Matthew 22.1-14
Heavenly Father, guard us against making light of your invitation to us this morning to share with you in bread and wine. As we come to you in prayer we hand over to you the burdens of care and worry we are carrying and centre our hearts and minds on you.
Help us to know the peace and joy of your presence here with us and keep us mindful of the costly love you showed in Jesus Christ which makes this communion possible.
Lord hear us.
Lord graciously hear us.
Lord of the church, you invite all who believe in you to share in loving fellowship with each other. Forgive the divisions which separate us and heal the wounds those divisions have caused. Unite us as the body of Christ. We pray that we will then, with integrity, be your messengers, calling others to join with us in our journey of faith.
May your kingdom come and may your will be done in and through your church.
Lord hear us.
Lord graciously hear us.
Lord and Father of mankind, you invite the nations of this world to live together in unity under your just and merciful rule. Forgive the madness which keeps us from accepting that invitation to peace. We pray that the light of your kingdom will shine through the hatred, prejudice and greed for power which seem to dominate our world.
For the places where war and conflict seem increasingly inevitable keep us firm in hoping and praying for reconciliation even at the eleventh hour.
May your kingdom come and may your will be done in the nations of this world.
Lord hear us.
Lord graciously hear us.
Lord of our community, you invite us to live in love and peace with our neighbours, friends and families. Forgive us when we fail to love and when we fail to see the needs of people around us. Help us to put aside our differences and resentments so that we may live and work together for the good of our parish and our town.
Help us to build our own fellowship in this church so that we may be strong to reach out to the people who need us.
May your kingdom come and may your will be done in this our community.
Lord hear us.
Lord graciously hear us.
Lord of broken lives, you invite those who are sick to come to you for healing and strength. Help us not to take that invitation so lightly that we neglect our praying for people suffering in body, mind or spirit. With faith in your power to comfort and heal we pray this morning for ……
We thank you for your love and compassion. May your kingdom come and may your will be done in and through the suffering in our lives.
Lord hear us.
Lord graciously hear us.
Lord of eternity, we thank you for the fellowship we share with those who have entered into the full light of your presence through the gateway of death.
Help us to accept with fearless joy your invitation to enter into eternal life.
May your kingdom come and may your will be done in and through the fellowship of all your saints throughout the ages.
Lord hear us.
Lord graciously hear us.
Eternal God and heavenly Father we thank you for inviting us to life in all its abundance. Help us to turn away from anything that keeps us from that life and to accept with joy the gifts you offer us.
And so we commit ourselves and the whole of creation to your care and protection trusting in your love which passes all understanding.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.