St Mary's Church, Mudford
Intercessions
Prayers of Intercession written by members of our Ark Group of churches
Sunday 15th March, Mothering Sunday
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Today, let us give thanks to God for the gift of
mothers and the mother-like nurture that many
people show to others in their lives. Isaiah wrote
that God is like a mother to us, comforting and
carrying us in her arms: 'As a mother comforts
her child, so will I comfort you'.
Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care
Isaiah also wrote that God would never forget
He knows each of us, like a mother knows
her own children: 'Can a mother forget the
baby at her breast and have no compassion on
the child she has borne? Though she may
forget, I will not forget you.'
Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care.
Jesus spoke of himself like a mother hen gathers
her chicks under her wings: 'O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks
under her wings, but you were not willing.'
Loving Lord, thank you for your tender care.
Amen.
As children of a loving God who always listens to our cries, let us pray to our Father in heaven.
Father God, as we give thanks for mothers and all who care for others, we also pray for women who grieve because they are unable to have the children they long for, and mothers who have seen their children die too soon; for those estranged or forcibly separated from their children and those who fear for their children’s well-being and safety.
We ask you, heavenly Father, to bring healing, comfort, forgiveness and peace into the hearts and minds of hurting women.
God of love, hear our prayer.
We also pray for children who grieve because they have lost their mother through illness, accident or violence and those whose mothers were unable to give them the love and care they need; for children who live in homes that are unsafe and whose basic needs of food, shelter, medical care and education are not being met because of poverty, hardship and neglect
We ask you, heavenly Father, to bring love and security, courage and hope into the lives of hurting children today.
God of love, hear our prayer.
God of love and kindness, you taught us to love our neighbour, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick, and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love.
God of love, hear our prayer.
God of compassion, be close to those who are worried, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light.
God of love, hear our prayer.
Merciful God, we entrust to your tender care those who are ill or in pain, knowing that whenever danger threatens your everlasting arms are there to hold them. Comfort and heal them, and restore them to health and strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God of love, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are facing war, conflict and displacements, and we place all your precious children into your hands.
God of love, hear our prayer.
God of love,
passionate and strong,
tender and careful:
watch over us and
hold us all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen