​​​​​​​​​​
 

... and now let us pray for God's family, the World, and ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.

​​​​​​​​​​​​

​Let us pray aloud, and together:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​​​​​

Holy God as we begin our Lenten journey, mindful of the temptation and suffering that Your son Jesus Christ endured in the wilderness.  We ask for You to strengthen us, as we find ourselves in the desert of human faults, failings and sinfulness.

 

<Longer pause for personal reflection>

 

In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”

 

(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer

 

Gracious God we ask for Your guidance in all that our faith community plans for the coming six weeks of Lent;  for the Lenten events and for all special services and meeting to be held in our faith community.

 

<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

 

Creator God, Your love reaches out to the boundaries our world, to the rich who have everything they need and the poor who have nothing except misery and oppression.

 

We pray for all Your people whoever they are, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances; that in their joy and sorrow, the knowledge of your presence might bring comfort, healing and restoration.

 

<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

 

Father God, we pray against all areas of our society where good food is wasted or disposed of unnecessarily when it could be used to relieve suffering.  We thank You for the work of food banks, charities and people which support disadvantaged individuals and communities.

 

<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

 

Loving God, we pray for all of those, dear to our hearts who are ill or in any kind of need.  We ask for Your blessing on the healing services which are held for them and for all who have a special Healing Ministry within our faith communities.

 

Give the song of joy to all who are now on the road to recovery and recuperation and the song of thanks to all who helped them on that road.

 

We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China, in Germany, in the Czech Republic, in Syria and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.

 

<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

 

Merciful God, when death comes close to us through the loss of a family member or friend help us to remember them and rejoice in their fellowship, giving thanks for the way that, as their lives touched ours, so we were enriched by that relationship.

 

We especially raise before you at this time our recently departed brothers, Vikram (India), Marcus (USA).

 

<Short silence> Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer

 

In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.

 

(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer

 

Everlasting God Your love and forgiveness washes over us and astonishes us with generosity. May we go out from this time of prayer as people who enjoy complete forgiveness and a restored relationship with You and all those with whom we share our lives.

​

(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer

 

Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.

 

Merciful father: trusting in Your mercy and grace, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.