Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 26 July, 2020

Prepared and led by Rev. Phyllis Wong

With faith and a humble heart. we pray together.

God of grace,

We pray for love and healing. We remember those whose lives are at risk and in trouble because of natural disasters. We uphold in our hearts the millions of people who have been evacuated because of the flood in China. We pray for the two million people who are affected by heavy monsoon flooding in India. We pray for success in the rebuilding of lives, homes and communities with good and responsible governance.

God of faithfulness,

We pray for justice and peace. We seek God's protection to the people in the Philippines especially the human rights activists after the Anti-Terrorism Act was enacted by the Government. For the military escalation resulting from the territorial dispute in South China Sea, we pray that the disputing parties can solve the problems in a diplomatic and peaceful way. We pray for people of different religious faith free from persecution but enjoy freedom of religion and conscience. We pray that no authority can use national security law to violate human rights and freedom.

God of compassion,

We pray for hope and resilience. In our city of Hong Kong, more and more people have been contracted the coronavirus and affected by the third wave of community outbreak of Covid-19.

We remember those who are sick and vulnerable. We pray for the safety of the health professionals and the people working in the elderly homes. We pray for our government to address the crisis with wisdom and positively respond to the demands of the people. We pray for courage, wisdom, and safety of Hong Kong people in order to overcome all kinds of obstacles in the course of striving for a just and fair society.

God of solidarity,

We pray for unity. For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we remember in our prayers Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe. We pray there would be independent fair elections and political stability in these countries. We pray that the voices of the people be heard, and the leaders are able to help those who live in poverty.

For our congregation, we pray for Jade who has been called home to heaven. May she rest in peace. We remember Pearl and her family in this time of loss and grief. May God's love and peace fill their hearts. We keep praying for Lucy in her ongoing treatment and for other friends who are sick.

In a time of trial, we pray for courage, wisdom and strength for our ministers, church leaders and members of the church to live out God's mission.

God of love and life, may Your spirit be with each one of us and lead us to live a joyful and fulfilling life in both good times and in bad times. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior and liberator. Amen.

Let us say the Lord's prayer together. You may say it in your own 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 forever. Amen.

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 19 July, 2020

Prepared and led by Rey Perez Asis

O Parent God, You are the Source of our Light, our Life and our Purpose. We come to You with our heads bowed down, with our spirits calm, with our hearts open and radiating with love for You. 

We thank You for every single day we open our eyes and see the beauty of Your creation, when we see life in our homes and in our communities, and every opportunity that we can do good and live Your word.

These are difficult days we are in, Lord God. When the bright rays of summer sun could not clear the cobwebs of fear, of anxiety that build up in us - the uncertainty in the pandemic and even what lies beyond it, the climate of fear that can slowly turn into blind obedience and forced silence, our own insecurities and the insecurity of a world ravaged by corporate greed, authoritarianism and hatred. 

We pray for guidance - so that our leaders would embrace human rights, speak and act justice, and walk with their people towards just peace. That the health of people and our planet be dealt with utmost importance, not treated as a commodity or an expensive good. That they and we may follow in Your way - that at the heart of leadership is service and working for the best of all and not just for the few. 

We pray for strength - for the vulnerable and the marginalized. Please comfort them when they are in the face of danger, of violence, of abandonment. May Your light lead those who can help them and be with them during this time. We pray for strength for those who are in the frontlines. We lift their dreams, their prayers to You, Lord God. Please be with them as they fulfill their mission taking care of the sick and finding cure to COVID-19.

We pray for healing - for those who are ill, for the elderly and children who have been exposed to the coronavirus, to our sisters and brothers, parents and grandparents. 

In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we remember in our prayers the people and churches of Republic of Congo, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe. 

Lord God, You call upon us to act with justice, love tenderly, serve one another and walk humbly with You. It is in Your grace that we find fervent hope and renewed strength to see and work for a bright world amidst all the challenges and obstacles that are in our way. Amidst this time of trial, may we continue to live out Your Word and Your mission without fear. Because in all we do, we wish to glorify your name. 

We pray all these through Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 12 July, 2020

Prepared and led by Judy Chan

With all our heart and mind let us pray to the Lord. After the petition, “Lord in your mercy,” please respond: “Hear our prayer.”

Star of our night and light of every nation, hear your children, dispersed across the planet, gathered here in Hong Kong.

Lord of life abundant, don’t let us fall into temptation to believe that fear must lead our lives. Whether it’s fear of a new wave of COVID-19, fear for the future of our city and nation, fear for our family and loved ones, fear for ourselves. No matter how bad the situation, it could be worse. We could be without hope. Hope in an Almighty and Loving God. We could be without witnesses. The witness of courageous souls everywhere, fighting for justice and freedom. We could be without community. The community of faith, the body of Christ, the fellowship of believers. Yet we have all these and so much more. Thank you for your shower of blessings, day in and day out, undergirding our very lives.

Lord in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

In a time of pandemic, we ask your healing upon all those afflicted in body, mind and spirit. Hard choices and difficult paths lie ahead. We need personal responsibility, a spirit of cooperation, and wise governance. Unite as a global community to prepare for the long haul in this ongoing battle against COVID-19 and other deadly diseases. In our own KUC family, we pray for our dear choirmaster Lucy, Bruce’s mom, Pearl’s sisters Jade, the grandmothers of Frieda and Connie, and all those known to you who need your care.

Lord in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

In a time of natural and unnatural disasters, we remember those countries affected by severe weather and flooding, especially China and Japan. Besides the loss of precious lives and livelihood, there is untold misery for the environment. May we seek to understand the root causes of these catastrophes and do all within in our power to restore harmony and balance to the Earth.

Lord in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

In a time of rising national insecurity, we remember every land where the people struggle to have their voices heard and their opinions matter. Surely it is your will, O God, that those who rule do so with justice and righteousness, that the only fear we should have is fear of the Lord that leads us to repent of sin.

Lord in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we remember the people and lands of Djibouti and Somalia. We pray for protection of natural resources and coastal land, an end to hunger, violence, crime and conflict, for reconciliation and peace-building, for stable governments and for those who have fled this area that they may be welcomed in new homelands.

Lord in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

And let us now take a moment in silence to lift up someone or something close to our heart in need of the touch of the Master’s hand.

And now let us pray together the prayer that our Savior taught us. You may pray in your own language.  Our Father….

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 5 July 2020

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Prepared and led by Nam Boo Won

Oh Loving God,

We thank you for allowing us to pray for our neighbors, far and near, who badly need your love, mercy, and your justice and peace.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues its deadly path around the world with more than 10 million cases and more than 500,000 deaths. We pray for your healing comfort for the families and friends of those who have succumbed to this disease; for the recovery of those who are infected.

Pour your strength and wisdom for the frontline workers treating this fatal disease, and protect those not yet infected from this virus. More fundamentally, bring your sons and daughters to the course of METANOIA so that they and we would be awakened to a New Consciousness, a collective will resolute to live together with our neighbors, in harmony with nature, and be faithful to your calling. We particularly remember your teaching that “we cannot worship God and Money at the same time.”

Oh God of Mercy!  Hear Our Prayer,

We remember the aggravating injustice and un-peace imposed forcibly on Palestinian people amid covid19 pandemic there, as well as the huge sufferings and cries of the oppressed Palestine people. We witness that the recent attempt to illegally annex part of the West Bank by Israel government was the very demonstration of this injustice.

God of Justice, we pray for your divine intervention for Your righteousness and Justice to be restored in the region, so that people of different faiths and cultures will be able to live together in mutual respect, tolerance and harmony in lasting peace.

Oh God of Mercy!  Hear Our Prayer,

We became to know a heavy rainstorm in northern Myanmar has triggered the collapse of a jade mine, killing more than 100 miners. As we mourn their deaths, we are reminded of the hazardous and inhumane conditions they and others were forced to work under. At the same time, we pray for the 200 miners who are still trapped and the rescue effort underway to help save their lives.

Oh Lord, we yearn for a world where workers and labourers could enjoy their work in safe and healthy working conditions and environment.  

Oh God of Mercy!  Hear Our Prayer,

In the past week, we received a sad news that the brother-in-law of the Moro Women Center’s director, Abina Rombaoa, was extra-judicially killed on 29 May. He was the organization’s board member, the chairman of his local community, and an organizer of the urban poor. O Lord, May your comforting hand touch the painful and empty spaces of the hearts of Abina and her family with divine love during these difficult days. We also pray for the Philippines where there will be no more political killings and oppression of people’s freedom and human rights in the name of “anti-terrorism”. 

Oh God of Mercy!  Hear Our Prayer,

We remember the 7 million people in different parts of China who have been affected by the worst flooding in decades. May the families of those who died be comforted, rescue missions be smooth and the subsequent recovery be speedy, as people are grappling with both hardships in the aftermath of the coronavirus outbreak. We pray as well for transparent information to circulate without restriction, and that government officials will learn from the experience to better prepare and serve their people for future extreme weather conditions.

Oh God of Mercy!  Hear Our Prayer,

On 30^th June, we were frightened by China’s national security law for Hong Kong come into effect, covering the broadly defined offenses of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with a foreign country to endanger national security with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A new national security agency will be established in Hong Kong by the Chinese government that is not bound by the city’s laws; and in some cases, suspects can be extradited to mainland China where they will be prosecuted and tried in a court under mainland law. In this challenging environment, may God grant Hong Kong people strength, courage, and wisdom to live, work, and uphold their God-given freedom and rights. May God protect the people of Hong Kong, particularly those who are committed to struggling towards a society where freedom, human rights, equality and justice are fully sustained.

 

Oh God of Mercy!  Hear Our Prayer,

In the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we remember in our prayers today the churches and people of all faiths of Eritrea and Ethiopia. Pray for greater understanding and respect among the many ethnic groups and lasting peace and reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

For the Congregation, we pray for courage and wisdom for ministers, church leaders and members of the church in a time of trial after the passing of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. May the Church continue to engage in God’s mission without fear, to be light and salt of the world revealing Jesus Christ, who is Peace, Justice and Love. Continue to bless those who volunteer to take part in church ministries, children’s Sunday school, refugee ministry, and other important works in a seen and unseen manner.

We particularly pray for God’s healing grace upon Lucy, Pearl’s sister Jade, Frieda’s grandma, Connie’s grandma and Bruce’s mother. May God also protect and give strength to the carers.

We pray all these in the name of Jesus Christ.