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Emmanuel Church Weekly IntercessionsIntercessions: Sunday 13th December 2009Let us pray Heavenly Father, as once again we prepare for Christmas, help us to find time in our busy lives for quiet thought and prayer, that we may reflect upon the wonder of your love and allow the story of the Saviour's birth to penetrate our hearts and minds. So that our joy may be deeper, our worship more real, and our lives worthier of all that you have done for us through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that all who come into our church this Christmas time may be enabled to renew their relationship with you. Help us all to be glad of your presence, and to rejoice at the coming of Jesus. On this Sunday we offer you our thanks for all the gifts you have so freely given to us. We thank you especially for health of mind and body, for home and family and friends, for books, art and music and for the beauty of the world around us. Help us to use your gifts wisely, faithfully and generously, that we may show our gratitude not only in words, but also in our deeds. Come, Lord Jesus – And hear our prayer We pray for Peace; give peace to the world; give peace to the victims of war, the refugees, the widowed and the orphans. Give peace to family and friends; to those who have quarrelled and need to be reconciled. Give peace in our own divided hearts. Your Son came as the Prince of Peace and brought a message of Peace for all people. Help us to be Peacemakers in our own homes, at our work or wherever we meet people, so that the peace and goodwill of Christmas can find a place in the hearts of all people. Come, Lord Jesus – And hear our prayer Come, Lord Jesus – And hear our prayer At Emmanuel, we pray for those Ronnie Loong, who recently passed away. We also pray for the family of David Cyril Houston, especially for Muriel and Mildred and family in their loss. We pray for friends and family who are ill at this time, and remember them in the quietness of our hearts. We bring them to you in the confidence that you love them and know their every need and that your healing power is still the same today. Bless all that is being done for their recovery and answer our prayers as you see best. Come, Lord Jesus – And hear our prayer In all our actions in serving You and Your Church, help us to be humble and to give you the glory but also let us be bold in praising your name and spreading your word. Merciful Father - accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, Amen Intercessions: Sunday 25th October 2009Please sit or kneel as we pray for the church and the world and thank God for his goodness. On Bible Sunday, we pray for your Church and thank you for the gift of holy scripture: for the prophets and evangelists, for apostles and preachers, for transcribers and translators, for all who have brought and are still bringing your Word to the peoples of our world. We pray for scholars and theologians, for the gift of discernment as they interpret your word and bring it fresh and alive to each new generation. Here in Hong Kong, we pray especially for those responsible for the Genesis course, opening up the riches of your word to those who seek your truth. Lord in your mercy We pray for Christians who stand up to bring your word to a troubled world. We pray for the Catholic bishops of Africa, calling on leaders to witness to the Gospel that they outwardly profess. We pray for those working for peace and justice and especially for the delegates to the climate change talks in Copenhagen, that solutions for global, not local need will prevail. We pray for all who work to accomplish your will in this world. Lord in your mercy We thank you for our families and friends: for those who have taught us and brought your word into our lives. Help us to value that precious gift, to take time to read, mark, and inwardly digest the scriptures, that your word lives in our lives and works through us as your living word. Lord in your mercy We pray for those we know who are suffering, whether in body, mind or spirit. We remember before you all who are in special need of your love, especially Susan Kuyper, Agatha Harrison, Alex Lew, Chris Hunter, Scott and Rachel Buxton, Paul, Helen and Arthur; Jake and family. In a time of silence, we bring before you all for whom we are concerned. May your healing touch bring them your wholeness, hope and peace. Lord in your mercy We pray for all who have died, especially Nigel de Boinville. We remember all those who have died in the peace of Christ, those who have confessed the faith and those whose faith is known to you alone. It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose. Grant us, with them, a share in your eternal kingdom. Lord in your mercy
Intercessions: Sunday 15th August 2009Heavenly Father, we pray for the Church - that its members everywhere and particularly in Hong Kong will be constantly renewed in faith, love, and service. We pray especially today for the Mandarin congregation in the Cathedral family, for the Revd Sharon Constable and for the growth and development of the Discovery Bay Church. We give thanks for the fellowship and vitality of our own church at Emmanuel. In our search for a permanent priest, we humbly ask for your continued guidance of all those involved in the process, including those who might consider themselves for this position from near or afar. Lord, in your mercy [hear our prayer] Creator God, we pray for our world. Provide wisdom to the leaders of nations experiencing conflict and humanitarian crises, so that they may work diligently to uplift their peoples. We think especially today of those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Sri Lanka. We pray too for the leaders of our most powerful nations, so that their decisions will advance the pillars of justice, peace and security. Lord, in your mercy [hear our prayer] Heavenly Father, strengthen the faith and the bonds of those within our precious community - including our families, friends and neighbours - so that we grow in love for Christ and each other. We pray today especially for the patients and staff of the Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam. For those who are experiencing hardship and difficult decisions in these economic times, we pray for the opening of new doors of opportunity. We seek your blessings too on students and teachers in our congregation and community as they begin to prepare for a new school year, so that they may grow this year in learning and in faith. Lord, in your mercy [hear our prayer] Almighty God, we commend to you every person in need of healing, in body and spirit. We give thanks for your unswerving love in difficult times and pray that all who are sick, suffering or despondent will experience the full force of your healing power. We pray especially for Sam Tait, the Very Revd Neil Collings, Piers Colvin, Agatha Harrison, Robert Cheah, Amy Khoo, Carol Hall, Paul, Helen & Arthur. We also take a few moments now to pray individually for those suffering amongst our family and friends. Lord, in your mercy [hear our prayer] Gracious God, we give thanks for the gift of life. Hear us as we remember those who have died before us - including Diane Khoo, Zubin Mahtani Gidumal and Ruby Cheah - and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom. Merciful Father,
Intercessions: Sunday 24th May 2009Dear God, We pray here to today in this chapel, grateful for the opportunity to be here, in good company, with the sermon, hymns, prayers, and lessons that make up this Service. We pray today for those who have come here to Béthanie for the first or second or third time, for those who have returned after an absence, we pray that you may look kindly on them as they pray today as you have looked kindly on so many. Lord in your mercy We pray today three more prayers. As we think of Béthanie as a daughter church of St. John's Cathedral, we pray the prayer that is inscribed on the reredos that was made by prisoners of war and hangs in the Chapel of St. Michael at the Cathedral, the prayer of St Richard of Chichester. This is his prayer as it has come to be known and as it is on the wall at the Cathedral and which inspired and gave hope to men before us. Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ, Lord in your mercy And as second prayer let us pray silently, each our own prayer as we think on our lives, our loved ones, Hong Kong and the world beyond. Let us have a few moments to reflect and to pray. [period of silence] Lord in your mercy And as a third prayer, let us pray for ourselves. Help us to realise what we can do so that these prayers may be answered. May we learn to remember what we should have done, where we should have been, where we could have helped our fellow man. Help us to achieve what we could and should do in the weeks and year ahead. Help us to lead that better life that we talk of but seem so often to put aside. We ask so much, but we give so little. Bring us into your fold, Lord. Lord in your mercy Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Intercessions: Sunday 26th April 2009In the power of the Holy Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray. Heavenly Father, we pray for the Church – that its members everywhere and particularly in Hong Kong will be constantly renewed in faith, love, and service. We pray especially today for St. Stephen's Stanley and the Revd Will Newman, and as well for St. Stephen's Church in Macau. We give thanks for the fellowship and vitality of our own church at Emmanuel, for the providential leadership of our interim priest, Father David, and our lay leaders. We thank you for the safe travels of Revd. Alan Perry to visit us this week. In our search for a permanent priest at Emmanuel, we humbly ask that you guide him, our church leaders, and all those involved in this process. Risen Lord [hear our prayer] Creator God, we pray for our world. Provide wisdom to the leaders of nations experiencing war and humanitarian crises, and uplift their peoples. We think especially today of those in Sri Lanka, Iraq, and in the Darfur region of Sudan. Lord, the sufferings of people in wars and humanitarian crises are so great, and situations so intractable, that we may sometimes feel powerless to help them. We pray that you will lead us to ways in which we can love these men, women and children as we love ourselves. Risen Lord [hear our prayer] Heavenly Father, strengthen the faith and the bonds of those within our precious community – including our families, friends and neighbours – so that we grow in love for Christ and each other. We pray today especially for the staff and students of West Island School. For those who are experiencing hardship and difficult decisions in this economic crisis, we pray for the opening of new doors of opportunity. Risen Lord [hear our prayer] Almighty God, we commend to you every person in need of healing, in body and spirit. We give thanks for your amazing love in difficult times and pray that all who are sick, suffering or despondent will experience the full force of your healing power. We pray especially for the complete recovery of Suzanne Alabaster, as well as for Sam Tait and his family, The Very Revd Neil Collings, Piers Colvin, Agatha Harrison, Robert and Ruby Cheah, and Amy Khoo, and also for those suffering amongst our family and friends. Risen Lord [hear our prayer] Gracious God, we give thanks for the gift of life. Hear us as we remember those who have died before us, and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom. Merciful Father,
Intercessions: Sunday 19 April 2009Let us pray The Resurrection has happened and we have been redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. We pray that our lives too will be redeemed by the power of the sacrifice He made for us, and that we may retain the message of Easter in our heads, and in the way we treat other people. Help us as we pray now for ourselves in our need and for others in all kinds of need, some we know and love and others far away. Help us to listen and to hear your voice and to be led out by you, to believe, to serve and to trust in your goodness. Lord in your mercy - Hear our Prayer Creator God, we pray for our complex world, for the fragile equation of rich and poor, of have and have not. We pray for the needy throughout the world. In your love and mercy, help us to feed and care for your children. We pray for all who are hungry, homeless, displaced. For the asylum seeker and refugee. For those whose home is a makeshift cardboard shelter. For the mother who cannot feed her children. For the parents who cannot find work. For those who hunger for justice and freedom and peace and all who work to make a safer world for us to live in. Lord in your mercy - Hear our Prayer Lord, as you lead us to believe and trust in you, we pray for the Church. We give thanks for the blessings we find here at Emmanuel and St Johns. For the opportunities we find to grow in faith. Guard and guide our ministers and leadership teams in their ministry among us and this neighbourhood. We pray for encouragement as we approach our annual meeting, that some will feel called to fuller involvement in your service. We pray for those who seek the vocation to which you are calling them; that they may find in you and those around them the guidance they need. Lord in your mercy - Hear our Prayer Lord, we pray for the children and young people who go back to their schools this week. We pray that they may come back from their holidays renewed and refreshed, and that they may be able to do their best in the exams to come. Lord God, we pray for all who face difficulties in their personal lives – those who are sick, those with problems in their families, in their friendships, in their neighbourhoods or in their workplace. We pray for those in debt, for those on whom society has turned its back, and for all who lack the basic necessities of life. Help us all to be calm in times of uncertainty, patient with those around us and steadfast in the knowledge that you share each and every moment and emotion with us. We ask you to guide us so that we can give, love, help and support to others around us who are in greater need than ourselves. In our community we pray for:
In a moment of silence before God, we pray for all those known to us personally and all who are in need of the support of our prayers. (SILENCE) Lord, may your presence shine in the darkest places that there may be light and hope for all. Lord Jesus in your mercy - Hear our Prayer Risen Lord, as we go out into the world we ask that you walk with us each day and open our eyes to the vision you have for each one of us. Merciful Father - accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
Intercessions: Easter Day Sunday 12 April 2009We thank you Lord for this day, this moment, this opportunity to be here today here in Béthanie, to celebrate this most important event, Jesus Christ rising from the dead and the glory that is Easter. This day is a glorious day, a day that began so quietly so many years ago on the edge of Jerusalem, an event that changed the whole world, that has changed our lives and so many before and so many yet to come. We think of the importance of this day and recognise its importance in our lives, and how our lives fit in. In the words of the hymn with written by Isaac Watts in 1707 that we sang on Good Friday here in Béthanie, words that remind us how humble we are on this day… When I survey the wondrous cross Help us Lord, help all of us to realise the importance of this day and of Jesus Christ rising from the dead. Risen Lord Hear our prayer We come to you Lord this day, with our thoughts, our concerns, our worries, our lives spread before you as no-one else might know. We humbly ask you to hear our prayers as each of us prays in our own way. As we celebrate this day, we may think of the words of the hymn we sang on Maundy Thursday here in Béthanie, a hymn written by Brian Wren in 1977. We come with self-inflicted pains Lord, as we come with those self-inflicted pains, yet we do seek hope for humankind. We pray this day for a better world, a peaceful world, let us have a moment of silent prayer for the world, for the troubles that we see, read about, hear about. Let us have that moment's silence. [a moment's silence] Risen Lord Hear our prayer Lord, as we leave this Church today we pray that we shall remember the importance of Easter, of Good Friday, as we go to our normal lives with its blessings and wonders, and its challenges and worries. As the 11th century hymn originally written in Latin that we sang earlier today says The three sad days are quickly sped; As Christ rose glorious, let us strive to follow as best we can, with your help. Let us go back into world happier, more content, and more purposeful. Help us to realise what we can do so that these prayers may be answered. And in that let us pray for ourselves, may we learn to remember what we should have done, where we should have been, where we could have helped our fellow man. Help us to achieve what we could and should do in the weeks and year ahead. Help us to lead that better life that we talk of but seem so often to put aside. We ask so much, but we give so little. Bring us into your fold, Lord on this, your Easter Day. Risen Lord Hear our prayer Merciful Father Accept these prayers for the sake of your son,
Intercessions: Sunday 29 March 2009Dear Father, We thank you for this day and that we can be here together. We ask you to listen to our prayers and especially we ask you to listen to those of us who may be troubled and have difficulty in finding the right words. Bless this church, our Priest and the whole Cathedral Family. Bless and support all those who sincerely seek to follow you. Merciful Lord, hear our prayer. Bless and support the peacemakers. Violence is so much easier than compromise. Aid and protect those who work for reconciliation and friendship between old enemies. We think of those in Iran, Iraq and other places in the Middle East who wish to talk of peace and life. Strengthen the resolve of all those in Ireland and the United Kingdom who are prepared to live and let live and wish to live in Peace with their neighbours. Merciful Lord, hear our prayer. At a time of acute economic stress we think of those who have been hurt. We ask you to guard and protect them and their families from want and despair. We think particularly of the millions of migrant and other workers in this country who no longer have a job. Grant wisdom to all those in the governments of the world who are working to set matters right. Guide those of us who have more than we need to an understanding of what we really need to be content, and the damage that greed and a lack of perspective can do. Merciful Lord, hear our prayer. Father, forgive the guilty, especially those who cannot forgive themselves and turn bad to good. Bless and protect the victims, those who suffer in body or mind, those who do not know where to turn for help. Guide the hands and minds of those who care for them and listen to them. Merciful Lord, hear our prayer. We think of our families and friends. Those from whom we are separated by the miles or by the unresolved issues that lie between us. Father, we bring before you the names of :
Dear God, let us leave this place strengthened by the knowledge that, whatever our shortcomings, we have the steadfast and unconditional love of our Father. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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