13 December 2020

Sunday intercessions on
13 December 2020,
Third Sunday of Advent

‘Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy’ (Psalm 126: 2) … a sign in a café in Rathkeale, Co Limerick (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Let us pray:

‘The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations’ (Psalm 126: 11):

Heavenly Father,
as we prepare for the coming of Christ
and to welcome the promises of the Kingdom,
we pray that truth shall spring up from the earth, and guide the rulers and nations of the world.

We pray for all nations torn and divided by war and strife,
and we pray for all peacemakers,
and all who defend democracy and human rights.

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight’ (John 1: 3):

Lord Jesus Christ,
in these weeks of Advent,
as we may prepare for your coming,
we pray for the Church,
that we may ‘make straight the way of the Lord’ (John 1: 23)

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer,
we pray this week for the Falkland Islands
and for Bishop Timothy Thornton, Bishop to the Falkland Islands.

In the Church of Ireland,
we pray for this Diocese of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert
as we prepare to unite with the Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry,
and we pray for our bishop, Bishop Kenneth Kearon,
and for Bishop Patrick Rooke.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray this week
for the Roscrea Group of parishes,
the Rector, Canon Jane Galbraith
and the congregations of Saint Cronan’s Church, Roscrea,
Saint Burchin’s Church, Bourney,
Christ Church, Corbally, and Saint Molua’s Church, Kyle.

We pray for our own parishes and people and for ourselves …

Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

The Spirit of the Lord sends us to bind up the broken-hearted,
to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61: 1-3)

Holy Spirit,
we pray for ourselves, for one another,
for those we love and those who love us,
and remember those who have brought love into our lives:

We give thanks for new life …
We pray for those in need and those who seek healing …

We pray for those who are sick or isolated,
at home or in hospital …

Sylvia … Alan … Margaret … Daphne … Declan …
Lorraine … Ajay… Ena … Eileen …
Simon … Ralph … Adam …

We pray for those we have offered to pray for …
and we pray for those who pray for us …

We pray for all who grieve and mourn at this time …
we remember and give thanks those who have died …
and those whose anniversaries are at this time …
including Kate … Stephen …
may their memories be a blessing to us …

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

A prayer from the Anglican mission agency USPG on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday:

Lord, you welcome the stranger
and urge us to be welcoming.
May we take your words to heart
and extend hospitality to those in need. Amen.

Merciful Father …

The Advent Wreath on the Third Sunday of Advent (The Pink Candle):

On the Third Sunday of Advent, the rose-coloured or pink candle on the Advent Wreath, symbolising Saint John the Baptist, and is lit alongside the two violet candles, symbolising the Patriarchs and the Prophets.

The first purple candle on the First Sunday of Advent recalls the Patriarchs and Matriarchs; the second purple candle represents the Prophets.

USPG suggests this prayer when lighting the third candle:

O God of justice,
whose servant John prepared the way for Jesus’ coming;
we pray for the medical mission of the Church of Bangladesh
as it prepares the way for prematurely born children.
Bless the babies from different faiths who share the warmth of a common incubator.
May their world become a fair and just home for all.

Lighting the third, pink candle on the Advent Wreath in Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Co Kerry (Photograph: Barbara Comerford)

These intercessions were prepared for use in Castletown Church, Co Limerick, and Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Co Limerick, on the Third Sunday of Advent, 13 December 2020

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