Here’s
a prayer of intercession on the theme of light.
It was written by Rev. Ian McLean, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s
Starters for Sunday website.
Prayers of the People
Heavenly
Father, we are not altogether convinced that darkness is a thing of the past.
Many people in this world of ours feel their world is one of darkness and
gloom. Pressures crowd in upon us and get us down.
The
causes are varied: bereavement, illness, money, worries about family, trouble
at work or not having work, drugs, drink, boredom, doubt, weariness, futility.
Then
there are the world issues: war, poverty, climate change, disease, unfair trade
and so on. It does not help when we feel that as Christians we should be doing
so much better than we are. Gracious and loving God, we rejoice that you are
with us in our troubles, you know us and you love us – always.
Even
though we have made a mess of things personally and collectively you remain
faithful. We rejoice that your Son came not to a perfect world, but to a broken
world, our world. To bring light to the darkness, our darkness.
We
pray for our dark and dreary world, a world in need – in need not just of a
technical fix, but in need of love and grace, forgiveness and new life, hope,
peace and fellowship, in need of renewal, in need of YOU.
We
pray that you would come alongside us and all those for whom we pray, that you
would show us Jesus, the light of the world, the one who came (and who comes)
to rid us of sin, to give us life and health and peace, peace that passes all
understanding – not a temporary respite from trouble but the strength to
overcome it and ultimately to receive life eternal.
You
don’t wave a magic wand for everything to sorted instantly – you require us to
exercise our faith and to respond to your call to preach the gospel and to seek
to live it out, to look to you for the strength that we need to share your love
and grace. Help us to share the good news in word and action – the same good
news that the fishermen were called to proclaim that there is a Saviour, a
merciful king who loves us and whom we can love and adore.
We
have been set free. Enable us to use our
freedom to share in bringing in the kingdom. In the light of this we have
something to celebrate, something to shout about – for even in our trouble and
pain, even in our loss, we know that Jesus is with us.
Hear
us as in a moment of silence we pray for those in darkness (of whatever kind) –
let us pray that they may see and know the light of Christ:
Silence
The
Lord is my light and my salvation. Hear our prayers, Lord, spoken and unspoken
and answer them for Jesus’ sake. Amen
~ written by Rev. Ian McLean, and posted on the
Church of Scotland’s Starters
for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/18473/12_January_2014.pdf
