Prayer for Others: Rooted in the Vine


Here’s a prayer of intercession from the Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website. It was written by Rev. Fraser Penny, inspired by John 15.

Prayer for Others
(inspired by John 15:1-8)

Jesus Christ, the true vine,
in our need we come to You,
in weakness,
needing Your strength
for we too easily become dry and lifeless
without Your life-giving spirit.

Jesus Christ, the true vine,
teach us to remain in You
and so to find Your life flowing in us
giving strength and vigour to our discipleship.

And as we come closer to You
our lives are drawn closer to others.
Our minds turn to images of violence we have seen on the news
in places of fear and terror,
to where people are at loggerheads,
over race, religion, land, power.

Our thoughts turn to Christians living with persecution
who face danger, simply for being linked to You.
Father, prune back all that stands in the way of peace.

Our thoughts turn to people in leadership and power –
who have decisions to make over the economy
and people whose jobs and livelihood will be affected.
We pray for our nation, and its leaders.
May changes and choices be shaped by the values of the kingdom.

On our hearts are people in need in our church and community.
Wherever hearts are breaking,
   bodies are failing,
   minds are confused
   families are ruptured:
Lord, come with Your help and healing.

Here, too, as Your church gathered today,
we give thanks for the saints of the past
and the fruit they have borne in our community and beyond.
Like them, help us to remain in You
that we may be fruitful and bring glory to Your name.
Through Jesus Christ, the true vine. Amen 

~ written by Rev. Fraser Penny, Minister of Dunkeld Parish Church, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/48423/A_29_April_Fraser_Penny_5_after_Easter_formatted.pdf