Spring Prayer of Intercession – thinking of the southern hemisphere
Related texts: Mark 4:20, Luke 8:15, Romans 7:4, Colossians 1:10 (Year C, Pentecost 5), Jeremiah 17:8 (Year C, Epiphany 6)
Suggestion: everyone receives & hold a sunflower seed (or similarly large seed) throughout the prayer.
Ready-to-print:
WORD Spring Prayers of Intercession – Ana Gobledale
PDF Spring Prayers of Intercession – Ana Gobledale
Jesus said that unless a seed falls to the earth and dies,
it cannot bear fruit. As you hold your seed, focus on its potential to grow and produce fruit.
Pray with me.
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
We pray for our church,
thanking God for those things that are flourishing.
We ask God to show us what needs to die
in order for new things to grow.
Give us the strength and courage to try new things.
Encourage us – and even push us – to let go of ourselves and old ideas
so we can fully embrace what is best for our church community to flourish and grow.
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
We pray for our community,
thanking God for those places where people are thriving.
We pray for those in need, the unemployed,
the housebound or in care facilities, the lonely, those who are ill.
Show us how to plant seeds of reassurance in their lives.
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
We pray for our land, thanking God for the abundance of
food, water and wealth we enjoy.
Forgive us, God, for over-indulging, for using more than our fair share.
Plant in our hearts seed of generosity and a delight in sharing.
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
We pray for the world, your garden of creation.
We pray for those parts of the world that are at war,
and especially for those imprisoned and those who have fled their homelands.
Show us how to plant seeds of peace, how to cultivate reconciliation, how to encourage understanding in diversity.
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
We pray for ourselves,
giving thanks for those who love us, and those we love.
May the prayers of our hearts be seeds of love, growing into a garden of caring action
reaching out to those we love, and to all whom you love, though they may be strangers to us.
Like our brother Jesus, show us how to shed tears as seeds of compassion,
bringing us ever closer to your eternal garden, where love overflows.
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
Creator God, [as we hold these seeds], show us what needs to die in our lives for new fruit to grow.
Make us mindful of the need to act with kindness and truth in your world,
to tread softly on your creation, and to plant the seeds of goodness wherever we go.
Burn into our hearts Jesus’ words: ‘Unless a seed falls to the earth and dies, it cannot bear fruit.’
With hope we plant seeds for the future.
Thank you, God, for the cycle of life.
