Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 16 June, 2019

Prepared and led by Gabi Baumgartner

God of love

We come before you with all our shortcomings, and our dark sides – knowing that you are a forgiving and a caring God.

We bring before you the pain of the world and ask you for your healing presence amidst suffering and for your empowerment to participate in the transformation of the world.

At this crucial moment in the history of HK, we ask you for your presence in the midst of the demonstrations taking place today and most likely in the coming days.

We ask you Lord that you turn the anger of the people into peaceful resistance and patience. Keep the demonstrators from the temptation of violence and lead them on the path that you have taught us. Lord, give courage to the frontline police to keep away from violent means, to see the people of Hong Kong as family, not enemy.

And Lord, move the hearts of political authorities that they may listen, truly listen to the people, even though they were not elected by them. We particularly pray for Carrie Lam that she finds a way out of the mess she has put herself in. Give her the courage for change. Give her humility and strength of character to admit her own shortcomings.

God of history, we remember all those who are in prison, justly or unjustly. May they experience reconciliation and freedom from captivity.

We pray for the political prisoners in Hong Kong and elsewhere. May their time in prison be an experience that equips them to contribute to changes in the politics of punishment.

Lord, we equally remember those in jails in China, many of them for simply followed their conscience and spoke out against injustice. We also pray for our Muslim brothers and sisters in concentration camps in Xinjiang. May they hear your promise that the captives shall be set free.

God of peace

We bring before you the people in places of conflict across the world: fishermen in the Philippines who are barred from their fishing grounds by the Chinese army; people in Syria where brutality and destruction still doesn’t end; people in the Ukraine who suffer under Putin’s attempts of destabilizing the country; people in the English speaking part of Cameroon who are in conflict with the French speaking part; people in Nigeria who still feel threatened by Boko Haram. Lord, in all these places and others not mentioned, may people be inspired by the testimony of Jesus to be peace-makers.

God of love

We remember those among us in Hong Kong who live in need: those who cannot afford the rising housing prices; we remember domestic workers who miss their families; we remember refugees who are far from home in an alien place, unclear what their future will be; we remember those who are addicted to their devices and to social media and miss out on immediate loving interaction; we remember those in loneliness and isolation. Lord, set them free and move them to experience the gift of love. Transform our communities and move hearts to share with those in need. Bless those in poverty and teach humility to those in power.

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

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 pray for the renovation plans of our sanctuary, we remember our brothers and sisters who prepare the different events in this month, we uphold in our hearts who are facing health challenges and need your healing hand at this very moment: Lucy Lim, Ramon Bultron, Jenny Alegre, Sandy Hung, the mothers of Regina, Pearl, and Wincy, Shirley Lutz and Rev Kwok Nai Wang.

God, you hear our prayer and respond to them in your way. We pray so in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.