Category: Bidding Prayers

That the People of God will walk with Christ through the ‘Narrow Door’ of God’s radical and universal love and so guide the Nations along the Way that leads to Life and Freedom:

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…
                                        [RESPONSE]          THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR OF ENDLESS LOVE!

For our world wounded by terrorism and divided by war and ethnic conflicts; for reconciliation between the people’s of East and West, North and South; for global disarmament that the vast sums spent on weapons of destruction will instead feed the hungry and heal the sick of our one earth: we pray especially for the peoples of the Middle East and Central Africa

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…

May all who worship the God of many names learn to live in communion with the Earth and all its creatures, combat global warming, and challenge the culture of profit and wealth that is destroying our environment; for the protection of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region and their great forests that are the Earth’s lungs

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…

That all human hearts will be converted to compassion and love in the face of humanity’s struggles; for the millions of refugees and displaced people around the world, seeking safety, freedom and hope and in particular for the countless number of unaccompanied child refugees 

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…

For a deeper commitment to Inter-Faith Dialogue, especially between Christianity, Islam and Judaism, in the pursuit of the Glory of God and the peace of the world … that our parish will play its part in building bridges of understanding between different Faith traditions here in the Inner City 

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…

For all young people who have received their exam results … that they may use their gifts in the service of a Better World, and never value themselves or others by their successes or failures

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…

We pray with faith and trust for the sick, the housebound and the depressed:  we pray especially for …
for those who have died recently, especially the victims of Ebola in the Congo and war in the Middle East
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time: …

                                          [READER]                LORD, LEAD US WE PRAY…

Mary, whose life points us to the Narrow Door of a great love, pray with us for Sarai baptised today and her family…

                                                                              HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

Jesus says, ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth’ … may the Church be on fire with the Holy Spirit, proclaiming Good News to the Poor and with the courage of the prophets challenging our world with the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace. 

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…
[Response]                Burn in us with your love

Jesus warns us that faithfulness to him will cause division … we pray for the unity of all Christians in the service of the Kingdom of Light as we challenge the culture of death; in particular we pray for those areas of the world afflicted with division, conflict and violence, especially Syria and the Middle East, Central Africa and Cameroon, and the struggling people of Hong Kong 

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses … we pray for a deeper experience of the Communion of the Saints, knowing that they encourage us to be evermore faithful to Jesus, to keep our gaze upon him

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…

‘Let us not lose sight of Jesus, but keep running steadily’ … we pray for our young people as they receive their exam results and prepare for the next phase of their development and education: may they never judge themselves or others by their success, but always value themselves for who they are; we pray especially for all young people tempted to suicide

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…

‘The household will be divided…’ Wounded by the verbal attacks on the LGBT+ community from leading bishops in America, Poland, and parts of Africa, we pray encouragement for all our prophetic LGBT+ sisters and brothers who remain part of our Community of Faith despite so much condemnation 

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…

For all who are on pilgrimage or holiday at this time, that they will return home safe and refreshed; for all families that holiday time will not be a struggle with stress and poverty but an opportunity to enjoy quality time with one another

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…

We pray with faith and trust for the sick, in particular those suffering form Ebola and those caring for them; for the housebound and the depressed:  especially for …
for those who have died recently, especially the murdered PC Andrew Harper, the victims of Ebola in Central Africa and all victims of war and poverty ;
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time …

                                             [READER]                  LORD WE PRAY…

   Mary, assumed into Heaven, teach us how to be prophets of the Kingdom as you are…
                                                                                     HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

Like Abraham of old, our Father in Faith, may the Church never fear to listen to the voice of God and venture in new ways to proclaim both confidently and humbly the Promise of God to the men and women of the world of today 

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…
                                      [Response]            Lead us to the Father

For our contemporary world which too often puts its heart where its treasure is – in possessions, power and pleasure … may we instead treasure people, peace and spiritual realities

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…

Jesus asks us to be ready for action – to be ready to welcome Him in the many hidden ways He comes to us: for that hospitality of heart that is always ready to welcome the Divine in each person, rejoice in their gifts and value their humanity

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…

For God’s blessing and guidance for our Borderlands Charity at this time as a new staff team comes together … may we all be faithful to the vision of being Good News to the Poor and Marginalised; we pray too for all who turn to our community for help from our Caritas Fund and Foodbank – may we rid our society of such unjust inequality

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…

Challenged as a Parish to be alert to the ‘signs of the times’, may we seek the wise guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek always to be ready to risk all for the Gospel; the world is challenged also to ‘read the signs of the times‘ in the extremes of terror, war, ideology resulting in over 67 million refugees world-wide – may we awaken to the goodness of humanity

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…

For all who are on holiday at this time, that they will return home safe and refreshed; for our young people awaiting examination results that they will know peace in their hearts and value themselves more than their results; for all families that holiday time will not be a struggle with stress and poverty but an opportunity to enjoy quality time with one another 

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…

We pray with faith and trust for the sick, the housebound and the depressed:  we pray for those injured in body or mind by war and violence and for those suffering from Ebola in the Congo Region, and for medical staff and families who care for them; and for …. 
for those who have died recently, especially ….  and those killed recently in war and the shootings in the United States;
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time: …..

                                    [READER]              LORD WE BELIEVE…

Mary, Woman of Faith whose treasure was God’s Word made Flesh, help us to pray…
                                                                         HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

That the Church will resist the temptation to the vanity of power, but seek rather to journey alongside the broken and powerless in imitation of Jesus: we pray for Pope Francis as he challenges the Church to walk humbly as a servant ‘Church  of the poor, a Church for the poor’ 

[READER]                         LORD WE PRAY…
[Response]                      Lead us to live simply

For a world obsessed with the idolatry of power and wealth, where people are judged by what they have rather than who they are – that rich nations will have the courage to release the poorest nations from the strangle-hold of debt and poverty and build just trading structures: we pray also for the people of Idlib in Syria and in the Yemen – that peace might come!

[READER]                         LORD WE PRAY…

For our nation at this time of political change and turmoil; for our new government that it will listen to the cries of the poor and address urgent issues other than Brexit; for the people of the island of Ireland as they fear a hard border, damaging the peace accord; and for the community of Whaley Bridge threatened by the crumbling dam

[READER]                         LORD WE PRAY…

For all who share their homes and their hearts with children fostered and adopted; for the healing of children growing through wounded pasts; for our Diocesan Children’s Society as they seek to make new beginnings possible for children without love

                                            [READER]                         LORD WE PRAY…

For our young people anxiously awaiting examination results: for those who will be successful that they will use their learning wisely; for those who will be disappointed that they will not lose heart but know their value lies not in their knowledge but in their humanity  

[READER]                         LORD WE PRAY…

For those injured by war especially in Syria where hospitals are again being bombed; for  the sick, the housebound and the depressed, that we might be a community of healing and hope: we pray especially for ….
for those who have died recently: ….. and for the victims of war, violence and poverty, especially in Idlib in Syria and those who have died because of the Ebola virus;
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time 

[READER]                         LORD WE PRAY…

Mary, Queen of Peace and Prophet of Justice, that we might ‘live simply so that others might simply live’

                                                                                           HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

‘Lord, teach us to pray …’ – that the People of God will grow in prayer and openness to God, and find in deep prayer the inspiration for Mission, Mercy and Evangelisation
                                                   [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…
[Response]          May Love be alive among us

‘Search and you will find…’ – for all those who do not yet believe, yet search with integrity for the Truth to live by, for those who seek meaning in their lives and their world: may their search lead them to the Christ we know and love

[READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

‘Ask and it shall be given to you…’ – that the places of conflict and war will turn from violence to peace; that oppression and injustice will give way to freedom and justice; for our 67 million refugees world-wide, that will be welcomed and supported with bridges of compassion rather than walls of hostility

[READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

‘How much more will your Heavenly Father give you the Holy Spirit…’ for the renewal of our diocese in this Year of Prayer as a People of Prayer, a People of Mission, a People of Hope, that like Jesus we may be truly Good News to the Poor; that our young people might experience the gift of the Holy Spirit energising and transforming their lives

[READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

‘Knock and the door will be opened…’ that many hearts and homes will be opened to Christ and his Spirit of Love here in our own parish and City; that our ‘Borderlands Charity’ and our parish SVP group will help resource our service of the poor; that the Wild Goose Café and the One25 organisation will continue to serve lovingly and wisely the marginalised of our city

[READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

‘The Lord knows our every need…’ we pray for all who care for the unborn child, the elderly and those tempted to suicide; for all victims of Ebola and those caring for them:  we pray also for …
for those who have died recently in particular … and those killed by the Ebola Virus;
for all whose anniversaries are at this time, especially …. 

[READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

Mary, Woman of Prayer and Mission, pray with us for the young people of the world…
                                                                                      HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

‘Abraham ran to meet them and bowed to the ground’ … may our Church become a place of welcome for all peoples, reverencing all cultures, struggling against all racism and gender discrimination, while ever opening wide the Gates of God’s mercy to all who seek 

                                  [READER]                LORD WE PRAY…
[Response]              Welcome us in your Love

‘Mary has chosen the better part’ says Jesus … may Christians know how to listen to God and to people, listening with a heart filled with Christ’s love … to every heart in its anguish and searching; we pray too for greater recognition of women and men’s equality in the Church and in society 

                                  [READER]                LORD WE PRAY…

Paul writes, ‘I am suffering now to make up what has still to be undergone for the Body of Christ’ … that the war, terrorism and oppression, that is such a part of our world today, may give way to true dialogue in search for peace and justice in the global village that is our modern world: we pray for the people of Central Africa and the Middle East regions

                                    [READER]                LORD WE PRAY…

‘Martha was busy with all the serving’ … for all who serve the Kingdom by their work at home, especially those caring for young, or disabled or elderly family members; for those working on the land, on the seas or in industry; for all in the caring and teaching professions; and for the growth of lay ministry in our parish and every parish; that we will all offer our gifts to build the servant church in our world

                                  [READER]                LORD WE PRAY…

For our parish community, that we might express the prayerfulness of Mary, the service of Martha, and the welcoming hospitality of Bethany for all the people of the Inner City – may our ‘Borderlands Charity’ be  blessed by God with the resources we need to express the welcome of God to the stranger, the homeless and the addicted; may  our LGBT+ Ministry help many who have known such rejection by the Church to experience that they are valued 

                                  [READER]                LORD WE PRAY…

We pray that the Church will a house of healing for the sick and depressed:  we pray especially for the victims of the Ebola Crisis in Central Africa, and ….
for those who have died recently, especially … and all who have died of Ebola or in the world’s conflicts
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time:   

                                  [READER]                LORD WE PRAY…

Mary, Woman of Prayer and Handmaid of the Lord, pray with us for all hidden needs
                                                                        HAIL MARY…

Let us, like Mary of Bethany, pray in a moment of silence…

That the Church will always be the Samaritan who pours the wine of healing hope into the world’s wounds of poverty, violence and division … that Christians everywhere will reach out to the broken and wounded in their midst and on their streets 

                                  [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…
[Response]           Make us Your Sacrament of Mercy…

For peace between nations, races and cultures – may we all recognise each other as neighbours sharing  a common humanity; for victims of violence, religious and ethnic conflicts; for all who have been robbed of their possessions, their dignity or their peace of mind by another’s action; for all victims of hate crimes and discrimination because of ethnicity, religion or sexuality

                                  [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

For the work of the ‘Samaritans’ as they offer a listening ear and give hope to all driven towards suicide; for all who despair of meaning or purpose in life and feel there is no other way out; for the families of those who have taken their own life

                                  [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

That the cultural, racial and gender diversity of our parish and our Inner City might be seen as our greatest gift … that we might build a future of compassion for our children to inherit and end child poverty in our land

                                  [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

That on this Sea Sunday God will bless the Apostleship of the Sea, all chaplains on the ships and in the ports of the world; for all who serve the nations by their dangerous and arduous work upon the seas; we pray especially for all whose working conditions are a form of modern slavery and ruthless exploitation

                                  [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

That the sick will be strengthened and healed, and the depressed met with understanding and compassion:  and we pray especially for …
for those who have died recently, especially victims of war and poverty
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time:

                                  [READER]             LORD WE PRAY…

 As our diocese gathers for our annual pilgrimage today, we ask Mary of Glastonbury and Star of the Sea, pray with us for who work the seas…

                                                             HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

‘The harvest is rich, but the labourers few’ says Jesus … we pray that the Church will encourage all members of the People of God to hear God’s call, discover their mission, develop their gifts and play their role in proclaiming the Gospel to all the nations 

                                    [READER]            LORD WE PRAY…
[Response]         Lead us in the Way of Christ

‘Let your first words be “Peace”’ says Jesus … we pray for peace where there is conflict, reconciliation where there is division and forgiveness where there is hatred: we pray especially for the people of Sudan, Hong Kong, and the whole Middle East region, as well as for our own nation at this time of political turmoil

                                    [READER]            LORD WE PRAY…

‘Cure those who are sick’, says Jesus … we give thanks to God for our National Health Service: and pray for all who work in the NHS, for all who have need of its services, for adequate funding and fair distribution; for all who work in our care homes or caring  in the community that they will not be exploited; we pray too for the health of the poor of our nation in the light of increasing levels of poverty and injustice 

                                      [READER]            LORD WE PRAY…

‘Say, “the Kingdom of God is very near to you”, instructs Jesus … we pray that as the Church and as a parish we may live as signs and servants of the Kingdom that brings hope, life and healing to the Inner City – may our faith be a practical gift of service to all most burdened, creating communities of welcome for all migrants and opposing all forms of narrow nationalism and every kind of discrimination 

                                    [READER]            LORD WE PRAY…

We pray for our deanery and all the parishes of our diocese that we might truly develop as ‘parishes in communion for mission’, working together in service of the Gospel – we pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we seek an authentically ‘New Evangelisation’ of our nation 

                                    [READER]            LORD WE PRAY…

We pray that the Church will a house of healing for the sick and depressed:  we pray especially for …
for those who have died recently, especially, the victims of war, terrorism, violence and hatred
and for all whose anniversaries are at this time, in particular ….

                                    [READER]            LORD WE PRAY…

We ask Mary Queen of Peace and Servant of Healing to pray with us for the Evangelization of the World…

                                                                      HAIL MARY…

Let us pray in a moment of silence…

Peter is the Universal Pastor:  we pray for Pope Francis that listening with a compassionate love to all Christians in our search to live the Gospel in the modern world,  he will succeed in bringing renewal and reform to God’s Church – we pray especially that his Encyclical Letter on the Environment will call forth decisive action to care for our Earth and bring about ‘Global Healing’

                    [reader]           LORD,  WE PRAY…
                    [response]     RENEW YOUR CHURCH IN LOVE

Paul was all things to all people in order to bring the Gospel to the nations:  we pray that our parish, the Churches of our area and Christians everywhere may answer the challenge of a authentically New Evangelisation as we grow as a People in Communion for Mission

LORD, WE PRAY…

Peter and Paul carried the Gospel of peace:  we pray for the freedom and peace of our world,  especially in the Cameroon, Sudan and throughout the Middle East, and wherever there is turmoil and conflicts – we pray in particular for the people of the Yemen and the Gulf Region – may we  all have the courage to build a world without war

LORD,  WE PRAY…

Peter served the unity of the Churches,  and Paul had the fire of a prophet:  we pray for the unity of all God’s people and that the Church will welcome the prophets who disturb us with the radical God of Jesus: we pray in particular for all those who go the margins and seek Justice for the poor, the excluded and for our refugee sisters and brothers

LORD,  WE PRAY…

Peter and Paul were set aside by God’s call for their work:  we pray for men and women ordained at this time to God’s service in our various denominations, and for all preparing for ordination, especially ….
that all might serve with a generous heart and preach the Word with courage and compassion

LORD,  WE PRAY…

Peter and Paul built up the Body of Christ in love: we pray that Peter and Paul will help us build a hospitable and healing Church: we pray for the sick and hurting of body, mind and spirit, especially …
For all who have died recently, especially in the conflicts of the Syria and Yemen and all victims of war and poverty

LORD, WE PRAY…

Mary, Mother of the Church,  pray with us for Bishop Declan and our whole Diocese of Clifton on this Feast of our Patron Saints…

HAIL MARY…

We pray in a moment of silence for the unity of all God’s Church…

Jesus is Bread of Life … that the People of the Eucharist may give life and love to the world,  becoming God’s broken bread for a New World

                [READER]              LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…
                [response]            AND FEED YOUR PEOPLE…

Jesus is Bread, Fruit of the Earth … that the People of the Eucharist might always value creation, protect our environment, bring peace to peoples, especially in the Middle East and Central Africa, and harmony to all creation

                                                   LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…

Jesus is Bread of the Poor … that the People of the Eucharist will always share bread and freedom with the poorest of our world, especially beloved of God

                                                   LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…

Jesus is the Cup of Love … that the People of the Eucharist will grow in prayer,  develop in community, share in relationships that give life and offer healing

                                                    LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…

Jesus is the Cup of suffering … that the People of the Eucharist will listen with love to life’s wounded, stand with courage among the despised, the rejected and the outcast, especially migrants fleeing war, terror and poverty; and exclude no-one from the love of Christ in the Eucharist

                                                     LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…

Jesus is the Cup of Redeeming Blood … that the People of the Eucharist might sacrifice in order to be a community of forgiveness, a living parable of reconciliation and a wellspring of healing: we pray peace and cohesion in our diverse multi-cultural nation and for the unity of all God’s People, sharing One Bread and One Cup

                                                      LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…

Jesus is Bread of Eternal Life, Cup of everlasting joy .. that the sick be healed, especially ….
That the dead be raised to eternal life: especially  …
for all whose anniversaries occur at this time:

                                                     LORD, GIVE US THAT BREAD…

Mary, bearer of Christ,  lead to a deeper love our children who next Sunday will receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time…

                                                     HAIL MARY…

We pray in a moment of silence…