29 March 2020

Sunday intercessions
on Passion Sunday

‘Mortal, can these bones live?’ (Ezekiel 37: 3) … skulls in the ossuary in Arkadi Monastery from a battle in 1866 during the Turkish occupation of Crete, when hundreds of people died (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2017)

These intercessions were prepared for use this morning at the United Group Eucharist (Holy Communion 2) in Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Co Kerry, but the churches have been closed temporarily because of the Covid-19 or Corona Virus pandemic:

Let us pray on this Passion Sunday:

Lord God, our Heavenly Father,
we hear your promise:
‘I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live’ (Ezekiel 37: 5)

Out of the depths, we cry to you, O Lord (Psalm 130: 1):

We pray this morning for people living in fear …
in fear of the Corona virus …
in fear for their health …
in fear for their families …
in fear of what the future brings …
in fear of hunger and hatred …

We pray for people who who are not at home …
for refugees and those who cannot return home …
for the homeless, and those in hostels, direct provision, and refugee camps …
for all in hospitals or who are isolated …
for families finding it difficult to work at home, to stay at home …
to care for and school children at home …

We pray for the nations of the world in this time of crisis,
for our own country, Ireland north and south …
for those bearing the responsibility of government …
for those working in frontline services …
and for those who keep working on essential supply lines …

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ,
you tell us:

‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live’ (John 11: 25):

We pray for the Church,
that as the Church we may be faithful to the call
to be a mother Church,
gathering God’s children together,
caring for them and nurturing them.

We pray for churches that are closed this morning,
that the hearts of the people may remain open
to the love of God, and to the love of others.

In the Church of Ireland,
we pray this month for
the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe and Bishop Andrew Forster.

We pray for our Bishop Kenneth,
we pray for our neighbouring parishes
in Limerick, Adare and Tralee,
their parishioners and people,
their priests: Jim, Phyllis, Liz, and Niall,
that we may grow closer together
in mission, ministry and hospitality.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer,
we pray for the Anglican Communion,
for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby,
for those who are disappointed
that the Lambeth Conference has been postponed.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer,
we pray for the diocesan Children’s Ministry Network representative,
the Revd Jane Galbraith,
and all engaged in children’s ministry in our dioceses.

Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

Holy Spirit,
we ‘wait for the Lord,
for with the Lord there is mercy’ (Psalm 130: 6):
that the Lord will put the Spirit within us so that we shall live (Ezekiel 37: 14)

We pray for ourselves and for our needs,
for healing, restoration and health,
in body, mind and spirit.

We pray for the needs of one another,
for those who are alone and lonely …
for those who travel …
for those who are sick, at home or in hospital …
Alan ... Ajay … Charles …
Lorraine … James …
Niall … Linda ... Basil …

We pray for those who grieve …
for those who remember loved ones …
May their memory be a blessing to us.

We pray for those who have broken hearts …
for those who live with disappointment …

We pray for all who are to be baptised,
We pray for all preparing to be married,
We pray for those who are about to die …

We pray for those who have asked for our prayers …
for those we have offered to pray for …

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

A prayer on this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday,
in the prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG,
United Society Partners in the Gospel:

Holy God, as we enter Passiontide today
help us to walk alongside our brothers and sisters
who are marginalised, and work with them
to transform unjust structures of society.

Merciful Father, …

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