April 29th intercessions based on John 15:1-8 The Vine and the Branches
Let us pray for the church and for the world and let us thank God for his goodness.
a. We pray for the church throughout the world, thanking you for all its branches, and all its fruit. Today we pray especially for our own parish church as we review our activities in our APCM and recommit ourselves, individually and collectively, to you and the fruit you would have us bear. May we and all your church, in all its variety of forms, grow in grace to see that we are united by our utter dependence on you, and united in a vocation of love. Teach us to remain with you, to let go of all that isn’t fruitful, to accept your pruning of us, and to become more prayerful, loving and fruitful witnesses of your life. Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
b. We pray for our beautiful world, thanking you for every lovely person, creature, place and thing. We repent of all the ways we collude with unkindness and injustice, all the ways we perpetuate separation from you.
As we think of our world, we pray for those who bear the responsibility of leadership, on large scales and small. May they, we and all people grow in the knowledge of your divine life, in the knowledge of their connectedness to you. May they, we and all people bear fruits of justice, love and peace. Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
c. We pray for all who suffer in body, mind and spirit. In this church we remember….. Despite their suffering, may they feel your life flowing in theirs. May they know that, whatever is happening, they can abide in you and that you abide in them. May we all find fruitful ways to bring your love to those in need. Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
d. We pray for those who have died recently, remembering….. And in the year’s mind we remember….. May they know the joy of living more closely with you. May they rest in peace. Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer
Lord, the core of our being is connected to you. Liberate us from the illusion that we are separate from you, separate from each other, and separate from the physical world. Help us live more connected and loving lives that we might bear your fruit in the world
Merciful Lord, accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Alice Chapman