Here is a beautiful prayer of intercession based on Psalm 19. It was written by James Hart Brumm, and published in the December, 2008 issue of Reformed Worship.
James writes: “These prayers all include occasions for silence. Please allow them to be times of true silence, not filled with musical interludes; you may gradually lengthen them as your congregation gets comfortable with silence.”
Prayer of Intercession
(based on Psalm 19)
God, your glory fills the heavens
and all that you have made bears your mark.
We pray for this creation:
we ask forgiveness for the ways in which we have disfigured it;
we pray for those who cannot enjoy
the warm sun or the cool night,
those who are imprisoned or alone . . .
those who are ill or infirm . . .
those who mourn . . .
Use all of us, our hearts, our hands,
to bring your wondrous power into their lives.
Let us glorify you, O God.
Let your hymn resound in our lives.
Silence
and all that you have made bears your mark.
We pray for this creation:
we ask forgiveness for the ways in which we have disfigured it;
we pray for those who cannot enjoy
the warm sun or the cool night,
those who are imprisoned or alone . . .
those who are ill or infirm . . .
those who mourn . . .
Use all of us, our hearts, our hands,
to bring your wondrous power into their lives.
Let us glorify you, O God.
Let your hymn resound in our lives.
Silence
God, your perfect law protects and revives us
and your way enlightens and enlivens us.
We pray for all the peoples of this world,
people hungry for order and safety, warmth and shelter . . .
women and men who lay down their lives to keep their neighbors safe . . .
and those who lead our nations, cities, and towns . . .
Help us unearth this treasure of justice and equality
and bring it to all the world.
Let us glorify you, O God.
Let your hymn resound in our lives.
Silence
and your way enlightens and enlivens us.
We pray for all the peoples of this world,
people hungry for order and safety, warmth and shelter . . .
women and men who lay down their lives to keep their neighbors safe . . .
and those who lead our nations, cities, and towns . . .
Help us unearth this treasure of justice and equality
and bring it to all the world.
Let us glorify you, O God.
Let your hymn resound in our lives.
Silence
God, who brings the true sweetness,
the true riches of life to those who serve you,
who gathers, protects and preserves us:
We pray for your holy Church . . .
Keep us blameless and innocent.
Cleanse our faults,
increase our faith,
inspire our work and witness in your name.
Let us glorify you, O God.
Let your hymn resound in our lives.
Silence
the true riches of life to those who serve you,
who gathers, protects and preserves us:
We pray for your holy Church . . .
Keep us blameless and innocent.
Cleanse our faults,
increase our faith,
inspire our work and witness in your name.
Let us glorify you, O God.
Let your hymn resound in our lives.
Silence
Hear these and all our prayers, great God.
Let the words of our mouths
and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable to you, O Lord,
our Rock and our Redeemer.
Let the words of our mouths
and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable to you, O Lord,
our Rock and our Redeemer.
— written by James Hart Brumm in Praying the Psalms in Lent. Published in the December, 2008 issue of Reformed Worship.
