Prayers for our world   (intercessions) – Katherine Baxter, UK

A responsive prayer of intercession

Within our darkest night,

Let your light shine.

God of all creation, you hold the depths of the earth in your hands.
You are closer to us than the air we breathe.
Fill our souls with your wonderful love and light.
Give us strength and courage to reflect that love and light in the world.
Let us never shrink back from who we are in you or hide our light inside ourselves. Renew in us a sense of joy,
painting the dark shadows around us with your light, your love and your salvation.
Hear us today as we pray for a world too often darkened by hatred, evil, power and greed.
Within our darkest night,   Let your light shine.

God of power and might, your broken world cries out from the depths,
a world dominated by the darkness of war, terror, pain and suffering.
We think of the on-going and deepening conflict in [Syria and the middle East].
We share the pain and anguish of those who have had to flee from their homes,
countries and livelihoods, who risk their lives,
desperate for a new start free from fear and war.
May they see your light, feel your strength and power
and know the truth of your promise
that we shall not be overcome by the dark shadows of life
or the darkness of human nature.
Within our darkest night, Let your light shine.

God of compassion and grace, we share with you our love and concern
for people in a dark place today.
We have on our hearts the friends and loved ones of the victims of violence and hatred.
We pray that they will find your strength
in the compassion and love of those around them.
We pray for tolerance in our society.
We pray for all Muslims suffering from Anti-Islamic hate crimes.
Let your light shine through the darkness of all their pain and their suffering.
Within our darkest night, Let your light shine.

God of life, we ask for your healing power
on those who are enduring pain and illness.
We especially think of ………………………
and all those we name quietly in our hearts……………………
We share the grief of people close to us, who’ve recently lost loved ones.
We especially think of ………………………………………………………
We remember that as we weep with the grieving,
we embrace the joy of ……………….
We know your everlasting light shines with us,
in moments of great sadness and great joy.
Within our darkest night,  Let your light shine.

God of love and hope,
Renew in us a deeper sense of who we are in you.
Help us to be aware of your presence each and every day.
Make us instruments of love and praise.
May our words, actions and lives be living examples
of your forgiving, healing, life-giving love.
Amen.

 

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