Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 31 May, 2020

Prepared and led by Tong Chong Sze

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, let us unite in prayer, to uplift our burdens, our worries and the challenges we are facing today. After each petition, I will say “Lord, in your mercy”, and everyone shall respond “Hear our prayer”

God of healing. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be subsiding in Hong Kong, we know it is still spreading globally and is continuing to be a serious threat to people’s health. Over 5.7 million people around the world had contracted the coronavirus with over 356,000 deaths. May we all continue to take cautious measures to prevent contractions as a way to show our responsibility to our loved ones and our society. And may the doctors and health care workers around the world be protected with adequate medical supplies and sensible government policies so that our hospitals will not be overwhelmed. Let your grace be revealed in the many acts of love and solidarity that we see around the world, such as the example of a church in Germany supporting a nearby mosque to comply with social distancing regulation. Such acts move us closer together as one people under your love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of justice. Our hearts are troubled by many recent news that challenges our treasured concept of the rule of law. We have seen people’s freedom to express their political views through peaceful demonstration suppressed, we have seen freedom of the press eroded, we have seen the National Security Bill forced through right before our eyes without any say in the matter, and most recently, we even see on television a man named George Floyd, killed in the USA by a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on his neck for minutes while he pleaded that he cannot breath. We pray that Mr Floyd may rest in peace, his family be comforted, and racial equality and justice be upheld. We also pray that people in power, not just the police, but all authorities of power to act with restraint and responsibility, and may we all heighten our concern for such abuse of power. May the rule of law, freedom, civil rights and human rights be upheld here in Hong Kong and all around the world. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we remember in our prayers today the churches and people of all faiths of Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland.

We give thanks to the faithful witness of churches throughout the world during apartheid and how people of different races and lifestyles have come together since then.

We pray for these countries that the protection of resources can be launched for the good of all rather than their exploitation for economic gain. We also uplift the people in these regions that measures can be taken to effectively counter rape, sexual violence, and other crimes.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the Congregation

We pray for members and friends who are not feeling well. We remember Connie’s grandma, Victoria’s son Isaac and his classmate Mr Huang in facing health challenges. We also remember our senior friends and we pray for our children who will go back to school in the coming two weeks. May you protect them and bless them so that they may enjoy the happiness of learning and the companionship with friends. We also uplift our prayers for the church renovation that is being carried out by the AMO. As the church building is being restored, so may the faith community in the church be strengthened and blessed. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray,  amen!

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 24 May, 2020

Prepared and led by Bruce Van Voorhis

God of Life, we pray for the lives of all those who have died of COVID-19. May the souls of all those who have departed us rest in your peace.

We pray too for those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. May God almighty grant them comfort and solace in the midst of their shattered hopes. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of Healing, we pray for all those who are suffering from COVID-19. We ask for your healing touch that they may receive adequate care in their time of need. Surround the frightened with your tenderness, give strength to those in pain and hope and patience to those who are recovering. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of Comfort, we know there are those in quarantine who are afraid they might be exposed to illness and wondering when they will return to their normal lives, Comfort them with your peace, and grant them patience during this frightening period. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of Wisdom, we ask for courage and protection for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are risking their well-being for the sake of others. As both infection and fear spread, we pray as well for all those who have put themselves at the service of their communities by providing essential services—workers in our grocery stores, pharmacies and banks, etc.

We pray that you grant wisdom and knowledge to government officials entrusted with decision-making and to medical experts who are working to develop a cure and vaccine to combat the spread of COVID-19. May they find the strength and stamina to continue this vital work. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of Justice, we lift up our concerns to you for minorities around the world who face discrimination and do not get the same medical care as others in society and who face a higher death rate. May there be cooperation among different racial and ethnic communities and not division, for we need each other in our COVID-19 world.

We share our concerns too for people whose human rights have been affected in the midst of this infectious and deadly disease. We watch as people are beaten by the police in India for being outside of their homes during the nation’s lockdown, and we learn of activists being extrajudicially killed in the Philippines as they deliver food to the poor. There are enough hardships today without those in positions of authority creating more suffering. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of Compassion, we remember those who are homeless in Hong Kong and around the world who cannot shelter in place and those who have lost their jobs or who have had their incomes reduced because of this pandemic. We think especially of migrant workers, like those in India and Singapore. Bless these people with a safe place to stay, with food to eat, with work to do. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of All People, we lift our voices with others around the world to remember the churches and people of all faiths in the African nations of Angola and Mozambique in this week’s ecumenical prayer cycle. We give thanks for the village committees in these countries that seek to protect the livelihoods and food security of the poor. We ask for better sanitation and health care for the people and protection for the environment. May the governments of these nations serve the interests of their people rather than be servants of foreign business interests. God, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

God of Our Faith Community, we offer our thanks for a successful annual meeting of our congregation last Sunday and for those who are willing to lead us as council members and trustees. May you bless them with wisdom and strength in the year ahead to guide us. We remember our members who are stranded overseas and those who cannot return to their home countries. We ask that the travel barriers that the pandemic has created will soon be removed. Lastly, we lift up to you our students who will soon return to school, our senior friends and all of those who are ill. We especially remember Victoria’s son Isaac and his classmate Mr. Huang who are facing health challenges. We ask for your healing hand to bless them and keep them safe. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 17 May, 2020

Prepared and led by Carl Catedral

God in the midst of difficult and uncertain times, we know we can turn to you for comfort, for peace, for rest. So we come to you today asking that you would hear our prayers on behalf of our families, our city, and our world. 

COVID-19 has claimed many lives and left many others filled with anxiety and grief. We pray that in the midst of this global pandemic we would not lose sight or grow numb to the pain and suffering of those who are around us. May you give us vision to see those in need and the love to overcome our own fears and anxieties to show your love to others. 

Though we collectively experience grief and disorientation related to COVID-19, we recognize that we do not all equally carry its associated burden. So we especially lift up those marginalized communities who experience exacerbated hardships during this time: like migrant workers and refugees in Hong Kong and around the world; and those without homes, food, and basic necessities. May you be their comfort and rest; but may we too be led to care for their needs while also taking a stand for justice to confront the systemic inequalities that have led to their difficult circumstances. 

We specifically remember the 24 lives lost in Afghanistan during a violent attack of a maternity ward earlier this week. May those responsible be brought to justice, and may those hurting from the loss of loved ones find comfort and peace in this already trying time. God in these times of senseless killings and loss of life, we cry out to you for your mercy and for your healing. May we not overlook the pain of those who are suffering. May our hearts be turned to those who are mourning. 

We also remember the victims of rape by a man posing as a pastor in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Our hearts hurt with those who have been violated. We cannot bear to know that such unspeakable pain could be inflicted onto others; and so we pray that you would be the one to intervene – to bring healing; to restore dignity; and to bring swift justice for those who have been offended.

For Hong Kong, we continue to pray for the medical professionals and frontline workers who are working to care for patients and to keep the spread of COVID-19 at bay. We pray too for those returning to work and to school. We pray specifically for those students resuming classes on May 27. May you comfort and prepare their minds and hearts and may you protect them and all those interacting with them.

We also acknowledge the unrest that continues in our city included the unjust treatment of protestors; the erosion of journalistic rights; and the lack of accountability of police forces. We recognize that these too are issues that are important to your heart, and we pray that just as we have prayed for those who are hurting and in need around the world that God, you would also remember this city and the needs of those crying out for justice. 

In the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we remember in our prayers the churches and people of all faiths of the Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

Thank you for the beauty of your creation in this region and for the economic developments that have lifted some out of poverty. We pray too that we would be good stewards of the earth you have provided us so that many more generations may be able to experience and cherish their homelands. 

We pray also for the churches in these countries, that they will grow through evangelistic efforts and in their work with those of other faiths. We pray too that Christians in these countries may be bold in their public witness for justice and reconciliation, especially in times of political turmoil.

For our congregation, we remember our church members overseas who are unable to travel back to Hong Kong or back to their home from Hong Kong because of travel restrictions and lockdown policies. We in particular remember Sunita, Gabi, Linda and Ramon.

We also pray for members and their family who face health challenges. We are thankful that Inkyu’s eye are doing okay, and we pray blessing for her and her family as she remains in Korea for the time being. We also thank you that Connie’s grandma had a successful back surgery this week, and we pray that she would have a full recovery and be able to be active again. We pray for all those we have not mentioned that are also in need of your healing touch and strength. 

God in this time of social-distancing we also remember those who have had to stay inside and have lacked social interaction. We particularly remember the seniors and children of our community. We pray that you would bring comfort and peace to their homes and that we too would not forget to send them our love and care as a community. 

Finally, we pray continued blessing as well as  safety and efficiency for all those working on the renovations of the church. May you continue bless this place so that it may continue to be a sanctuary of peace and rest for many weary souls. 

As we conclude our prayers for the people, let us together pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples. You are all welcome to pray in your preferred language.

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, 10 May, 2020

Prepared and led by Rey Asis

  

O Lord our God, with You anything and everything is possible. As clouds of uncertainty begin to part, we with fervent hopes, and with Your grace, look forward to brighter days ahead.

May Your healing hands continue to strengthen those who remain positive to the coronavirus. Welcome those who are not with us anymore. We pray for comfort for those who mourning their loss, hope and helping hands for those who remain vulnerable, calm and protection for our healthcare workers and their families.

As we see the world healing, we witness more suffering - our Kenyan brethren who are faced with floods and landslides, our Indian brothers and sisters confronted with the gas leak in Andhra Pradesh, many who have been illegally trafficked and forced into slavery, and Ahmaud Arbery who lost his life to racism and white supremacist hatred. 

We bear witness to heightened militarism, censorship and violence. Where democracy is challenged. Where criticism is silenced. Where justice is absent. 

Lord, You are our way, our truth and our life. As we tread towards a post-COVID world, may our new normal be governed in Your love, kindness and mercy. Like Your Son Jesus Christ, may we prepare more rooms or places for understanding, community and justice. You have shown this to us through people who have built bridges of solidarity for those in need from the early days of the pandemic to the present, through those who have braved walls and extended their arms without expectations of return, those who have made everyone and anyone their family. 

We pray for Hong Kong - for the students who are going back to school, for those who hope to regain employment, for those who are stranded elsewhere, for our Church and congregation. We pray for Carl’s family, for Inkyu, for our seniors and our children. 

In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we pray for the people and churches of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

Lord, as the doors of our church open once again, may You continue be with us, keeping our hearts free from trouble, our mouths singing songs of Your Word, our arms reaching and waving like dove’s wings of peace. May we continue doing, speaking and living Your will, O God and that in all we do, it will be for Your greater glory. This we pray through Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let us all pray the Lord’s Prayer. You may pray in your own language.