Prayer of Intercession

1 June 2025

Prepared by Victoria Caplan

Sunday in Ordinary Time

It is Eco-Concern Sunday and next Thursday is U.N. World Environment Day . Let us turn our hearts, minds, and souls to the privilege and duty of being good stewards (caretakers) of creation: air, water, soil, and all living creatures, including our sisters and brothers..

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.  As we pray, after I say,“God in your mercy”, please respond, “Hear our prayer.”

Almighty Creator God

Thank you for the beautiful world you made and sustain: the fruitful earth, the clean air & pure water.

But, your creation groans in suffering because of our foolishness, greed, and unjust systems. We turn your abundance into scarcity, poison, and disasters: fires, floods, avalanches, and drought,

Grant us and our leaders the will and ability to care for your world properly and heal it. 

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

God of the Prophets

Protect all who call out injustice and oppression and work for positive change. Give patience, strength and comfort to those who strive and suffer to repair the world. 

Awaken a sense of justice and mercy in people in power and call them and us to good action. 

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

Life Giving Spirit, God of Peace

We pray for the many places where there is war and fighting. We pray for people who lack safety at home or outside their homes. Heal their physical, mental, and spiritual wounds. 

Direct our families, our communities, and every nation, in the ways of kindness, justice and peace; that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

God of Love

You have chosen us and commanded us to love everyone as you love us. But it is hard.  Help us see your image in each face we meet. Help us treat everyone not as a thing, but as a fellow child of God. Help us change our irritable, angry, envious, greedy, prideful, rude, and mean, ways. Help us act patiently and kindly.

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

Healer and companion of all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit:

Look after people in fear, danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble: the sick, the lonely, the abused, the addicted, the grieving, the homeless, the imprisoned, the poor, the oppressed, refugees, victims of disasters, and people who see no path forward to safety and stability.

Strengthen them in their hours of need. Give them courage and hope in their troubles; relieve and protect them, and bring them the joy of your salvation.

In particular, we pray for  Kevin Ng, Jeanette Lee,  Kulwinder,Ng Kam Lee, Joy Babasa, John Mamgmasih, Betty and Dick Blakney, Revd. Bud Carroll and Revd. Kwok Nai Wang; Mrs. Samuel and the mothers of Alex Melwani and June Tang.

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

Triune God, who we meet in community:

Thank you for our Kowloon Union Church family, the Christian community in Hong Kong and throughout the world.  Help us build each other up.

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

For the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle:   We lift up in prayer the churches and people of all faiths in Angola and Mozambique.

God, in your mercy 

hear our prayer 

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints, we commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.   

Amen

Prayer of Intercession

25 May 2025

Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prayer for Migrants, Refugees and other Displaced People

O God of life and history, awaken us on the realities of forced displacement of people due to poverty, unemployment, landlessness, war, and conflict. These realities result from economic and political structures, policies and programs that prioritize and perpetuate profit over people, commodification of labour over rights and welfare, monopoly of resources over public good and sharing, exclusion over inclusion.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

Compassionate and merciful God, there are 94 million migrants, and 12 million refugees      in countries    in the Asia, Pacific and Middle East regions. Their already vulnerable situation is     exacerbated by policies that perpetuate discrimination, exclusion and xenophobia.       Many of them face the anxieties of losing      their jobs and livelihood; are deprived of social and economic relief; abandoned; criminalized and deported without service and assistance.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

O God, listen to their cries and lamentations! They who are victims of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and modern slavery. They who are forced to flee, become undocumented and are victims of violent crackdown. They who are deprived of social services and suffer domestic abuse. They who labour for long working hours without decent accommodation or sufficient food. They who are unjustly incarcerated, prosecuted and detained and whose lives are on the brink of execution. They who are displaced by wars and conflicts, ecological destruction, and even political persecution.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

O God, be with us as we urge host governments of the Asia Pacific and Middle East region to uphold the whole being of millions of migrants, refugees and other displaced people living and working in their countries. May they implement policy reforms that promote equal protection, decent work and service assistance regardless of person’s status. May they desist in implementing the policies and regulations that perpetuate and promote discriminations, exclusion, xenophobia, abuse, exploitation, trafficking and modern slavery.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

O God, empower us as we call sending governments to address the root causes of forced migration. May they realize that there is no genuine and lasting development from treating people as commodities. They must prioritize creating opportunities for people to live decently and humanely in their home country.  They must address the desperation of millions who are left with no choice but to leave their families behind and work abroad. May they give high credence to the interest of its migrants, provide them with necessary service and protection, ensure that their rights and welfare are upheld at all times.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

O God, guide us as we celebrate our diversity as members of faith communities of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists finding unities in serving the migrants, refugees and uprooted people. May our various ministries and programs serve as infrastructures of service, advocacy and campaign, and sanctuary that affirm the sanctity of life and protection of human rights and dignity. May we continue our solidarity and accompaniment until the realization of your kingdom of justice, compassion and abundant life prevails.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

O God, strengthen the commitment of migrant serving institutions who in their steadfast dedication to serve and empower migrants, refugees and uprooted people are also facing difficulties, harassments and intimidation. May they continually provide timely and relevant service and assistance to individuals and groups in need of help. May they find support from individuals, communities and groups who are enlightened by their kind of service and dedication that uphold the very essence of humanity and compassion.

O God, hear our prayer! Empower us to stand for justice, human rights and dignity!

O God, in our ecumenical prayer We lift up in prayer the churches and people of all faiths in the Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. May the government of these countries prioritize the rights and well-being of their people and the faith communities to accompany them in realizing Jesus’ promised of abundant life. 

As we end this prayer for migrants, refugees and other displaced people may I invite to say the Lord’s prayer. You may pray 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

27 April 2025

Prepared by Robert Lam

Sunday in Ordinary Time

1. We pray for the world.

We give thanks to the life and work of Pope Francis who passed away at the beginning of this week. For his life of simplicity and humility and his work in leading the church to care for the environment, to look after the marginalized, including immigrants and those suffering from wars and conflicts. 

We pray for the Conclave as it meets to elect a new Pope. A pope who will be guided by your love and wisdom in tackling the many issues within the church and outside of the church.  

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray for those who are in the midst of wars and conflicts around the world. We remember Ukraine and  Gaza. Lord, there is much suffering, in these 2 places. Lord we ask that you listen to their prayers for help.

Lord, in your merch, hear our prayers.

2. We pray for China: For people’s livelihood in the downturn of the economy, with pay cuts, potential layoffs and unemployment due to the ongoing tariff wars. Particularly factory workers supporting their family back in the rural areas of the country.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

3. We pray for Hong Kong, our home.

We give thanks to some of the progress made in recognition of same sex marriage. We pray that this progress will continue until full recognition is achieved in terms of legal status and social benefits. We pray for those who continue to tirelessly champion their rights with Government, both in the church and in the community.

We pray for an impartial judiciary and for judges sitting on the appeal cases related to the democratic protest a few years ago. We remember those who have been jailed. We pray for the lawyers who are representing them in their appeal against the sentence. Lord, we ask that you would give wisdom to these lawyers. We also pray for the funding to mount these appeal cases.

We pray for our asylum seekers in Hong Kong and the many organisations which are providing help for legal aid, for food and accommodation during their stay. We pray for a change in Government policies that would allow some form of employment for these asylum seekers. For their children who would be finishing secondary schools and what their future would be.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

4. We pray for KUC Family

We remember those in our midst who are facing health challenges. God the healer, we commit them to you, praying that you would heal and restore them to good health, grant them peace and comfort as they go through these health challenges. We ask that you would give strength and patience to the caregivers looking after them. 

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayers. 

5. In the ecumenical cycle of prayers, we remember the churches and the people of     Armenia, Azerbaijian and Georgia.

6.  We pray all these in name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who taught us to 
pray the Lord’s Prayer. Please feel free to pray in the language most comfortable to you:

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

23 February 2025 

Prepared by Robert Lam

Sunday in Ordinary Time

We come to you Lord this morning, thankful for the many innovation and technological changes that have enriched our lives and our work.  We thank you for the gift of intelligence and the tools of technology.

We remember particularly artificial intelligence ChatGPT which have been increasingly adopted into many facets of our daily life and work. Lord, help us to be careful in the use of these new technologies, aware that they open great challenges in ethics and social justice. Help us to use these tools in a way that honors You and brings you Glory. Guide us by your Spirit, and helps us to always acknowledge You in all our ways.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray for the many political changes happening in the world.

We remember the new immigration policy in the US and the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Lord, we ask for your mercy and grace on those who have been deported. We give thanks to the many churches which have voiced their deep concern and objection to this treatment of migrants.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray for the new initiatives to bring the Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict to an end. We pray that these initiatives truly respect and honor the wishes and desires of the people of Ukraine and the Palestinians.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

Here, at Kowloon Union Church, we give thanks to Pastor Phyllis for her long years of ministry. As she now retires, we pray that you would bless her in her future endeavours.  Lord, we ask that you would give her wisdom, vision and strength in this new chapter of her life.

We remember the many ministries that she has promoted during her service. We remember particularly the work of gender justice, wedding ministry for all including wedding for the marginalized, a more inclusive church, a care for the asylum seekers and the promotion of ecumenism.  Lord, we ask that these ministries, which are now an integral part of KUC will continue and a blessing to the community and the churches here in Hong Kong.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We pray for our church members who are facing health challenges. We pray for Kevin Ng, Ng Kam Lee, Joy Babasa, John Mamgmasih, Betty and Dick Blakney, Revd Kwok Nai Wang and Henrietta Crowley. We pray that you would restore them to good health and to give them peace and comfort as they face these challenges. We remember those who are caring for the sick at home and in care facilities and ask that you give them love and strength as they attend to their loved ones.

We remember our senior members and friends, Mrs Sameul and the mothers of Alex Melwani and June Tang. We ask for your continued care and blessing on them.

We give thanks for the life of John Barros who passed away recently. We pray for her daughter Gini at this difficult time.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers.

In the ecumenical cycle of prayers, we remember the churches and people of all faith of France, Germany and Monaco. We pray that the churches and governments will effectively counter anti-immigrant populist sentiments in these countries.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We conclude our prayers, by praying together the Lords Prayer. Please feel free to pray in a language which is familiar to you:

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