal life.

With St George, St John, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints we pray;

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.