Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 23 February, 2014

Rey Perez Asis

We come to you, dear God, with our heads bowed down and our hearts opened. Humbled and thankful for all the many gifts you unconditionally give to us – our lives, our loved ones, our congregation, our church, this city, the people, the environment, the planet.

It is through them that we feel loved, we feel warm, we feel challenged to be good, to serve and to extend our arms, our minds and ourselves to the people who are in need.

In a world that is full of selfishness, we ask for forgiveness as we strive to be like you, by loving you and the least of our brothers and sisters, the deprived, the marginalized, the ones who are feeling the biting cold of this seemingly endless winter. We pray for their safety, their health. Please keep them warm during these trying times.

We pray for our dear friends and loved ones –

Saimon, Bishop and Mrs Samuel, Mrs Tan and Helen Tan. May they always be healthy.

Janita Leung and her family who feel the loss of their beloved mother. Be with them and give them comfort.

Margarita Pascual who is celebrating her 80^th birthday today and all those who are celebrating their birthdays. May they remain strong.

As we pray for them, we pray for Hong Kong. We pray for warmer climate. We pray for our leaders to safeguard and uphold free speech and expression, access to information, democracy. We pray for rule of law and human rights to prevail here and in all of our country.

And for all other countries, especially Ukraine, Thailand Venezuela and Russia. We pray for the protection of democracy, for just peace to reign, equality and the protection of human dignity.

As part of the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we pray for the people and churches of Germany and France.

As we pray for them, we pledge our faith to you, Dear God. We pledge our faith by continuing to be bearers of truth, of love, of justice, of service.

May we become instruments of your peace. May we be extensions of your arms as we reach out to the disenfranchised. May we be like your son, Jesus Christ, who lived a simple and humble life, not wanting more than what he has, but working for those who have less. Be with us as we strive to be like him – being like him, loving you, loving the least of our brothers and sisters.

We raise these prayers in all humility to you Lord God. Our heads bowed and humbled, our hearts open and yearning, our spirits willing.

(Let us offer a moment of silence as we share our own personal prayers to our dear God.)

All these we pray, through your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let us all pray with open hearts, spirits and arms, the prayer that God’s son has taught us. You may pray it in your own language.