Prayer of Intercession

22 October 2023

Prepared by Robert Lam

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost 

Almighty and Merciful God:

We thank you for your presence in our world and that you hear and respond to the cries of people suffering due to wars and conflicts. 

We pray for peace in Gaza. We remember many innocent lives killed and hurt in this conflict. Lord, we ask that you comfort and heal them. We remember the Palestinians trapped in Gaza and pray that exits can be provided for them to go to neighbouring countries.

We pray for Ukraine. For the continuing war where homes buildings and cities have been destroyed. We pray that you would give hope to those who despair that there’s no end to the war, and that you would  comfort those who have lost family members and friends. 

We pray for those in power who control the destiny of these conflicts, that you would give them wisdom, rebuke and challenge them to work for genuine peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray for Hong Kong

We pray for the asylum seekers in Hong Kong. We give thanks to the many NGOs and churches working to improve their well being. We pray for a more caring and flexible change in Government policy allowing their children to have a better and all round education.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray for Kowloon Union Church

We pray for the Church Retreat tomorrow. That it will be meaningful and productive as they reflect on the theme of Grounded in God, Growing in Faith and  finding ways to grow and serve.

We pray for KUC Family, remembering those who are recovering, whose who are ill and those who cannot be with us. We remember particularly our Pastor Maggie and pray that she will be well and back with us shortly.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we pray for the people and churches of all faith in the Caribbean.

We pray all these in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

He taught us to pray the Lord’s prayer:

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

15 October 2023

Prepared by Rev. Judy Chan

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost 

As I prepared the Prayers of the People this week, I, like many others, feel 

overwhelmed by the situation in the Middle East. How shall we pray? So, I turned to

 statements and prayers from around the world by those whose lives have been 

committed to peace and justice. I share some of their words in today’s Intercessions.

 Let us pray:

+God of Love, we lift up Palestine and Israel — its people, its land, its creatures. War

 is a monster that consumes everything in its path. Peace is a gift shared at meals of 

memory with Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Let us burn incense, not children. Let us

 break bread, not bodies. Let us plant olive groves, not cemeteries. We beg for love

 and compassion to prevail on all your holy mountains.

God of Comfort, we ask that you send your Spirit to surround and uphold the souls of

 all those who have been killed, all those who are grieving, all those in captivity, all 

those under siege, all those forced to flee for their lives. May your angels protect them

 as they walk through the darkest valleys. May they know that their help comes from

 the Maker of heaven and earth.

God of Justice, guide political leaders and authorities to engage in true dialogue for a

 just and lasting peace for the peoples of the Middle East. Guide the nations to

 address the core causes of the conflict, to support the legitimate rights of all,

 especially those who are most vulnerable, those who continue to suffer after decades

 of occupation, dispossession, and denial of basic human rights. Teach all of us to 

resolve injustices with righteousness, not rockets. Guard our hearts against

 retaliation, to refrain from repaying evil for evil but overcoming evil with good. 

O God we cannot remain helpless in this time of sorrow and dismay. We cannot let

 death and its sting be the only word we hear. So, for peace and preserving life in the

 Holy Land, we pray to the Author of life and Prince of Peace. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+We pray for the peace and well-being of our own community, Hong Kong. Thank you

 for the safe recovery of Matthew Tsang after 8 days of being lost to us in the 

wilderness. May he be restored in body, mind and spirit and reunited with family and

 friends in the fullness of time.

 Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those in KUC who need your comfort and healing hand. We especially 

remember our former Senior Minister, Revd Kwok Nai-wang and our dear Pastor

 Maggie.  We also pray for those grieving the loss of loved ones, those dealing with

 difficult situations at home, work or school, and those struggling to cope far away

 from family and homeland. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

+In the ecumenical prayer cycle, we lift up the churches and people of all faiths in

 Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. We thank you for those who resist 

injustice and fight for the rights of the indigenous, the poor and marginalized, the

 missing and disappeared, victims of violence and crime, and the protection of Mother

 Earth. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

And now let us say together the words that our Lord and Savior taught to us to pray…

you may pray in the language of your heart and home:

Our Father in heaven…