Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 30 August, 2020

Prepared and led by Carl Catedral

God, we come together today to pray and seek your guidance, your provision, your healing, and your justice for our city, our church, and our world. May you be with us in this time and hear our earnest petitions.

We pray for the continuing unrest happening in the US. This week Jacob Blake, a black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin was shot 7 times in the back by a police officer. The incident has sparked renewed calls seeking justice for black communities and overall institutional reform in the US – as part of the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement. We pray for Blake who is currently hospitalized and paralyzed from the waist down. We too join in solidarity with black lives through our prayers and ask for your justice to be enacted that results in the healing of broken hearts, bodies, and communities as well as lasting systemic change.

In Hong Kong, we too mourn the ways police negligence and overreach of power has caused immense pain and distrust amongst the Hong Kong people. This was illustrated this week in the arrest of Legislative Councilor Lam Cheuk Ting on unwarranted rioting charges related to the Yuen Long incident on July 21 of last year in addition to a senior police offer’s gross re-interpretation of the Yuen Long events as a conflict between two gangs that were “equally-matched.” God we pray that truth and justice would prevail and that the pain, anger, and trauma of the people would not be overlooked or ignored. 

In New Zealand, the Christchurch terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who attacked Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre in March 2019, was sentenced to life without parole last week. The attack killed 51 people and injured 40. We pray that the hearts of those impacted would be comforted by the upholding of justice. May the tragedy remind the people in New Zealand and all over the world that the respect for life, dignity and equality for all - regardless of race, religion and gender - is essential for a just and peaceful world. 

We too remember those sick, hurting, or vulnerable in this time of pandemic and pray for your protection and well-being for those medical staff and cleaners who are working at the forefronts of keep the disease at bay. We pray also that your mercy and provision would be with all those who suffer from the economic downturn due to pandemic.

For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we lift up in prayer the churches and people of all faiths of Benin, Ivory Coast, and Togo. We give thanks for the spiritual vitality and growth of the churches and pray for more democratic governments that are free of corruption and take people’s interests as priority. We pray for those working to alleviate the poverty, illiteracy and hunger of the people in these nations. We pray too for emotional and physical healing, and the restoring of hope for all those who have been victims of conflict, disease and human rights abuses 

In remembering our congregation, we thank God for the good progress and spirit of Lucy. May you continue to heal and give her strength. We pray also for the healing of Linda’s sister Tess who contracted coronavirus in the Philippines, and we continue to uphold Pearl in our hearts as she is remembering her sister Jade in this time of loss.

We also lift up in prayer Manghaki, whose mother died on Friday and we remember Eli, whose father died on July 30. May you bring comfort and peace to them and their families. 

During this time, we pray too for both our old and young here at the church. We are grateful to see how God has blessed the senior members of our congregation during this challenging time and pray that you would continue to uphold them and keep them in good spirits and health. We also pray for the many children and their parents as they enter into a new school term and face the ongoing challenges of online school. May you bring peace and stability to households and grant us wisdom on ways we can come alongside those in our congregation who could use our support. Finally, we hold our sisters employed as domestic workers and our members and friends working in medical settings in prayer. God, may you bless and protect them. 

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, 23 August, 2020

Prepared and led by Peter Youngblood

Almighty God, your people pray for the world, which is under great stress, emotionally and physically.

In Belarus, hundreds of thousands have rallied, calling for the resignation of long-time President Lukashenko. Thousands have been arrested, hundreds injured, and some have died.

In Thailand, protestors young and old bravely seek democratic reforms and limitations on the power of the monarchy. We pray that the voices of the people in these countries be heard with empathy, not anger and distrust.

And, of course, we pray for the preservation of democracy across the world. We continue to hope that, in November, Americans will elect a just and compassionate leader.

But we know that democracy is fragile and often denied. Our hearts break for the Philippines. The killing of human rights activist Zara Alvarez reminds us of the injustices committed in the name of law and order. We pray for justice for Alvarez and all victims of extrajudicial killings. May God comfort and mercy reign for those who are in grief.

Here in our city, many cases related to the protests are proceeding in the courts. May justice reign for the righteous. With the postponement of the LegCo election, we pray for the unity, calmness and resilience of the democratic political leaders. May God give them wisdom and humility to serve the city and bring the best to the people in this time of trial.

Human beings are constantly reminded that our natural world is also fragile. Our world faces an increasing frequency of natural disasters due to climate change. We pray for our most vulnerable to catastrophic events. In Iowa, communities are still recovering from a massive storm. May emergency relief and aid be given quickly to restore electricity, housing and livelihood.

And we continue to pray for those affected by the global pandemic. Nearly 23 million people throughout the world have contracted the coronavirus, and over 800,000 have died.

Closer to home, in Hong Kong, we are thankful that new infections have decreased and many have recovered, but 75 souls have already been lost. We pray that those infected may be healed and vaccines soon be ready for use. Remember the vulnerable, the poor, and the essential staff who are working at the frontlines. May God’s mercy and provision be with those who suffer from the effects of the pandemic.

As part of our ecumenical prayer cycle, we lift up in prayer today the churches and people of all faiths of Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal. While we are thankful for the many ways in which these countries have moved beyond their painful colonial histories, we pray for their continued development. We pray for the eradication of poverty, and transitions to true democracy. In multicultural West Africa, let all churches be compassionate witnesses in the midst of other faiths.

In our congregation, we are thankful that Lucy was discharged from hospital last Friday. May God continue to heal and give her strength. Let us remember the family of the late Bishop Samuel this August, his birthday month and the anniversary of passing. Remember and pray for our elderly friends, our sisters employed as domestic workers, and all those especially vulnerable. May God bless and protect them. Bless also our children and parents. And continue to lift up our dear sister Pearl as she grieves after the passing of her sister Jade.  

Almighty God, we come to you with our concerns because we know you listen. Because you listen we have hope that justice, reconciliation, and peace, though sometimes hard to see, will come to pass.

For this hope we thank you, our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.

Amen

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 16 August, 2020

Prepared and led by Muriel Orevillo-Montenegro

Having heard the concerns of the church, let us now come together, to take our collective prayers to God. I will end each prayer section with the words, O God, in your mercy. The  Congregation will please respond:  Hear our prayer

For the World and Hong Kong

· Pray for Justice and Peace in the Middle East: Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have struck a deal that normalizes the ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The US-brokered agreement required Israel to temporarily suspend its controversial plans to annex parts of the West Bank, in return for a signing of a string of agreements on investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit. 

· However, the Palestinians  see in this deal the United Arab Emirates as stabbing their back. They have repeatedly urged the Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached. Let us pray for a durable peace that is rooted in justice and fair play for different parties, especially the Palestinians, to enjoy equal rights and respect for their identity and autonomy.   

O God, in your mercy. 

People: Hear our prayer

· We lift in our prayers the people in Lebanon after the deadly explosion in Beirut that killed more than 170 and wounded more than 6000 people, and then subsequent massive anti-government violent protests. Lebanon’s government leaders stepped down on Monday night. We pray for God’s healing hands on the wounded and the country. May the poor who suffer most in a time of political and social unrest receive enough support and care. Pray for good governance and the leaders are given strength and wisdom to govern their nation with love and compassion. Let us pray for God’s gift of hope to dwell in Lebanon. With international support, we hope that people’s lives and homes be rebuilt soon.  

O God, in your mercy. 

People: Hear our prayer

· Pray for the people afflicted by COVID-19. There are now 21 million people throughout the world that have  contracted the coronavirus. As of yesterday, August 15, 763,735 people have died of COVID-19. In Hong Kong, the confirmed cases of infection have reached 4,313 and 65 have died, mostly elderly people suffering from chronic illness. Last week, the confirmed cases involved migrant domestic workers and those who are  in elderly homes, who were placed in shared accommodations. We in particular remember and pray for these communities. We are sad that the police ticketed and fined the domestic workers who stayed on the streets during their rest day for allegedly breaking the law on social distancing. We pray for many foreign domestic workers who are not allowed to go out during their holiday or their day off by their employers due to fear of the CIVID-19 pandemic. We echo the plea of the NGOs working with the domestic workers that employers should respect their helpers and give them a choice. We keep praying for the medical staffs who are working at the forefront: may they continue to have good health and strength. 

O God, in your mercy. 

People: Hear our prayer

· Pray for the people, especially the vulnerable who suffered from recent heavy rain in different parts of China. Pray that their voices be truly heard, and their needs are met under good and responsible governance. 

· We pray for the freedom of the press in Hong Kong. The police force has arrested the founder of Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai, the young activist Agnes Chow Ting and others who have been active in the democratic movement under the National Security Law last week. We pray for the people in the Philippines who have been suffering from human rights abuses under the Anti-Terrorism Act. We pray for justice for those who had been arrested and killed for trumped-up charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

O God, in your mercy. 

People: Hear our prayer

We pray for the people of Belarus whose rights are curtailed for 26 years by the rule of a dictator. We pray for the detained opposition people. We pray for Svetlana Tikhanovskaya who won in the election on August 9 but was abducted and transported to Lithuania. May the world show solidarity with the people of Belarus in these turbulent times. And may Justice and peace prevail there.

O God, in your mercy

People: Hear our prayer.

For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle

· Today, we lift in our prayers the churches and people of all faiths of Liberia and Sierra Leone. We are thankful that diseases such as Ebola have been brought under control. But we pray for the majority of the people there who are still impoverished. We pray that their governments will provide the people with adequate services and formulate policies that enable them to live with dignity and good health. We pray also for governance that is just, free of corruption, accountable to the people and one that manages the resources in ways that will benefit all people. May the churches in these countries continue to have interfaith cooperation with others and be faithful witnesses to bring forth peace. 

 O God, in your mercy. 

People: Hear our prayer.

For the Congregation

· Remember and pray for our elderly friends and our sisters employed as domestic workers amid increasing confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. May God bless and protect them. We uphold the children and their parents in our hearts.

· Pray for members and friends who need God’s healing physically and spiritually due to health challenges and/or loss of beloved ones. We are grateful to God for Lucy’s good progress in her treatment so far. We continue to lift Pearl and her family in our hearts.  We pray that they will continue to feel and experience God’s comforting embrace.

O God, in your mercy. 

People: Hear our prayer

Let us together say the prayer that Jesus, our Lord, has taught us:

Our Father . . . 

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 9 August, 2020

Prepared and led by Rey Perez Asis

O Lord of light, love and life. With you, nothing is impossible. With you, we have no reason to be afraid. With you, we are forever hopeful.

You are the source of our strength amidst a year of challenges, deaths, and a growing spread of despair. To many eyes, these days are marked with grief, emptiness or fear. A virus that does not seem to go away, claiming lives, spreading incessantly. Leaders who only think of themselves, not the people they swore to serve. Violence against women, migrants and refugees, marginalized peoples.

We bring Lebanon in our prayers, Lord God. Be with them in this time of disaster. We pray for them and those across the world in similar situations. May your spirit guide them toward full recovery.

We pray for the women of the world. In many places, they continue to be subjected to violence, exploitaton and abuse. May statutes and conventions for their protection be upheld and strengthened. Lead people in power to ensure their protection. Be with the women of the world and all of us as we walk and work with them in making violence against women history.

We remember today the victims and survivors of the Hiroshima bombing. 75 years ago, the first atomic bomb claimed lives of the innocent in an attempt to end war. May the paper cranes symbolizing peace steel the resolve of leaders and people to stand for justice, the end of selfishness and greed, and for a world where genuine peace and prosperity for all is realized.

Amidst all the dark clouds looming over us,
Your love is like the rays of sun that pierce through it to shine upon us. Your love tells us that we are not alone, that there is hope.

You are present in our healthworkers, in people who help those in need. in the kindness of those who open their doors to strangers, in people who stand up against discrimination, racism and exclusion.

We are thankful for those who continue to assist our refugee brothers and sisters, especially their children, in this time of need. May more hands reach out to help, support and be with the children who will start school this September.

We pray for Lucy - may she continue to regain her strength. We pray for Pearl and her family who grieve the loss of Jade. We pray for the elderly here in Hong Kong and everywhere - may they be taken care of at all time.

In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we bring in our prayers the churches and people of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Lord, you are gracious, righteous and full of compassion. We pray to continue to follow in your way guarding this planet that you have gifted us and making it a safe and better place for all. And we do all these for your greater glory. This we pray through your son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Let us all pray the Lord's Prayer. We can pray in our own languages.

Prayer of Intercession

Sunday, 2 August 2020

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Prepared and led by Nam Boo Won

Oh merciful God,

We have witnessed that the COVID-19 pandemic has been continuing unabated, if not aggravating, across the globe last week, including Hong Kong where the community is suffering again from the third wave of the outbreak.    

We lift up in prayer today those who have succumbed to this deadly disease, those who are in the hospital, and in quarantine. May your caring comfort be given to those families who have lost loved ones, renewed health to those suffering from this disease, and strength and wisdom to medical practitioners for the treatment of their patients. We remember those whose daily livelihood has been severely affected due to loss of job during the pandemic outbreak. Among others, Spur on us and all humanity repent our sins and listen to your clarion call towards a new way of life – living harmoniously with our neighbours and all your creation. 

We also witness extraordinarily heavy rains and floods occurring more often than before in our region caused mainly by climate change. Last week, Floods continued to afflict China, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands of people across this region have been affected, and many people have died or are missing. In many parts of the region, countless people are suffering from the rising rivers. We ask for your comfort for those who have lost their family members and for relief to reach those who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May they receive food, shelter, and the medical care they need. We also pray for world leaders to come to one spirit in responding to the climate crisis, beyond national interests and human greed.

We are saddened to hear that thousands of migrant workers repatriated to the Philippines due to the COVID-19 outbreak find themselves unable to return to their homes, stranded in Manila because of the country's lockdown. After waiting for up to a month without promised financial or medical support, many are destitute without adequate food and shelter. Some are even sleeping along the roads and under bridges nearby the airport. We appeal to you that food, masks, and sanitizers be provided to them, that their living conditions will quickly improve, and transportation may be arranged for them soon for their journey to their homes.

We also witness drastic and sweeping changes taking place in Hong Kong soon after the National Security Law applied in the city. Several young activists were arrested and wanted; many young LegCo candidates were disqualified; and the LegCo election is likely to be postponed up to one year.   

Oh God of justice, may there be “rule of law” sustained; fair and impartial legal system be upheld; and may the justice and righteousness of God prevail in the city against all these challenges. We earnestly pray that freedom, human rights and democracy gained by the ardent struggles of the people of Hong Kong be protected strongly by your intervention.

For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we lift up in prayer today the churches and people of all faiths of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea.

We give thanks for the natural resources and diverse gifts that come from these countries; those who minister to victims of sexual violence, trafficking, and other human rights abuses; Christians and people of other faiths who courageously have pursued reconciliation and peace among those in conflict.

We pray for just resolutions to the conflicts and violence among diverse groups and leaders; refugees who flee to other countries and who host them; economic developments that make it possible for all to rise out of poverty; and stable democratic governments that effectively serve the common good.

For the Congregation,

We remember and pray for our elderly friends and children amid increasing Covid-19 risk in Hong Kong. Pray for members who are working in medical settings and home settings taking care of the aged and the sick.

We thank God for the beautiful life of Jade Wong. We uphold in our hearts Pearl and her family as they grieve the loss of their beloved one.

We pray for God's healing grace upon Lucy for her ongoing treatment.

We particularly pray for courage and wisdom for ministers, church leaders and members of the church in a time of trial, to live out God's hope, peace and love in our congregation and the wider community.

All of these, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ! Amen.