Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 7 April, 2019

Prepared and led by Edwina Antonio

Let us prepare ourselves for the people’s prayer. I am inviting you to respond with God in your mercy hear our prayers in every petition.

Let us pray.

God the creator lead us not into deepening silence and apathy in the midst of wanton disregard on the state of your whole creation. Just recently a pregnant 26-foot sperm whale and her unborn fetus were found dead last week off the coast of the island Sardinia, Italy. The whale was found with approximately 48.5 pounds of plastic in her stomach. May we start to refuse single use of plastic containers and be a responsible steward of Your creation even in our simplest ways.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God who gifted us with human rights and dignity we continually raise our concern to the worsening plight of domestic workers. Recently, a 16-year old girl, Uzma Bibi, a domestic worker was killed and dumped in a canal in Pakistan. Her employer was charged with murder. May it serves as an eye opener for the government to protect domestic workers against all forms of abuse, exploitation and slavery and provide the necessary support for Bibi’s family in their quest for justice.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God of order and unity, we continue to pray for peace and unity in Britain as the country is on the brink of split and disunity as a result of government’s decision and proposal on Brexit. May the government’s decisions uphold the interest of ordinary people, not of the interest of the few and powerful elite in the British society.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God who promised us with abundant life, fourteen farmers were killed by combined forces of Philippine National Police and Philippine Army in Negros Occidental on March 30. The victims were sleeping when police and military forcefully entered their houses and shot the victims in front of their families. The authorities are trying to whitewash the incident by claiming that it was a legitimate encounter with New People's Army. We pray for the victims and their families so they may find strength and support in their struggle for justice.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God who teaches to serve and not to be served, thousands of Filipino migrant workers in Hong Kong will vote for the mid-term election and elect senators and partylist representatives through overseas absentee voting. May Filipino voters elect leaders who are honest, incorruptible and courageously fight for country’s sovereignty and for the interest of ordinary Filipinos.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God of justice we bring to you our concern about the Extradition Law Law in Hong Kong that will result to human rights violations. The law will extradite persons to Mainland China who commit economic and political crimes and disregard One Country, Two System policy. May the Hong Kong government carefully study the law and to fully uphold and respect the human rights of people.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God who leads our struggle for just and humane society, nine activists and politicians who had actively participated in the Occupy Movement for democracy in 2014 have been charged with varying levels of public nuisance and incitement. The court will announce its verdict on 9 April. We remember these people and others, who have made personal sacrifices in striving for a just and democratic Hong Kong. May their families stay strong in this trying time and persevere in their quest for justice.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God of oikoumene we pray for the people and churches of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.We are thankful for the faithful witness of churches amid political changes and those working for more democratic governance in these countries. May the economic developments serve all people and measures are taken to protect the environment by ending practices that harm the air, soil and forests.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God the source of life and strength we pray for a spiritually filled congregational retreat today. May all participants open their hearts to God and experience transformation and renewal through walking with the cross in the loving sacrifice of Christ.

God in your mercy hear our prayers

God of healing and recovery we uphold Lucy and Ramon in our prayers who are going through medical treatments as well as the mother of Pearl, Winsy and Heddy who are on full recovery. May God blessings of healing and recovery be upon them. This is our prayer in the name of Jesus, our friend and redeemer. Amen.