Prayers of Intercession - Living Stones

Cecily Brown, untitled (Blood is thicker than mud), 2012

Prayers of intercession written for Morning Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer, to be read at St StephenWalbrook on Wednesday 5th May 2021, based on the text of 1 Peter 2.1-10

Almighty God, heavenly architect, whose Son, the stone the builders rejected hath become the cornerstone of this thy church
   and provided the true pattern for the lives of all faithful people;
inspire us, by thy Holy Spirit,
that we might set your love as the foundation for all we think, say and do this day.

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer

May the light of thy risen Son shine on the stumbling stones of hypocrisy, malice and evil, which cause us to fall away from the path of righteousness.
By the same power may we, following in His footsteps, wear away the hardness of this world,
Smoothing rough edges with the waters of baptism,
  so that your peace and justice may flow freely over all your creation, bringing an end to conflict, poverty and oppression.

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer

God of grace, master builder, to whom we, living stones of thy spiritual house, are unfeignedly thankful for all thy mercies and comforts;
quarry into the depth of our lives;
split away all that is dense and dull, to reveal the precious glory of thine image, which is our true likeness. 
Grant us, being continually shaped by thy Spirit, the courage so to assist and support our families, friends, neighbours and work colleagues, that together we might find our place in the building of your kingdom.

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer

Living God, who is the rock in whom we seek refuge, be near to all who are sick and suffering; especially all affected by the coronavirus and thy servants Caroline and Manuelle, John, Vanessa, Peter, Jennifer, Adrian and family, Melvyn, Ian, John, Kim, Nick, Martin & Sam; that they may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in thy loving care.

Lord in thy mercy
Hear our prayer

Eternal God, whose power rolled away the tombstone of thy Son, freeing us from the power of death and translating us to new life; receive our prayers for the recently departed, including Jude and for his mother and father Nathalie and Jonathan and all who mourn.
May our lives, as theirs, become stepping stones for those who follow us, as we journey towards thine eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Image : Cecile Brown, untitled (Blood thicker than mud), 2012