Prayer of Intercession

25 June 2023

Prepared by Rose, David and Bright

Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

We pray for Justice.  

As we celebrate The World Refugee Day at KUC.

Lord, knowing that you were born in insecurity, and you experienced homelessness. Your family had to flee the violence of the powerful, so with confidence, we bring to you all those who have been forced to flee their homes. 

We pray that they will find safe and dignified lives that they are seeking for.

We ask for your support and protection upon the advocates for rights of refugees, 

for the education of children caught in crisis and conflict.

May you give us all the strength to participate in welcoming and defending the rights of those who today suffer in exile or are cut off from their loved ones.

We pray that you transform the hands you created from instruments of death to instrument of Justice and peace. 

We pray for Hope.

Lord, your journey to calvary has shown us that you chose to walk the roads with the poor and the marginalized; to listen and to welcome the despised and the sick.

We pray that you will help those forced to leave their homes not to fear the future but to boldly trust that you are the sovereign God even when their emotions plunge them down, even when they are in despair. 

That you are always there when they can't talk and don't know what to do, help them to “Be still, and know that you are God”. 

Fill them with your light and your hope so that amid of weakness, loss of courage, lowliness, misunderstanding, they will know that Jesus still on the throne and still in control. 

We pray, Lord, for your full support to those who commit themselves to following your example to care for the needy. 

May you enlarge their hearts and nourish their daily commitment to share the hope that you have brought to the world and to open future paths to the forgotten.

We pray for Compassion.

Lord, you have shown us love from your hand nailed and satisfied our thirst with your blood on the cross,

so may you Illumine our conscience, so to remember the hungry when we have food, the jobless when we have work, the homeless when we have worm homes and those in pain when we are in peace.

Help us to destroy our complacency and increase our compassion. 

Equip us with enough concern to help by words and deed to those who cry out for what we take for granted.

Let us conclude our prayer by saying the Lord prayer.

Prayer of Intercession

11 June 2023

Prepared by John Mom Lamme

Second Sunday After Pentecost

Let us pray. 

 

As we begin I invite you to close your eyes and in the silence take a few deep breaths to feel yourself in this moment and in this place. 

 

            

Dear God. 

 

            (Introduction to prayer) 

 

We come to you God now from different places. 

 

For some of us to coming to you in prayer is a great joy. We are full of expectation of gratitude, and are thankful to present ourselves and our hopes before you.  

 

For others, what a pain it can be to pray to you. It is hard to leave the peace of silence to once again summon the energy and faith to ask for justice that seems delayed and to pray against the hard tide of oppression.  

 

For others, of us we are just here. Perhaps too distant from ourselves and a bit numbed by the routine of our busy Hong Kong lives, to feel or think much about these moments. 

 

But – one way or another - here we are: your gathered people. 

 

(Our Gratitude) 

 

Before we attempt to climb the great hill of our hopes, want to express our gratitude. 

 

(I encourage you now to take a moment to thank God for all you are grateful for this morning. Afterwards I’ll offer thanks for a few specific things and invite you to respond with, “We thank you.”)

 

God for all that is wonderful in the world – We thank you.  

 

For the love of family and friends – We thank you. 

 

For the joy of good food – We thank you. 

 

For the beauty of the earth – We thank you. 

 

For your grounding presence  – We thank you.  

 

For our community – for everyone who finds solace, inspiration and hope here  - We thank you. 

 

And God – wow – are we thankful for the good that got done at KUC this week: 

 

            For those who were visited and comforted – We thank you. 

 

For those that found joy and inspiration to be better stewards of the earth at the refugee fellowship – We thank you. 

 

For the lunch we shared at the peace fellowship, especially the chicken wings – We thank you. 

 

For all the hope, love and compassion that was provided by partnership agencies that rent space in our building – We thank you. 

 

For the same gender loving folks who found peace, safety and joy in our fellowship this week – We thank you. 

 

(Our Hopes)

 

We want to bring our concerns and needs before you. 

 

And let me, say for all us, 

 

We just want things to be better. 

 

If you are asking us what we want – and the scriptures say you are – we would like things to be better. 

 

We would like more justice, more hope and more healing. We would like the world to be more like we think you want it to be: more full of love. 

 

As I read our petitions, I invite you to respond with, “Lord hear our prayer.”

 

For a just Hong Kong – A Hong where helpers, refugees, asylum seekers, those in jail and on trial, the poor and the wealthy are treated fairly: 

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord hear our prayers. 

 

For a loving Hong Kong – A Hong Kong where all people are treated with compassion and generosity: 

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayers. 

 

For those in our congregation who are struggling to maintain their physical and mental health, may their health be restored. 

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayers.

 

For those in our congregation who are struggling to establish residency and who seek asylum,  

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayers.

 

For those in our congregation who are struggling with their faith – who wonder if you are there and if you are present, why the world is such a mess. 

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayers.

 

For churches in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle – the churches and people of all faiths in Botswana and Zimbabwe

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayers.

 

For all the concerns in our bulletin – for all the people and causes listed there, for all the beautiful hopes encapsulated in those words, for the comfort and love of those who are struggling in the difficult situations in our bulletin. 

 

We pray to the Lord – Lord, hear our prayers.

 

We pray now in silence for those things in our bulletins that move us most.  

 

(Our ending) 

            

Dear God, though some of us struggle with the faith it takes to offer these prayers, we say to you that is good. 

 

To be gathered here today.

 

Good To look forward to coffee in the fellowship hall. 

 

Good To think that the work you inspired us to do this week made things better for someone. 

 

Good To be gathered here to praise, to hope, to hear, to respond and to love. 

 

We are thankful to be in this space as your gathered people. We live, love and exist in your presence and close now in the prayer Jesus taught us and the in the language of our choosing: 

 

Prayer of Intercession

04 June 2023

Prepared by Venus Cheng

Trinity Sunday

Sisters and brothers, let us humble ourselves and pray to our Heavenly Father. 

As we pray, after I say, “Lord, in your mercy”, please respond with “Hear our prayer.”

 

God of Mercy and Healing, 

Before reaching mid-year, we are already experiencing a hot & humid summer. We are concerned for those who must stay outdoors to earn a living. In particular, we remember the grass-root neighbour, like janitors, construction workers, street vendors, couriers, the homeless, and those living in substandard flats in very poor conditions. We pray that they can bear this heat and remain sound and healthy under Your protection.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

God of Compassion,

Lately, there have been media reports of the remains of singleton elderly being unnoticed in their residence until days after their death. Recently, an elderly man who apparently could no longer withstand the pressure and exhaustion of caring for his chronically ill daughter took his own life after attempting to kill her. 

We also remember the two young ladies, who were stabbed to death at Hollywood Plaza last Friday.  We pray that they are resting in Your peace now, and their families will receive Your gracious comfort. It is reported that the suspect may be mentally ill.  We hope that the incident will not bring prejudice against other community members living with mental illness.

Such tragic incidents are heartbreaking. Unfortunately, many people requiring medical or socio-psychological support are hidden in our community and may not know how to seek help. 

May the Holy Spirit remind us not to turn our eyes away from our neighbours but to offer our help proactively as necessary. We pray that the authority empathises with their needs and provides timely support. 

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

God of Justice and Peace, 

We remember this day, 4 Jun. Let us never forget those killed 34 years ago in the crackdown of the pro-democracy movement in Mainland China. We never forget their families, especially the Tiananmen Mothers, who up to this day are still prohibited from mourning their loved ones openly; whose freedom of speech and movement are restricted around this day every year; who have passed away one after another with a broken heart, before they could see Your justice served. 

Despite 34 years having passed, persecution of those involved in the Tiananmen Movement continues, so does the violation of the rights of other dissidents.

We remember dissident Li Wangyang, a Christian brother. 6 June will be the 11th anniversary of his tragic passing. His death remains a mystery, with authorities claiming he committed suicide while many suspect homicide.  

We also pray for the oppressed in other parts of the world. For example, Uganda has enacted a harsh anti-LGBTQ law, including the death penalty. 

We feel so helpless when we witness the suffering of civilians who are merely yearning for freedom and their rights but can do nothing. 

We pray for your comfort, healing and peace for those having lost their loved ones or being persecuted in other parts of the world. May You also grant us the humility, wisdom and strength to seek Your justice, not ours, and patience in waiting for that day to come. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

God our Good Shepherd, 

For the Ecumenical Prayer Circle, we lift up in prayer this week for the churches and people of all faiths in Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini. We pray for the protection of resources for the good of all rather than their exploitation for economic gain, more democratic and transparent governance in these countries at all levels, effectively countering rape, sexual violence and other crime, and adequate resources and changed attitudes for welcoming refugees from these countries.

 

We also remember our dear members of the KUC family. May You heal those who are unwell, strengthen those who feel weak, and comfort those struggling with hardship. 

 

Please forgive any wrongdoings or sins that we may still be committing.

 

On this Trinity Sunday, may Your kingdom, power, and glory always be with us. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.