Prayers of Intercession-Pour out your grace

Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, Julia Stankova (Bulgaria)

Prayers of intercession written for the Sung Eucharist at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 7th April 2022 (Lent 5, Year C) based on the text from John 12.1-8 – Mary anoints Jesus.

Let us pray to God our Father, who gave up His Son out of love for the world.

The woman with the alabaster jar

Mary Magdalene, Jan van Scorel (c1530)

A nameless woman

breaks her alabaster jar

and pours out the scent of life -

Her life for His.

A postscript to the gospel.

A man who need not be named

fills his hands with the spoils of betrayal.

The stench of death. 

His death for His.

Whose life do we remember?


(A poem in response to Mark 14.1-11, one of the readings at Morning Prayer on Monday 14th October 2019).