Leading Intercessions. Raymond Chapman

. . . By his victory over temptation, strengthen your Church in his service.

      Have mercy on a fallen world, disobedient to your law . . . Restore in all our humanity your image that has been defaced through sin . . . Inspire those in authority with more concern for the care of natural things.

      Make us more aware of the beauty of creation in the places where we live and work . . . Give us grace to resist the temptation to use your creatures for our own pleasure.

      Have mercy on those who have fallen deeply into sin and despair . . . Lead them into the new life which Christ has opened to all who will believe.

      We commend to your mercy the souls of those who have passed from the temptations of this world . . . Forgive their sins and receive them into the perfection of your new creation.

      Beset by temptation but trusting in the power of Christ alone to save, we commend ourselves to his mercy through our prayers.

       SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

      Let us pray in the power of the Holy Spirit who guides and enables the people of God.

      As your word has been revealed from the days of Abraham until this time, make us faithful in our generation to believe your promises and follow the guidance of your Holy Spirit.

      Open the ears of a world that seems deaf to your word . . . Grant that the lives that have fallen aside from the true way may be born again.

      Keep us, our families and friends, alert to your calling . . . As we come to you in questioning, relieve our doubts and fears . . . Breathe new life into our homes and the places where we work.

      Give courage to those who are fearful of what lies before them, who face the call to depart into new and unknown ways . . . Keep them steadfast in hope and trust.

      Grant to the faithful departed the eternal life promised by our Lord Jesus . . . Unite our prayers with them and with those who have believed your word through all the ages.

      May the Holy Spirit direct and sanctify these our prayers and lead us in the way of truth.

       THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

      That we may worship in spirit and in truth, let us pray with reverence to Almighty God.

      Source of the living water, forgive us when we fail in trust and serenity towards you . . . Through all times of trouble and difficulty, keep your Church constant to worship you in spirit and in truth.

      Come to a world that is thirsty for peace and security . . . Calm the restlessness of humanity with the knowledge of salvation won by Jesus Christ.

      We pray for those known to us who are suffering in their marriages or other close relationships . . . We remember also those who know you imperfectly, and pray that they may understand and be made whole.

      Look with compassion on those who know too well the pains of bodily thirst . . . Strike through the hardness of our hearts, that we may work for relief in areas of drought and famine.

      With confidence in the love of Christ who died for sinners, we commend the souls departed this life . . . We give thanks for the eternal life in which none shall ever thirst again.

      We offer these prayers to God who knows the secrets of all hearts and gives us the water of life.

       FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

      Let us pray for the light of Christ, that we may worship with a clear vision of his love.

      Open the eyes of your people, to have a right judgement in all things by the light of your truth . . . Shield us from the works of darkness that may threaten the purity of your Church.

      When so many cannot see their way and fall into indifference or despair, grant that the light of the Gospel may be known to all nations . . . Give true discernment to those who go astray through the false judgement of outward sight.

      Be close to our families and save them from all that would offend against you . . . Bring the brightness of your presence into our community, to reveal and correct those things which are contrary to your will.

      Have mercy on the blind and weak of sight . . . Guide those who seek to relieve them, and increase our will to help where resources are needed.

      We remember those whose eyes are open indeed as they live in the fullness of your glory . . . We give thanks for the way of salvation shown by Christ, the Light of the world.

      That we may have the perfect vision of faith, may these our prayers lead us to closer knowledge of God.

      or MOTHERING SUNDAY see here

       FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

      Let us pray to God, the giver of life in this world and in his eternal Kingdom.

      Breathe new life into the Church . . . Break through our sloth and indifference . . . Give us power to proclaim Jesus as the Resurrection and the life.

      Bless the wilderness places of the world, where the springs of hope have become dry . . . Heal with your life-giving Spirit all who are weighed down by the burden of materialism.

      Lead us, our families and friends, in the way of true righteousness . . . Give us lives more joyful in the assurance of sins forgiven.

      Comfort those who mourn, so that they may know that death is not the end . . . Give the Spirit of life to those whose spirits are broken by sorrow.

      Confident in the promise that those who believe in Jesus Christ will live though they are dead, we give thanks for all who have left their earthly body and entered into the greater life of the Spirit.

      We make our prayers in the name of Christ who has raised us from the death of sin to eternal life.

       PALM SUNDAY

      Let us follow in the way of Christ and pray through him to the Father.

      Give true humility to your people, making them more worthy to proclaim the sufferings of Christ, the just for the unjust . . . As he was smitten for us, strengthen us when we must bear scorn and opposition for his sake.

      Turn and soften those who take the false and easy way when choice is demanded . . . Cleanse the world of corruption that is concealed under a show of goodness.

      Give us the desire to serve those whose lives touch our own . . . Let us honour one another for the sake of him who humbled himself to the Cross for us.

      Have compassion on those who are condemned by unjust laws and cruel regimes . . . May they feel, in their suffering, the suffering love of Christ.

      We pray for those who have been put to death through anger, blindness or cowardice or by the violence of injustice . . . Give them the peace that was refused them in this life.

      Casting our cares and our sins before the feet of Christ, may we have grace to follow him to the end.

       MAUNDY THURSDAY

      Let us pray, in the joy of the Lord’s sacrament and in the sorrow of his Passion.

      Inspire the Church with the presence of Jesus Christ, here with us as he was with his disciples on the eve of his Passion . . . Draw us closer to you and to one another in the celebration of holy communion.

      Recalling your great acts of mercy, we pray for the world, for freedom from the slavery of injustice and oppression, and all that holds people back from fullness of life.

      As you gave to your disciples a new commandment of love, give the spirit of love to all among whom we live . . . Let the healing power of our communion spread beyond these walls, to make many whole.

      Have mercy on those who have not learned to love . . . Grant that those who feel themselves to be without value may be confident of their worth shown in Christ’s saving death.

      We pray for those who in this world followed Christ and died in the assurance of his love