Intercessions for Epiphany

I have been asked to write some intercessions for the Epiphany Eucharist this evening. Here they are if you are seeking a set of intercessions. Feel free to use or amend them as you wish. 

As the magi offered gold, the gift for a King, we ask for your guidance for the rulers of our earth: for Putin and Russian leaders as their Christmas arrives, that they would now seek peace, for Ukraine, mourning and weeping the loss of her children, for Afghanistan, for Bethlehem and all of the West Bank, for Syria, for Libya and places forgotten by the news, and for China and all places where Covid and Flu are bringing misery. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

As the magi offered incense before our great High Priest, we ask for your blessing on the our priests and on our people. And so we pray for Bishop N for N and the parishes of our diocese, and for all who minister to others, and bring the light of hope within our world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the magi offered myrrh, a prophets healing antiseptic, so we ask for your healing help for all in pain this day. And so we pray for all who are in hospital, all in long term care. For the nurses, the doctors, the porters and paramedics, the EMTs and OTs, the carers and those whose wounds lie deep inside. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the myrrh scent of embalming filled both the stable and the tomb, so we bring before you all who mourn today. Those whose wounds of loss are fresh and raw, those buried or cremated or remembered this week and those who have lost the joy of Christmas because their loves ones are not there. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the magi looked for signs of the truth in the heavens, so we ask for your guidance for all who search for meaning in life. The truth seekers, and truth tellers, the journalists and pilgrims, the lost and the lonely, the heartbroken and confused. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the Holy family fled the horror of Herod so we pray for all who run from violence. The refugees. beaten partners and children, the victims of slavery and those bullied in their workplace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As the magi knelt in homage so we pray for ourselves. That we too would catch a glimpse of the glory found in Christ, that we too would have holy dreams and be guided on our journeys, and that one day we would too would truly see the face of Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Merciful Father,accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Intercessions for the Feast of the Naming of Jesus (the Circumcision).

On Sunday morning I was asked to do the interecessions on Sunday morning as we celebrated the naming of Jesus  (the Circumcision). Here is a generalised version of the intercessions I wrote. Feel free to use them in worship and amend as you wish. You may notice from reading my Evensong litany that, once again, I was inspired by a number of titles of Christ, but used fewer titles in the morning and tried to find ones which fitted the situations which were most in need of our prayers. 

Jesus name above all names, 

we pray for all who struggle with their call and their identity,

and all who have been cruelly and unkindly named or labelled;
we ask that the cruelty of racist or unkind labels would end
and pray for all who have been scarred by the spiteful words of others.

May your Holy Spirit whisper gentle words of love and guidance
into the ears of the wounded,
and bring remorse and a change of heart
to those tempted to taunt others.

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords,
guide the rulers of the earth.
Instil compassion and love within their hearts
until the angels song of peace on earth and goodwill to all
becomes a concrete reality.
We particular bring before you those in power in N, N and N (current conflict situations)
and all suffering the wounds of war.
We also bring before you people and families in conflict,
and all who have struggled with stress and debt, hunger and cold 

throughout this Christmas and New Year season.

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Emmanuel, God with us,

we ask you to have compassion on all who feel alone today.
Surround them with the embrace of your love,
and call people to act as your hands, your eyes and your ears
to listen and bring your comfort
to the lonely and those in pain.  

Lord in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Rock of Ages and Cornerstone,
bring your strength and healing power
 to all whose foundations are crumbling this day,
particularly those in chronic pain
and all who need your healing-help.
We particularly ask for that help for N, N and N (sick list)

Morning star, Dayspring and Light Everlasting,

shine upon all who sit in darkness and the shadow of death today. 

Come alongside those who are dying
and those who sit and wait beside them
and bring glimpses of your coming Kingdom to all who mourn.
We particularly remember before you N and N (recent famous deaths)

and those for whom those deaths have triggered unresolved grief
and we ask you to welcome into your everlasting kingdom
those we have loved and lost including N and N (RIP list), 

And N and N whose anniversaries occur at around this time. 

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

A prayer based on the titles of Christ: Written for Evensong on the 1st January 2023

 Whilst writing my sermon for Evensong in Truro on New Year's Day I was inspired to do a bit of liturgical drafting based upon some of the biblical names and titles of Jesus. As usual please feel free to use this prayer in worship or amend/improve as you wish. 

Wisdom of God, guide the rulers of our earth,

Word of God, speak your truth into our lives,

Great I AM, surround the lonely with your love, 

Morning Star, to the desperate bring your hope, 

King of the Nations, help us learn your ways of peace,

Key of David, free those trapped within their pain, 

Root of Jesse, help those who feel they don’t belong, 

Rock of Ages, bring stability and safety, 

Anointed One, pour your healing on our grief, 

Way, Truth and Life, guide the travellers on their roads

God With Us, may we sense you in our lives. 

Light Of The World, guide the frightened and the lost,

Bread of life, fill the hungry and the poor, 

Spring Of Living Water, may your Spirit quench our thirst. 

Open Door, welcome those who look for truth, 

Living Vine, help us grow in love and grace 

Lamb of God, may your mercy fill our world. 

Our Beginning and our End, fill each moment we exist.

Jesus Christ, and  the name above all names, 

In your name we bring our prayers. Amen. 

Jesus Christ, and  the name above all names, 

In your name we bring our prayers. Amen.