Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 10 March, 2019

First Sunday of Lent

Prepared and led by Hope S. Antone

Let us pray for the needs of the world, our community and the church. After each petition I will say, “God in your mercy,” then join me in saying, “transform your people.”  

Almighty God, you made everything in creation and entrusted the world to us to be our home, to sustain our life and that of the next generations. We pray for the young people all over the world engaged in the “global strike for future,” to demand more government action on climate change. We pray for the students in Hong Kong who are planning a protest demonstration on March 15 as part of this movement, but are criticized for cutting classes that day. Help us understand the meaning and value of education, and find ways to help address climate change in daily life. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Loving God, we thank you for the life and work of the women long ago who struggled for equality, and in whose memory the International Women’s Day is celebrated. We remember many women today whose roles in nurturing children – whether their own or those of others – often go unnoticed, unrewarded and even devalued. Help us support the women in our midst who still struggle for humane treatment, decent wages, and respect. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Holy God, you created people in your image, yet your image has been grossly violated. We remember the victims of violence – verbal, physical, psychological, sexual or systemic violence – committed by those in power or authority, e.g. church leaders, bosses or superiors, people who are close to and trusted by the victims. We pray for healing for those who have been wronged; and justice for the wrongdoer. We pray for your guidance for us to make our homes, the church and work places safe for everyone. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Liberating God, we pray for those who are victims of terrorism, communal violence, and persecution. We remember the people of Burkina Faso, who are forced to leave their homes. We also pray for those who are facing persecution because of their faith or religion. May people of faith and no faith come to understand that despite our differences, we share a common humanity and that we can only learn to live together. May we live this out in our life, work and action. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Faithful God, you remind us that Christ Jesus refused the temptation to worship the evil one, despite offers of worldly kingdoms, their authority and splendor. Instead he endured the pain and suffering of the cross. Help those who govern and rule the nations today to resist the temptation to use evil, violent and corrupt ways for their own personal desires. Transform their ways of ruling to be with justice and compassion, especially for the least, the last and the lost. Help us during this Lenten season to overcome any temptation by fixing our eyes on Jesus. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Merciful God, we pray for those seeking comfort from pain, relief from affliction, healing of their infirmities. We remember Joram, Ramon, Lucy, the mothers of Winsy and Heddy, and others whose names we whisper from our hearts. Guide the doctors that they may find the right diagnosis, carry out the appropriate treatment and procedures. Help us to provide the right support so we can help reduce the anxiety and pain of those who are sick. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Gracious God, we pray for the church and people of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. May they continue to support efforts for social justice, including addressing climate change and upholding the rights of migrants, women, indigenous and other marginalized peoples. May we take inspiration from them in affirming and celebrating diversity of communities. God in your mercy, transform your people.

Holy God, accept our intercession through the name of Christ Jesus, who taught his disciples to pray, and which we will say in our preferred languages:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. 

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 24 February, 2019

Prepared and led by Gabi Baumgartner

Heavenly God who is to us like a father or a mother

We come before you with humble heart – knowing about our weaknesses, our shortcomings, and our dark sides – and equally knowing that you are a forgiving and a caring God.

We bring before you the pain of the world and ask you for healing.

We bring before you the victims of industrial accidents in Bangladesh and elsewhere – that you may bring comfort to the victims’ families and repentance to industrial leaders, that they may care for the wellbeing of their workers. We ask that you heal the wounds of the victims – the physical wounds, the psychological wounds, or the spiritual wounds.

God, we witnessed hatred against immigrants in various parts of the world, expressed in different forms of active aggression and passive ignorance. God please, turn hate into hospitality, fear into joy, separation into togetherness. Move the hearts of people who are about to reject strangers, so that they see not a stranger but a messenger sent by you. 

God, we pray for the people who are striving for participation in government – be it in Thailand, in Venezuela, in China, in Algeria, and elsewhere. May your spirit be their strength. May all those in power receive the gift of humility.

Heavenly Father, we lift the poor up to you, those close to home, street sleepers in Hong Kong and those far away, and we ask you that you transform our communities and move hearts to share with those in need. Bless those of us who are in poverty and teach humility to those of us in power.

In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we pray for the churches and people of Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands. We pray that they continue to overcome barriers and that greater tolerance will be fostered in these countries and the rest of the world.

We pray for the service users and the workers of the Child Care Center Odisha, India that our church has been supporting through our small grant.

God, we also bring before you our small community of KUC. May people from different walks of life find a home in this place, find nurturing to grow closer to you and find a reflection of your peace that is beyond all understanding. We ask you to equip the leaders of this congregation – that they have wisdom and strength.

In particular we pray for Karan Besra from Nepal who is our new intern. We remember our sisters and brothers who are physically ill or going through challenging times. We pray for Winsy, and her mother who is in hospital; for Revd Yung who will undergo surgery this month; for the speedy recovery of Kate, Norma’s daughter, who underwent surgery yesterday; for the mother and baby group led by Pastor Maggie, which was started last Friday in KUC Space.

God, you hear our prayers and respond to them in your way. We trust in your loving presence in our midst – we pray so in the name of Christ Jesus, amen.

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 17 February, 2019

Prepared and led by Edwina Antonio

As we celebrate the 6^th Sunday after Epiphany we’ve been reminded by Jesus who are the blessed. His words enlightened us that people who seeks God’s guidance, compassion and empowerment and become instrument of God’s blessing to people who needs God the most are the blessed people of God. As we bow our heads to commune with God, let us bear blessings to the world, to our church and to our brothers and sisters in need.

In our petition and prayer may I invite you to respond…God in your mercy hear our prayers.

We pray for peace based on justice in India and Pakistan. May the governments of these two countries come into dialogue to find peaceful resolution over a disputed Kashmir territory so that the violence that occurred on Valentines Day initiated by Pakistan-based Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammad that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police will not escalate to another violence.

God in your mercy hear our prayers.

We pray that press freedom and expression prevail in the Philippines. On February 13, Award-winning Philippine journalist Maria Ressa has been arrested and detained for a purported online article posted on Rappler 4 months before a cyber criminal law took effect in the Philippines in September 2012. It is a blatant attack against press freedom and expression and intends to create a chilling effect to silence independent media in the Philippines.

God in your mercy hear our prayers.

We pray for the authorities to put a stop to smuggling of endangered animals. May people learn to be responsible stewards of creation and protect wildlife and the environment. Just recently 24 pieces of suspected rhino horns, weighing about 40 kg were smuggled to Hong Kong from South Africa. Let us work to be responsible stewards of creation, protect the environment and wildlife for the next generation.

God in your mercy hear our prayers.

We pray for our lumads brothers and sisters in the Philippines and the continuous threat against church leaders who stand in defense of the poor, the deprived and the oppressed. Our lumad brothers and sisters in the Philippines are suffering from intensifying human rights violations, political persecution and are forced to evacuate in defense of their lives and dignity. While church leaders are continued to be threatened because of their courage to speak the truth on Duterte government. Let us stand in solidarity with the Filipino people in their quest for peace based on justice.

God in your mercy hear our prayers.

In ecumenical prayer cycle we remember and pray for churches and people of Germany, France and Monaco. We are thankful for the rich historic and cultural legacies that have come to the world from these countries--their generosity in supporting ecumenical, interfaith and development work remain a legacy that people cherish nowadays.

May these countries continue to be welcoming communities for migrants and refugees seeking for decent lives and a semblance of anti-immigrant populist sentiments be resolved so that they may become a truly multi-ethnic and welcoming communities. Let us work for communities that are inclusive and compassionate.

God in your mercy hear our prayers.

We pray for healing and immediate recovery of our sisters and brothers who are physically ill and will undergo operation. We remember Winsy, and her mother who is in the hospital, Bishop Joel E. Tendero, UCCP-South Luzon Jurisdiction who is under- going angiogram procedure today and Rev. Dr. Constant Yung who will undergo eye surgery.

We give thanks to God for the success of Reverend Kwok’s heart treatment last week and the good recovery of Desmond’s father and Pearl’s mother. May God’s blessing of healing and recovery be upon to our brothers and sisters so that in God’s mercy and guidance they may continue serving God and the community.

God in your mercy hear our prayers.

As we conclude our prayer of the people may I invite you to pray Jesus prayer, you may pray it in your own language.

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 10 February, 2019

Prepared and led by Phyllis Wong

After each prayer item, I will say God, in your mercy, congregation please respond by hear our prayer.

God of peace,

We seek your divine presence and blessing in places where your people are suffering from conflicts, violence, persecution and division.

We pray for an end of civil war, internal political unrest and divisions in countries like Central African Republic, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Korea. May peace and stability be restored in these countries.

We pray for the success of a few upcoming peace talks in different regions and countries as below:

The peace deal between the government and the rebel forces in Central African Republic.

The second Trump-Kim summit on the Korean peninsula scheduled in Vietnam.

The controversial peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan opposition.

May God guide the progress of these talks and may leaders listen to each other with mutual respect and trust.

God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of justice and compassion,

We remember the people in Venezuela who are suffering from hyperinflation, power cuts, food shortages and lack of medical aid during this time of political unrest and divisions within the country. May God heal and mend the brokenness. May the poor and most vulnerable people be well taken care of.

We continue to pray for the persecuted in China, human right lawyers, activists, Christians, Uyghurs, Tibetans and other minority groups. May God grant justice and awakening to China, to restore human dignity and freedom.

We pray for those who have been suffering from influenza. We remember all medical staff in Hong Kong as they are overloaded with patients and working under immense pressure. May God protect those who are most vulnerable, the frontline workers, the children and the elderly.

As we are celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Pig, we remember and pray for more blessing and unity to all families especially those who are separated due to wars, illness and poverty.

God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of community,

We remember sisters and brothers from our congregation who are going through health and other life challenges. We pray for the success of Rev Kwok’s heart treatment on Wednesday and Rev Constant Yung’s surgery on his eyes this month. We keep praying for the recovering of Jenny, Angelle, Christelle, Pearl’s mother and Desmond’s father. May God heal and give strength and peace in their time of trials.

For the ecumenical cycle, we pray for the people and churches of Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. We give thanks for their good quality of life, beautiful landscape and culture. May they share all these good gifts with people in need and embrace those who are outsiders to the countries’ historic, ethnic traditions, and religions.

God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

To conclude our prayers, let us pray as Jesus Christ has taught his disciples. You are welcome to pray with your own language.

Our Father in heaven…