Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 31 March, 2019

Prepared and led by Chris Wong

Healing God, we come to you to uplift our concerns, our wounds and our losses to you.  Because you are our hiding place. You preserve us from trouble. You surround us with glad cries of deliverance.

We pray your healing hand will not leave those who need you. We pray for the continual healing for the family of the victims in the terrorist attack in Christchurch, the people in New Zealand and the brothers and sisters of the Muslim community over the world. We also remember those who lost their loved ones in natural disasters, the people of Mozambique, the affected regions of Zimbabwe and Malawi, the rescue workers, the bereaved families who lost their loved ones by the recent cyclone.

Healing God, may your healing hands lay on those who are suffering from measles in the Philippines, US, Hong Kong and other parts of the world. We keep praying for the recovery of our beloved brother and sister, Ramon and Lucy, and mothers of Pearl, Regina, Winsy and Heddy.

Gracious God, we moan for the loss of our beloved Revd. Jerry Moye. We thank you for his life and witness here in Hong Kong. He has blessed so many people from different parts of the world. May he rest in God’s eternal peace. We pray for his wife Ruth and his family in this time of loss. Lord, we know some of the pain will not go away easily, we believe your spirit will always be with us and amend us in the time of challenge.

Loving God, we failed to love those who are different from us. We uplift our concern for the oppressed and the minorities to you. May your love pour on those who are persecuted by the people in power.

May your love take away the fear of the LGBTI group in Brunei, who are facing death sentence simply because of their sexual orientation. May your love comfort your people in China, who have been prosecuted because of expressing their faith in you.  May your love help the oppressed not only to resist hatred towards those who sin against them, but to show love in return.

Our Abba father, we all were once lost, but now find ourselves in You. Not because of what we have done but because you love us, you called us to you and cleansed us of our sins in the blood of Jesus, Your Son.  Lord let Your Spirit meet us here, to mend the body mind and soul, to disentangle peace from pain, and make Your broken people whole again.

For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle

We pray for the people and churches of The Balkans - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.

We give thanks to those who kept both the people and their faith alive during years of repression.

Pray for those who continue to experience marginalization and injustice, especially the Roma. Pray for the nurturing and sustaining of pluralistic societies in the Balkans.

With one heart and mind let us now share in the words our Saviour gave us, please feel free to use your own language as we pray ;

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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom,
the power, and the glory

are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 24 March, 2019

Prepared and led by Sunita Suna

God of life,

We uphold the people of Mozambique, the affected regions of Zimbabwe and Malawi in our prayers. The cyclone Idai is one of the deadliest tropical cyclones to hit the  African continent has a devastating impact on Mozambique killing 200 people and around 10,000 survivors are stranded and desperate to be rescued by the rescue workers. The death toll keeps rising, villages and  vast amount of properties are destroyed by the storm!  God , provide the much-needed support and comfort to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones, to the people who are suffering, grant strength, courage and hope and also to the rescue workers, the international communities, churches, ecumenical communities who are involved in rescue operations and bringing aid to the heavily affected regions.

We pray for the families of 64 people who are killed and more than 90 severely injured on an accident of a powerful explosion in a chemical plant in eastern China. May the bereaved families are comforted and our prayers for the good recovery of the people severely injured.

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

 Compassionate God,

we remember the people of New Zealand as they are still under shock after the horrific terror attack in Christchurch. We mourn with the families and community who lost their loved ones and stand in solidarity together with the people of New Zealand who have shown overwhelming support and solidarity to the Muslim community in the country, led by their compassionate Prime Minsiter Jacinda Ardern. Enable us to be prophetic in our thoughts and action to denounce all forms of racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. God grant us compassion and empathy and continue to guide us and enable us to create inclusive communities to live in harmony and respect your diverse creation.

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

God of hope,

We pray for the people of India as they prepare for the upcoming General Election  where 900 million people are going to cast their votes - the largest number of people to ever vote in an election. Let the political parties contest  this election based on promises of good governance, inclusiveness and development of the nation. We seek God’s wisdom and guidance for the political parties to not to divide the communities based on   religion, caste,  ethnicity, gender, sexuality but upholding the diversity of the country.  God of hope lead the people of India to restore  and celebrate the  diversity and the largest democracy of the world. 

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

God of justice,

We remember the people of Cameroon and Nigeria in our prayers, especially who are oppressed and experiencing violence by the military and extremist particularly the women and children. We pray for the safety and protection of the people of Cameroon , Nigeria and the leaders of the government to protect its people. We also uphold the people and the workers of the Agape Home Foundation, in Bamenda, Cameroon. KUC is in solidarity with the Agape community in supporting their work among children who have become victims of the unjust structure and system of the country.

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

God of love,

 We give thanks to God for the wonderful creation of women as we celebrate the women’s month. We are thankful and celebrate the lives of many women and girls across the globe who are dedicated to transforming our unjust world to a better place for everyone to live in dignity. We celebrate the women’s day and the women’s month for the positive changes and transformation towards gender justice. At the same time, we do remember the women who are oppressed, marginalized and violated by the dominant system and structures of our society and the world. May God continue to strengthen and inspire the women and men to say NO to violence against women and respect the unique creation of God.

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

Merciful God,

We are thankful for the lives of students who sustained minor injuries in a school bus crash in Hong Kong. Our prayer for the pupils, the driver, and their families to overcome the shock and trauma they experienced during and after the crash.

We continue to pray for an inclusive Hong Kong society where the immigrants, ethnic minorities, asylum seekers, migrant workers will be respected, their rights are protected and they will feel part of the Hong Kong society.

We also remember the government leaders in our prayers to respond to the growing disparity of financial resource among people in HK to make Hong Kong a just and equal society

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

We uphold our dear members Lucy, Ramon  and Shirley Lutz in our prayers who are going through medical treatments. May God provide them healing and comfort to recover well. Our prayers for the recovery of mothers of Pearl, Regina, Winsy, and Heddy and we remember and pray for individuals and families going through various challenges in their lives.

For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: We pray for the people, churches, ecumenical communities of Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia for the faithful witness of Christians through the centuries.

L: Lord in your mercy

A: Hear our prayers

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.