Church Intercessions 22.3.20 4th Sunday in Lent: Mothering Sunday
Nurturing Father, today, we give thanks for the ministry of women,
poured out in abundance in the unnamed and unsung lives of countless women, alone and together, in prayer and in action.
We give thanks today for all mothers wherever they might be. We especially remember with gratitude our own mothers who have loved, inspired, tirelessly cared, loved, instructed, supported, advised, encouraged, lavished joy, shown generosity, and prayed for us, and much more.
We pray for the valuing of parenthood, the encouragement of its gifts,
and the discovery of joy and beauty amid its challenges.
This morning we pray not only for biological mothers but for stepmothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and all those who have loved and laughed, wept and worked to care for others. Let us be a source of encouragement, support and friendship for them as they courageously accept this inspiring responsibility.
We give thanks for the Church, our mother, who brought us to birth in the family of Christ, through the waters of baptism. We pray you will teach us how to console and cherish each other as followers of your beloved Son.
Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.
We pray for all those in authority in our nation and in our world. May they learn from the example of Jesus Christ that true power is the power to feed the poor and the hungry, to make a home for the homeless and to offer hospitality to the broken-hearted. As the world struggles through these unsettling times of a pandemic, may the voices of all Christians
be united as one voice, proclaiming a message of love and hope.
Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.
We pray for our community here in Tweed Heads. May we see each other as brothers and sisters, called to sit at God’s family table together. Help us to make churches safe and nurturing places where everyone can find their true home, where the lonely, the marginalized and the rejected may be welcomed and where everyone can experience your unconditional love. During this Lenten season, may your Spirit of Truth enrich our Bible reading and prayer with the light of your wisdom.
Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who suffer today, in mind, body or spirit. In particular, we pray for those who have lost a motherly presence, and for those who have never known a mother’s love. May they find consolation in God, the one in whom every family on earth finds its home. Bless all parents and all carers and strengthen those families living under stress.
May the circle of your love close around those whose relationships are broken and in need of your healing.
Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.
Loving God, we pray for the very old, for those living with serious illness and for those who love them and struggle as they witness their loved ones’ diminishing health and daily challenges.
Nurturing God you are our eternal mother and father, we entrust to you every mother’s child who has died and we pray that all the departed know the fulfilment of their hope as you receive them into your Kingdom to live with you forever and ever.
Lord, in your mercy. All Hear our prayer.
As we leave our church today, may we walk more faithfully with Jesus and follow him as Mary did, to the foot of the cross and onwards into the light of resurrection hope. May you fill our hearts with the assurance that our prayers will rise up to you as a fragrant offering and be pleasing to you.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer. Our Father …