Leading Intercessions. Raymond Chapman

light of eternity . . . Receive them into the salvation that was prepared for them from the beginning.

      We end our prayers in the peace of God who has given us his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

       ORDINARY TIME

       PROPER 1

      Let us pray, as those who seek to be faithful members of the Kingdom of Heaven.

      Keep the Church steadfast in the way of your commandments . . . Make your people a light to their generation, faithful to the Gospel of love.

      Guide all people into the mystery that challenges the wisdom of the world . . . Show the way of true repentance which does not rest on outward signs but turns back sincerely to obey your will.

      Inspire us with your love, to bring light to those with whom we live and work . . . Open our eyes to see where there is need for relief to the hungry body or the clouded mind.

      Have compassion on those who are afraid, who feel inadequate for the demands of life . . . Grant them confidence in the hidden wisdom of your word.

      We give thanks for those who have been faithful to your law and shone as lights in their earthly lives . . . Grant them the fullness of your presence, where true wisdom is revealed.

      Honouring the Law of God and seeking true righteousness, we make our prayers to fulfil his commandments.

       PROPER 2

      With purity of heart and in love to all his people, let us pray to the Lord.

      Guide your Church to walk in the right way, holding faith in Christ alone . . . Working together for your will, may we be truly of your building.

      When so many conflicting voices are heard and burdens of choice are often heavy, lead the peoples of the world into the right way, to follow life and not death, good and not evil.

      Inspire us, our families and friends, with the spirit of true love and purity . . . Take away the hidden anger and the unresolved conflicts that can mar our lives.

      Have mercy on those whose anger and resentment holds them back from fullness of life . . . Help those who are hurt and cannot forgive . . . Heal the wounds of broken faith in close relationships.

      We give thanks for the faith of those who have laboured well in this world and are now at rest . . . We pray for those who died bitter and unforgiving: grant them pardon and peace.

      Submitting to the judgement of the only true Judge and trusting in his mercy, we lay before him this our offering of prayer.

       PROPER 3

      Let us pray, in love for God our only strength, and for all his people.

      Strengthen your Church, established on the firm foundation of Christ . . . Make her holy in all her works, seeking always the way of righteousness.

      Arouse your divine compassion in the hearts of all people . . . Inspire in us generosity to the poor and neglected, reconciliation and trust between enemies.

      Make us loving towards our neighbours, finding in each the image of Christ . . . Forgive us our thoughts of hostility and failures of love, and make us eager to forgive others.

      Come and relieve those who suffer through the anger of the unforgiving . . . Those who are in want through the greed of the selfish . . . Those who are held in the power of their own bitterness.

      Grant rest to the souls who in this life made Christ their one foundation . . . Hold them in the peace of wrongs forgiven and enmities overcome.

      Through him on whom all our hope is founded, Christ the support and strength of the faithful, we offer our prayers.

       SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT

      Let us pray to God, our creator, sustainer and redeemer, for our needs and the needs of the whole world.

      Fill the Church, your new creation, with the spirit of hope . . . Enable her to proclaim to all people the good news of the Kingdom and its righteousness.

      Restore to a world created holy and beautiful but which we have defaced by indifference and greed, the reverence due to all your creatures . . . Give hope and trust to take away the anxiety for the future that troubles so many.

      Bring to all who are of our community the assurance that they are your children and that you will meet their needs . . . Let our own trust be a witness to others.

      Have mercy on those whose troubles hold them back from knowing the beauty of the world . . . Deliver them from fear and show them the joy of your salvation.

      We commend those who have been delivered from the cares of this transitory life . . . Hold them in the life of the Kingdom where lost beauty is restored and lost innocence is renewed.

      Trusting in the unfailing love of God for all that he has made, we offer our prayer and praise before him.

       SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT

      Let us pray in obedience to God’s holy law and in adoration of his glory revealed in his Son.

      As we have received your commandments, give to your Church a prophetic voice to declare them, that the glory of Christ may shine in all people . . . Give us the light that we cannot find without your guidance.

      Look with pity on a world lacking direction and purpose . . . Lighten the nations with the vision of truth revealed of old in your holy mountain.

      Grant to us, and to our families and friends, the desire to draw closer to Christ and to live our lives with him . . . Speak to us through the Holy Spirit as you spoke to the prophets and apostles.

      Send the light of Christ into the darkness of those who are in need and distress at this time . . . Give them the assurance of salvation.

      We give thanks that the faithful departed are transfigured in the light of your love . . . Give us grace to live according to your commandments and to follow in their steps.

      May these our prayers be found worthy in the light of Christ, our guide in all our words and ways.

       ASH WEDNESDAY

      In penitence and faith seeking the path of holiness, let us pray to the Lord.

      Inspire your Church to witness to her Lord at this season by following him in humility and simplicity of life . . . Give us wisdom to make good resolves and grace to maintain them . . . Grant that we may so deepen and purify our worship that we shall know more fully your holy will.

      We pray for those who use the good things of this world selfishly and for those whose power makes them insensitive to the needs of others . . . Show them the way of love and self-denial . . . Cleanse the peoples of the earth from worshipping the false gods of wealth and possessions.

      Fill us with the grace of prayer and service . . . Enable us to give ourselves more readily, in our homes, our work and all our dealings with others . . . Shield those known to us who are beset by temptation to do wrong.

      We pray for those whose lives are austere not by choice but by misfortune . . . For those who have no comforts to renounce because they struggle to survive . . . We pray for the starving and undernourished, the homeless and the unprotected.

      Have mercy on the dead who once trusted in the things of this world . . . Have mercy on those who looked for salvation through their own deeds . . . In your unfailing love, grant them the eternal life which all may gain through faith but none can merit.

      Sorrowful for our sins and joyful for the means of pardon, we begin our Lenten pilgrimage in prayer.

       FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

      Let us pray to the Lord who guides us through the wilderness of temptation into our fellowship with him and with one another.

      Forgive the weakness and failures of those who call themselves followers of Christ