Here’s a prayer of intercession based on Ephesians 3:14-21, the suggested epistle reading for Proper 12 B (the ninth Sunday after Pentecost). It was written by The Rev. Lowell Grisham, Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Prayer of Intercession
(inspired by Ephesians 3:14-21)
Gracious God of abundance, you feed the hungry from your hand and visit us in our storms: Hear your people as we pray for the whole world, saying: May we know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Give to your church, O God, the power to comprehend the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ, that your power at work within us may accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine. May we know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Let our leaders and all in authority bow their knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, that they may use their power justly, feed the hungry and share your abundance with all your children. May we know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Receive gifts from our children and from the poor in our community, and from their generosity create a plentitude which will satisfy the true needs of every person. May we know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
In every place of hunger, bring food, O God; in every place of poverty, bring abundance; in every place of terror, bring comfort and security. May we know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Come to us in our stormy darkness and comfort us in our fears; with your generous touch, heal those for whom we pray, especially……
Hear our thankfulness for the abundance of your grace, especially for……
You gather up the lives of all your children, receive into your fullness those who have died, especially _____.
May we know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Your people look to you for nurture and healing, O Father: Fill our hungry lives with the abundance of your Spirit, that we may be fruitful disciples of the one whose compassion reaches across all boundaries, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
~ written by The Rev. Lowell Grisham. Posted on Text This Week. http://www.textweek.com/
