Here’s a prayer of intercession for Epiphany 5B (February 5, 2012). It was written by Bruce Prewer.
Embracing Others in Prayer
Most holy Friend, you have sent us Jesus to mend that which is broken, to bridge that which is alienated, and to heal that which is diseased. In his name our troubled hearts speak to you, God, of those many people whose needs are great and whose comforts are few.
We speak to you of our concern for places where there is conflict, violence, and misery: war ravaged countries, domestic cruelty, bullying in school grounds, workplace intimidation, gang warfare on streets, or terrorist attacks.
Loving God, hear our prayers,
Holy Friend, save your people.
We speak to you of our concern for all displaced people: in refugee camps, fugitives from oppression, those crowded on unseaworthy boats, those in our Australian detention centres, and for all separated families and traumatised children.
Loving God, hear our prayers,
Holy Friend, save your people.
We speak to you of our concern for neighbours, workmates, or members of our own families who are ‘doing it tough;’ the unemployed and the disabled, some fighting terminal illness, others in despair from broken relationships, some grieving a death, many caught up in predicaments for which there seems no obvious answer.
Loving God, hear our prayers,
Holy Friend, save your people.
We speak to you of our concern for the church: with its flourishing or weak congregations, some living in comfort and others surviving under persecution, some filled with self doubts and some with over self-confidence, churches without priests and ministers or those where sadly there is conflict between clergy and laity.
Loving God, hear our prayers,
Holy Friend, save your people.
We speak to you now loving God of ourselves: Help us, in our own small way, to be more like your compassionate Christ. Shape our thoughts, sift our feelings, supervise our efforts, bless our abilities, that we may get the best out of each day and give the best to those around us. Through the grace of Christ Jesus our Redeemer.
Amen!
— writtten by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage.
For more worship resources for February 5, 2012 (the fifth Sunday after Epiphany), click on Epiphany 5B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.
For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Index of Prayers at the upper right side of the page.
