Prayers of Intercession - Christ the King

Christ in Glory in the Tetramorph, Graham Sutherland, 1962

Prayers of Intercession written for the Eucharist celebrating Christ the King held at St Stephen Walbrook on Thursday 26th November based on readings from Ephesians 1.15-end and Matthew 25.31-end.

Let us pray to Almighty God, that we might see in ourselves and in others the image of his Son, our Servant King.  

Almighty God our Father, we pray for the unity of your church, the body of Christ. With the guidance of your Ministers and through the power of your Spirit, may we make our lives worthy to hail you as our King. Open the eyes of our hearts with your wisdom, so that we may see your presence in all around us. May the prayers of this, your church, become works of your love.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer 

Almighty God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, from whom all earthly power flows; bless the leaders of the world, this nation and this City. Shine your light on the lost and forgotten so that we may walk alongside those disproportionately affected by the pandemic and its consequences. We pray that your kingdom may come despite everything that seems to fight against it; a kingdom in which the first are last and the last first, where all your people live together in peace and harmony in the fullness of your creation. 

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer 

Almighty God our Great Shepherd, help us to hear your voice in all who hunger for food, who thirst for justice and who crave companionship. Set us free from the prison of our fear, so that we may meet you in the face of the stranger in our midst. We pray for the work of the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London and for the continued support of all the charities and social enterprises at work in this City; that they might seek not only to relieve suffering but address its causes.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer 

Almighty God, the Great Physician, we give thanks for the work of Lucy and all healthcare workers; for the Samaritans and all who reach out to those lost in the darkness of depression. We pray especially for those who are sick and suffering, remembering by name; Bryan, Doris and Eve, David, Jane and Daisy, Shelley, Patrick, Martin and Sam, Sophia and Freddie, Sue, Marie, Emma and Michael and to Melvyn, Ian and John, Gladys, Lucy, Amelia, Matt and Sarah, Barbara and Kim, Shalani, Alistair and Iona; and we remember the names of all those written on our hearts who are in particular need of your merciful loving kindness today.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer 

Almighty God, judge of all, receive with mercy those who are called to account at the end of their earthly lives. Pardon their failures and receive them in the compassion of Christ, our King.

As we await the day when the Son of Man will come in glory, guide us to become a living sacrament, offering our sacrifice of thanks and praise on the hearts of those we serve, in the image of your Son, who lived, died and rose again for us.

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