Proclaiming and trusting in the greatness of the Lord, in the power of the Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to our Father in heaven.
To the bidding Holy God, please respond Have mercy.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God our saviour, look with favour on your Church and its servants, bless all your people and draw us ever closer to you.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who shows strength with his arm, on this 80th anniversary of VJ Day and the end of WW2, we pray for peace, for a laying down of nuclear weapons, for an end to the arms trade and for tighter gun control worldwide.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who scatters the proud, we pray for our society addicted to status, power, money, and oil.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who casts down the mighty, we pray for the perpetrators of war and all committing and planning violence.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who lifts up the lowly, we pray for the Earth and all people subjected to exploitation and violence.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who comes to our aid, we pray for all those who are God’s hands providing food and care, working for reconciliation and justice, and repairing the world.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who has promised mercy, we pray for those who are addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling, and for their families and friends, for all in recovery, and for their support networks.
Holy God. Have mercy.
O God who is with us for ever, we pray for all who are ill and dying, for those watching over them, for those who have recently died, and for those grieving them.
Holy God. Have mercy.
Glory and thanks be to you, merciful Father… accept these prayers for the sake of your only son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
-oOo-
Written for the 5.30pm Eucharist at Exeter Cathedral, drawing closely on the Magnificat, the great song of Mary. The readings set for the Sunday and used in the service were: Galatians 4.4-7; Luke 1.46-55.