Here’s a prayer of intercession suitable for use on the first Sunday of Epiphany (the Baptism of Jesus). It was written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild and posted on his Kir-shalom website.
Prayer of Intercession
for the first Sunday after Epiphany
Gracious Father, you are Lord of our beginnings and our endings and all that lies between. We praise you: for how you have poured out upon us blessing after blessing; for how you have reached out to us; for how you have come to us; for how you have spoken to us. Help us to live the faith you have given us... Lord, hear our prayer...
Loving God - we thank you for how Christ Jesus came among us and identified himself completely with us - going so far as to take upon himself our sin, our suffering, and finally our death. Help us Lord to not hold back ourselves from identifying with him and with the church that he established. May we indeed be united with him in his death so that we might also share in his resurrection. Help us to commit ourselves to him and to the family he has called us to be a part of - to be members of his visible body here in this place - to be his disciples and his apostles - his evangelists and his teachers - his feet and his hands - his eyes and his ears - his light and his salt - day by day.... Lord, hear our prayer...
Anoint all the people of your church, O God, that your will may be done and your name be glorified. Make us one as you are one... both those who are near and those who are far off... Lord, hear our prayer...
Anoint the grieving with your comfort, so that they may know your light even in the time of their deepest darkness... Lord hear our prayer...
Anoint the broken in body and spirit with your healing, so that they may know you are Lord of all their days and so that they may praise you each day no matter what it may bring... Lord hear our prayer...
Anoint, O God, all those for whom we now ask in the silence of our hearts. We especially remember before you today, O Lord (Bidding Prayer) .... Lord, hear our prayer....
O God of infinite mercy, pour your love out upon us each day. We pray through Jesus, your Anointed One, he who first taught us to pray to you saying... Our Father….
