17 January 2021

Sunday intercessions on
17 January 2021,
Second Sunday after the Epiphany

‘You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways’ (Psalm 139: 3) … a pathway through Curraghchase Forest Park, Co Limerick (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2020)

Let us pray:

‘Then the Lord called … Here I am, for you called me’ (I Samuel 3: 4, 5):

Heavenly Father,
We pray that we may be faithful to promises made at our Baptism,
so that your blessing of peace may be gift to all people,
and that your blessings may guide the rulers of the nations and every people.

We pray especially this morning for Joe Biden,
who is inaugurated as President of the United States later this week.

We pray for all nations torn and divided by war and strife,
and we pray for all peacemakers,
for all who defend democracy and human rights,
for all who stand against racism, prejudice and intolerance,
for all who are working through this Covid crisis,
that they be filled with wisdom.

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man’ (John 1: 51):

Lord Jesus Christ,
we pray for the Church,
that we may follow in your path.

In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,
we rejoice in the diversity and variety found in the Church today.
We pray for all churches,
particularly our neighbour churches in Co Limerick and Co Kerry,
that we may be blessed in their variety and diversity.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer,
we pray this week for the Anglican Church of Australia
and the Right Revd Geoffrey Martyn Smith,
Archbishop of Adelaide and Primate of Australia.

In the Church of Ireland,
we pray this month for the Diocese of Armagh
and Archbishop John McDowell.

In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, we pray this week
for the Birr Group of parishes at this time of vacancy,
the Priest-in-Charge, the Rev Denis Sandes,
and the congregations of Saint Brendan’s Birr, Saint Ruadhan’s Lorrha, and Lougheen and Dorra churches.

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

Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

‘How deep are your counsels to me, O God! … and at the end, I am still in your presence’ (Psalm 139: 17-18):

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

We pray for the mothers, survivors, adult children and staff …
of the former ‘Mother and Baby Homes’ and their families …
who are grieving and mourning, and reliving their losses …
in the wake of last week’s report …

We pray for those in need and those who seek healing …
for those working for healing …
for those waiting for healing …
for those seeking an end to this Covid crisis …

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

Linda … Sylvia … Daphne … Declan …
Ajay … Ena … Eileen … George … Louise …
Ralph … Cait …

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 …
for Margaret, Nigel, Brian and their families …
we remember and give thanks for those who have died …
especially Alan …
and for those whose anniversaries are at this time …
including Kathy … Stephen …
May their memories be a blessing to us …

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

A prayer from the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) on the Second Sunday after the Epiphany:

Jesus Christ, you seek us, you wish to offer us your friendship
and lead us to a life that is ever more complete.
Grant us the confidence to answer your call,
so that we may be transformed and become witnesses
of your tenderness for the world.

Merciful Father …

‘Samuel … then … opened the doors of the house of the Lord’ (I Samuel 3: 15) … the west doors of Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2020)

These intercessions were prepared for use in the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes on Sunday 17 January 2021, the Second Sunday after Epiphany

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

No connection, but found this by searching, it must be recent: https://www.irishchurchmissions.ie/press-release