Full of the Holy Spirit, let us approach the throne of grace, and bring our prayers to Jesus Christ our Lord.
To the bidding ‘let us pray to the Lord,’ please respond with ‘Lord have mercy.’
So in confidence and peace let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.
For all who hold authority as political, business or religious leaders, that that they may exercise their power with justice and for the common good, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.
For Justin our Archbishop, Robert our Bishop, the Dean and Chapter of this Cathedral, and for all who minister to God’s people, let us…
For Pope Francis, the patriarchs of the Orthodox Churches, the leaders of the Reformed Churches, and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ, let us…
For Jews, Muslims, and those of other faiths, let us…
That the Lord may continue to raise up prophets speaking truth to power and practising non-violent resistance to injustice and exploitation, let us…
For the grace to witness to the truth of God with us and to bear the cost of following in the way of Christ, let us…
For all who are persecuted because of their faith, or their words and actions in the cause of peace and justice, let us…
Mindful that no-one is beyond God’s grace – for their persecutors, for all who use violence to silence and control others, for all who incite and support violence, and for all who stand by or profess ignorance, let us…
For all who are victims and survivors of abuse, trafficking, civil war, and climate breakdown, let us…
For all those for whom the joy of this holy season is overshadowed by pain, grief or failure, let us…
For all who have asked our prayers, including those named in our service sheets and those we name in the silence of our hearts… let us…
For all who have gone before us looking for the vision of your heavenly glory, and for those who mourn their loss, let us…
Incarnate Lord, you came down to earth from heaven to embrace the pain and sorrows of our sinful world, and lift up earth to heaven. We rejoice in our communion with Mary your blessed mother, St Stephen, St Paul, and all the saints and martyrs whose hope was in you, and with whom we for evermore are one.
Now receive our prayers and perfect them by your heavenly intercession, to the glory of God. Amen.
-oOo-
Written for the 10am Eucharist at Exeter Cathedral, adapted from the pattern of intercessions at Malling Abbey and material from Common Worship: The Church’s Year.
As ever, we need to pray for people in business, who can have as much power as political leaders, and we must acknowledge our own complicity when we stand by and do nothing. I wanted to emphasise the importance of prophets, peace and justice; to pray for people who persecute as well as those who are persecuted; and to touch on the reality of grace that can forgive wrong and change hearts and that worked itself out in the life of Saul/Paul. So although the prayers acknowledge darkness, there is hope in setting Stephen and Paul side by side in the communion of saints.
