Prayer of Intercession
Sunday, 2 October, 2011
Judy Chan
O Lord, God, through your Son Jesus you have made us one with you, bestowing mercy, granting us second chances and power from above to live in ways pleasing to you. You are just, and promise help for the oppressed. You sustain all who wait on your Word. In gratitude for all that we have received, we pray that you would renew our sense of oneness with all followers of Jesus. Where there are rifts and barriers, we pray for grace and understanding. Send your Holy Spirit among us and bring the light of your Word to instruct, heal, and inspire.
As we look around our world, we give thanks for signs of your light shining so that all humanity may be treated with the dignity and equality you intended. We rejoice in a fair hearing for domestic helpers in Hong Kong seeking the right of abode and for women in Saudi Arabia given the right to vote. Yet, even in the midst of these victories, we know that we can and must do more: all workers deserve a fair wage and decent working conditions; all women are entitled to control over their own lives and power to make changes in society. Let us continue to run the race, forgetting what is behind and doing our best to reach what is ahead.
We pray for countries affected by recent typhoons - the Philippines, China and Vietnam. Bring comfort and recovery to those who experienced loss of lives, injuries and damage to homes, livelihood and nature.
We remember Hong Kong as the grassroots struggle to pay for basic necessities such as housing and food. May our government wake up to its responsibility to provide for the well-being of all its residents. May the community demand solutions to address the gap between rich and poor, old and young, locals and non-locals.
We pray for our church, for our ministers, our Council members, our Trustees and all those who contribute to the life and work of KUC. May the new initiatives starting this month with youth, children, mid-week prayer and a new Chinese church be blessed with joyful hearts and willing spirits.
In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we pray for the countries of Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
We give thanks for peacemakers struggling to end hostility and violence, particularly in Afghanistan. We remember all those affected by war, violence, landmines and drought, along with those who have lost their homes and become refugees.
We pray for justice and stability in the countries of the former Soviet Union, as they continue to create new forms of government and life. We give thanks for Christians in the region of Central Asia. They are a tiny minority, yet they continue to witness courageously to the Gospel. May there be good relations between Christians and Muslims as neighbors and people of faith.
O Lord, on this World Communion Sunday, bless the humble worship we bring today, and by the presence of your holiness and power in this place, shape who we are, deepening our love across the many tables of communion in the Church worldwide. Let it be truly said of our fellowship and love for one another that we are indeed Jesus’ disciples, a people that produce proper fruits of the kingdom. We pray all this in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(With thanks for inspiration from resources of the Mennonite Church in Canada and the World Council of Churches)
Sunday, 2 October, 2011
Judy Chan
O Lord, God, through your Son Jesus you have made us one with you, bestowing mercy, granting us second chances and power from above to live in ways pleasing to you. You are just, and promise help for the oppressed. You sustain all who wait on your Word. In gratitude for all that we have received, we pray that you would renew our sense of oneness with all followers of Jesus. Where there are rifts and barriers, we pray for grace and understanding. Send your Holy Spirit among us and bring the light of your Word to instruct, heal, and inspire.
As we look around our world, we give thanks for signs of your light shining so that all humanity may be treated with the dignity and equality you intended. We rejoice in a fair hearing for domestic helpers in Hong Kong seeking the right of abode and for women in Saudi Arabia given the right to vote. Yet, even in the midst of these victories, we know that we can and must do more: all workers deserve a fair wage and decent working conditions; all women are entitled to control over their own lives and power to make changes in society. Let us continue to run the race, forgetting what is behind and doing our best to reach what is ahead.
We pray for countries affected by recent typhoons - the Philippines, China and Vietnam. Bring comfort and recovery to those who experienced loss of lives, injuries and damage to homes, livelihood and nature.
We remember Hong Kong as the grassroots struggle to pay for basic necessities such as housing and food. May our government wake up to its responsibility to provide for the well-being of all its residents. May the community demand solutions to address the gap between rich and poor, old and young, locals and non-locals.
We pray for our church, for our ministers, our Council members, our Trustees and all those who contribute to the life and work of KUC. May the new initiatives starting this month with youth, children, mid-week prayer and a new Chinese church be blessed with joyful hearts and willing spirits.
In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we pray for the countries of Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
We give thanks for peacemakers struggling to end hostility and violence, particularly in Afghanistan. We remember all those affected by war, violence, landmines and drought, along with those who have lost their homes and become refugees.
We pray for justice and stability in the countries of the former Soviet Union, as they continue to create new forms of government and life. We give thanks for Christians in the region of Central Asia. They are a tiny minority, yet they continue to witness courageously to the Gospel. May there be good relations between Christians and Muslims as neighbors and people of faith.
O Lord, on this World Communion Sunday, bless the humble worship we bring today, and by the presence of your holiness and power in this place, shape who we are, deepening our love across the many tables of communion in the Church worldwide. Let it be truly said of our fellowship and love for one another that we are indeed Jesus’ disciples, a people that produce proper fruits of the kingdom. We pray all this in the name of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(With thanks for inspiration from resources of the Mennonite Church in Canada and the World Council of Churches)
posted by Kowloon Union Church | 11:06 am
