to be merciful, like God

Luke 6:27–38

We pray for those who oppose us,

who hurl hate our way,

who curse our name,

who hurt, who attack, who abuse. 

We pray for the inner turmoil

that lies behind such harm,

self-loathing turned on others,

insecurities turned to venom,

pain, sorrow, abuse suffered themselves. 

We pray for those who cause harm,

for all in pain, not knowing how

to heal or to forgive. 

May we, your people,

be agents of love that heals,

living your grace that restores. 

We pray for those who act

with violence towards others,

with disrespect for property and person,

with greed, entitlement, selfish disdain. 

We pray for victims of violence

who learn no other way,

for poverty's angry outcomes,

wealth's insatiable appetite for more. 

We pray for those who cause harm,

for all in pain, not knowing how

to heal or to forgive. 

May we, your people,

be agents of love that heals,

living your grace that restores. 

We pray for those who pass judgement,

and for our own tendencies

toward self-congratulation. 

We pray from and for the messiness

of life lived alongside others

different and sometimes oh, too, similar

to ourselves. 

We pray for those who cause harm,

for all in pain, not knowing how

to heal or to forgive. 

May we, your people,

be agents of love that heals,

living your grace that restores. 

Hear our prayers, Holy One; 

may we live love for each other

that will transform enemies

into friends. 

Amen. 

No place for them

Christmas Intercessions with Luke 2:1–7 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

displaced

and we pray for our neighbours, 

displaced 

silence 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

uprooted

and we pray for our neighbours, 

uprooted 

silence 

We remember Joseph and Mary,

expectant

and we pray for our neighbours, 

expectant 

silence 

We remember Jesus,

born 

and we pray for our neighbours, 

and ourselves 

silence 

Amen 

with the distressed

1 Samuel 1:4–20 

to ask of God, in great distress;

to pray, and pray again 

Hannah got her prayed-for child,

but, God, what about the others? 

we ask of you, with the much distressed: 

we pray, and pray again 

whether we get our prayed-for gifts,

or, God, if we receive much else. 

we come to you with the world's distress,

to pray, and pray again – 

for war zones

and refugee camps,

detention centres,

trains and deserts of pilgrims

fleeing for peace 

silence 

for empty homes

and the homeless,

boxes and trolleys,

broken hearts and shattered

dreams of hope 

silence 

for the dying

and the grieving,

hospitals and homes,

beds and chapels 

and rooms of waiting 

silence 

for children 

for disabled folk

for teachers

for essential workers

for our world reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic 

for hope and opportunity,

peace, justice, healing, love 

we ask you, God, for all distressed: 

we pray, and pray again 

Hannah got her miracle, but

ours is to live the prayers we speak 

Amen. 

Faithful Saints

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1–9 

for All Saints' Day 

the souls of the faithful

are in the hand of Holy One

to the foolish they seemed

to have died - but they are at peace! 

the souls of the faithful

have their hope in Holy One

they are worthy, they are accepted,

they shine like sparkling stars! 

the souls of the faithful

abide in love with Holy One

for the faithful, Holy One,

is Mercy, is Grace, is Life everlasting, Amen! 

Taking Part

to follow the reading of Ruth 3–4 

We thank you for Ruth,

her love, her loyalty,

her obedience, her trust; 

and we wonder, was 

it blind, or open-eyed? 

and we pray for all the Ruths,

loving, loyal, obedient

and trusting: may their eyes

see clearly, may they 

always understand. 

We thank you for Naomi,

her care, her protection,

her creative manoeuvre for safety: 

and we wonder, was she there

if reward did not follow the dare? 

and we pray for all Naomis,

on unprotected journeys home,

holding only risky cards to play: 

may our motives, however jumbled,

include each other in our care. 

We thank you for the Story,

for your part, between the lines;

for the Story of your people,

their welcome of the 'other' 

and the part they play – up-front. 

and we pray for our hearing

of your Story, and our part

as people of your Story, open 

to each other and the parts

we all will play. 

Amen. 

a disciple's prayer

Mark 10:17–31 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am home 

look at me with love,

Jesus, tell me I am known 

I have kept God's Way,

Jesus, faithful all my life

I would follow you, Jesus,

if you would tell me how

must I give it up? 

Jesus, this is hard – 

harder than imagined,

Jesus, more than I can bear 

I will follow you, Jesus,

leave it all behind – 

the wealth, the home,

the people even – all, yes, all 

but Jesus, this is hard,

please meet me with your love

look at me with love, that

I may love with you 

help me love your Way,

Jesus, your people as my kin

help me give my all,

Jesus, all in love for you 

Family, fracture, healing, home

Mark 10:2–16 

Holy One, we pray for families,

for children, siblings, offspring,

growing and learning who they 

will be and with whom they belong;

for parents – mums and dads,

step parents, adoptive, fostering, in-laws,

balancing nurture of self and spouse,

balancing freedom and boundaries,

balancing their roles as children

themselves, and siblings, aunts

and uncles, cousins and friends.

We pray for grandparents,

godparents, grandchildren,

nephews and nieces and family friends. 

Holy One, we pray with thanks

for families, for love, for nurture, for home! 

Holy One, we pray for fractures

in family relationships: 

for separations caused by wars

and battles, rejections 

and misunderstandings;

for departures and divorces,

re-marriages and single-parenting,

grandparents parenting

the children of their children;

for fostered children, adopted

children, orphaned, abandoned, 

neglected children, and those

adults who harm and who heal. 

Holy One, we pray with hope 

for healing of fractures for love

to be known in every family. 

Holy One, we pray for families 

unconventional, bonded by choice 

breaking the rules society imposes; 

for rainbow families, blended

families, childless couples, singles,

religious, platonic partners

and feathered, finned, and furry friends. 

Holy One, we pray with joy

for the diverse ways we find

ourselves home, part of a family

and we pray that all

may somehow find their way home.

Amen. 

Let our lives be given us

artist: Matthew Stuart

Intercessions with Esther 7 

We pray for women

who through the ages

have had recourse only

through their wiles,

through the stomachs of men,

the pleasure of men,

in order to be heard. 

We pray for peoples

oppressed and persecuted,

life in constant threat

from empire builders,

dehumanised, victimised,

yearning for a saviour. 

We pray for leaders

inebriated to blindness

by their own power, 

by position; deceived,

undermined, undone, 

and their people with them. 

We pray for women

who find a way 

to break the silence;

for the disempowered

who find the strength

to endure, to survive, to live;

for our leaders

to find their way back

into integrity, and their 

people waiting, 

waiting 

Amen 

Oh, sigh with us

Prayers for the world, August 2021 

The sea bed shuddered,
rocking the islands cradling
fragile lives not yet restored.

pause

Creator of all, through you
we, too, are breaking again
with the people of Haiti,
with all life on Haiti,
with death and grief and pain
through the land of Haiti.

Creator of all, sigh with us;
then show us how to endure together.


The tanks thunder, guns
flash and bullets rain
on towns still not standing tall.

pause

Sustainer of all, through you
we, too, are breaking again
with the people of Afghanistan,
with all life in Afghanistan,
with death and grief and pain
through the land of Afghanistan.

Sustainer of all, sigh with us;
then show us how to resist together.


Flames engulf forests and the smoke
chokes clouds and all below,
earth groaning, but is the pain rebirth?

pause

Breath of all, through you
we, too, are breaking still
with all creation,
with all life in creation,
with death and grief and pain
through all creation.

Breath of all, sigh with us;
then show us how to change together.


Doors shut us in again, borders
lock us out again, invisible wolf
huffing and puffing the house down.

pause

Healer of all, through you
we, too, are breaking still
under this virus,
life with this virus,
death and grief and pain
with this virus.

Healer of all, sigh with us;
then show us back to life together.


Creator of seas and islands,
Sustainer of justice and peace,
Breath in all that lives,
Healer of all that breaks:
sigh with us and
then show us how to thrive, together.

Amen.

Fellow creatives and ministers, Alex Sangster and David MacGregor continue this mood of prayer, with O God of the Sorrows w. Lord Have Mercy. 

Intercessions for parents and offspring

with David and Absalom, 2 Samuel 18 

Hear, O God, the parent's cry,

the heartache of an offspring's rejection. 

Hear, O God, the offspring's cry,

the heartache of a parent's rejection. 

Hear, O God, 

and weep with us. 

Hear, O God, the parent's cry,

the heartbreak at an offspring's pain. 

Hear, O God, the offspring's cry,

the heartbreak at a parent's pain. 

Hear, O God, 

and weep with us. 

Hear, O God, the parent's cry,

the heartache of distance from a child. 

Hear, O God, the offspring's cry,

the heartache of distance from a parent. 

Hear, O God, 

and weep with us. 

Hear, O God, the parent's cry,

the heartbreak of grieving the death of a child. 

Hear, O God, the offspring's cry,

the heartbreak of grieving the death of a parent. 

Hear, O God, 

and weep with us. 

Hear, O Divine Parent,

Hear, O Son of God,

Weep with us, Spirit Holy. 

Holy One, we pray

for parents and offspring,

for love and grief and healing.

Amen. 

The rhythm of our days

Mark 6:30–34, 53–56

May the rhythm of our days

include gathering together to share

all we have done, who we have met; 

include a coming away to a deserted

place alone, to rest awhile, be fed; 

include compassion, open eyes

and open hearts to those whose need 

we can meet, today; 

include courage for crossing stormy

seas, wisdom to recognise the Sacred,

patience as we learn how to follow;

include mooring our boat in new places,

meeting strangers with peace that heals. 

May the rhythm of our days

resemble yours, Jesus our guide

to life, and may we know, ourselves, the peace 

with which you call us to meet each other. 

Amen. 

Where welcome is found

prayers with Mark 6:1–13 

1. Confession 
Not welcome back home

unheeded, disrespected,

rejected, at home, where 

kin and neighbour knew him 

best, they knew him least 

when he became most

fully the Son of God, 

Son of Humanity, promised. 

Forgive our disrespect, our

lack of welcome and hearing

for our kin and neighbours

returning home to be

rejected, unexpected 

in their fullest becoming: 

forgive us, Holy One. 

2. Assurance of forgiveness 

Amazed at the disbelief

of kin and neighbour turned

strangers, Jesus yet

healed a few. 

Jesus does not reject 

the few who yet seek

his touch, his grace,

his healing – so turn

and shed that disbelief,

for faithfulness and trust: 

we are forgiven, and we 

thank you, Holy One. 

3. Intercession 

Into villages and homes

of closed-mindedness,

where messages of hope 

go unheeded, offers of peace

unwelcome, Holy One, 

bring your love. 

Into villages and homes

of open minds, 

where new ideas delight,

stories evoke wonder, and peace

is nurtured, Holy One,

we see your love. 

Into villages and homes

of disrespect and rejection,

where returning kin

go disbelieved, their fulness

unwelcome, Holy One, 

bring your love. 

Into villages and homes

of courageous embrace, 

where change evokes wonder, 

fulness of being is nurtured,

and all are welcome, Holy One,

we see your love. 

In all the village and homes,

towns and cities, farms

and camps, where hope

is rare and peace so 

keenly needed, Holy One,

may we be your love. 

4. Commissioning 

Take nothing: 

no bread, no bag,

no money in your belt,

no extra tunic for the cold. 

Have sandals for your feet,

a staff for support

as you walk,

two by two,

seeking welcome. 

Take everything 

I have taught you,

food and water for

yearning souls, love

for broken spirits: 

restore, revive,

reconcile wherever you

are welcome. 

Take nothing: 

no offence, no sorrow,

no anger or resentment;

leave the dust

at doors unopened,

at the feet 

of the unwilling,

when you meet not

welcome. 

Take everything

I will give you: 

love that heals,

wisdom that guides

a flourishing life, 

peace that transcends

understanding. Take

and share abundantly

my welcome, God's 

welcome, home. 

bid me rise

 

Mark 5:21–43 

 

when I am ‘sleeping’,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when illness lays me low,

a day, a week, a lifetime: 

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when grief breaks my heart,

and weeping fills my nights and days,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when despair, depression, anxiety

stop me from living well,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when I am homeless, when I am poor,

when I am friendless and alone,

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

 

when I am ‘sleeping’, 

Jesus take me by the hand

and bid me, rise. 

Amen 

Our living, growing, church

Acts 1:15–17, 21–26 

We pray for the church,

living, growing, changing. 

We give thanks for our leaders,

past and present and emerging. 

May those who are concluding 

roles and terms and responsibilities

among us do so with peace

for all that they will not do,

and gratitude for all that they have given. 

May we show grace to those

who have gone before,

listen for their wisdom,

honour their contribution,

even as we make the job our own. 

May those who discern a new season

of service, contribution, giving,

in new roles, terms, responsibilities

among us, do so with courage

for the challenges ahead,

and hope for the life they will nurture. 

May we support and encourage

our leaders, through presence

and prayer, listening, trusting,

participating in the life our our 

community with all we each can give. 

We pray for our church,

living, growing, changing,

as it has done always,

with You. 

Amen. 

These people who have received

Acts 10:44–48 

Astonish us, Holy One,

with your wide, wide welcome. 

Challenge us, Holy One,

to welcome unexpected outsiders. 

Astonish us, Holy Spirit,

with your indiscriminate drenching. 

Challenge us, Holy Spirit,

to share you, abundantly. 

Astonish us, Wisdom Word,

with your voice in unfamiliar tongues. 

Challenge us, Wisdom Word,

to listen for you beyond our expectations. 

Astonish us, Divine Parent,

with your Love, your Love profound. 

Challenge us, Divine Parent, 

to love, with you, all that you love. 

Amen. 

As your people

Acts 8:26–40 

We pray for open hearts,

minds enquiring

spirits searching. 

Like the court official

reaching for Holy One

travelling to the Sacred Home

of the people of God, 

may we travel Ethiopia

to Jerusalem distances

and more

to worship you

to gather together

as your people. 

We pray for open hearts,

minds enquiring

spirits searching. 

Like Philip, in tune

with Holy One, responding

to the call to go,

may we get up and go

with no more clarity than 'towards –' 

with trust

with joy

playing our part in the Body

of your people. 

We pray for open hearts,

minds enquiring

spirits searching. 

Like the unnamed foreigner

reaching for Holy One,

searching the Story for Spirit,

for meaning, for hope,

may we welcome fellow travellers

through these sacred traditions

and listen

and wonder

and enter the Story together

as your people. 

We pray for open hearts,

minds enquiring

spirits searching. 

Like Philip, open, ready

to run towards the unknown

to listen

to accept an invitation

to enter the story together, 

may we run

together to worship

together to celebrate

you

as your people. 

Amen. 

Jesus asks

Acts 4:9–10 

If we are questioned today

because of a good deed done

for someone who was sick, 

and are asked how this one was healed,

or why that one was fed,

this one clothed, these ones given

a drink of water; 

if we are questioned today

because of a clear word spoken

for someone who was oppressed,

and asked by what authority,

or why this one needs funding,

or that one to be heard,

these ones seen, those ones given time

and access to support; 

if we are questioned today

because of our forgiveness 

and asked, how could we? 

or why would we? 

If we are questioned

because we do as Jesus asked,

then someone is asking,

someone provoking, a good question. 

May it be so. Amen. 

That none will be in need

 

Acts 4:32–35 

prayer for ourselves and the world 

Holy One, we bring our prayer to you,

for ourselves and for the world; or

for ourselves as agents for change in the world. 

We pray that we may be of one heart,

committed to you and your Way of Love. 

Where one has plenty and another

is in need, may we give and receive

with generosity and grace,

that all may have enough. 

May we each, in this priesthood

of all believers, tell the story

of your return to life,

in our living, our words, our love. 

Holy One, we bring our prayer

to you, that none will be in need,

that none will be bound by greed,

that all may have enough – 

that all may have enough, to live,

to truly, fully, live! 

Amen. 

Prayer of honesty and hope

Mark 16:1–2 

Easter Day confession & intercession 

When the Sabbath was over – 

Oh, God, help us to pause, 

to breathe, to focus on you; 

help us find the courage

to stop, to feel – even 

what hurts, even what hopes. 

Help us to hold the moment 

long enough to be there;

help us to stay with you

and with each other, even

in the garden of grief. 

Mary, Mary, and Salome brought spices – 

Oh, God, this is a story 

of women, written out of 

so much of your story, our 

story. So we pray for 

the ones written out of the story

for so long, and now finding

their voice, claiming their place;

and we pray for the ones 

still hidden between the lines,

obscured in the shadows, held

off to the edges, the margins,

the outside. More, we pray

for ourselves to see

as you see, welcome as you

do, and listen to shaking voices

with your message to speak. 

So that they might anoint him – 

Oh, God, how do we honour you,

having come among us

in Jesus, having stood firm

for the Way of Justice and Love

in the face of the fiercest 

persecution? What can we do

to honour that act of love,

of reconciliation, of invitation

back to your Way of Justice,

of Love? Help us to see, 

help us to act, to live, our 

honour for you. 

Good Friday Prayers

John 18:1 – 19:42 

1. 'I am he' 

Praise/ Call to worship 

You are the one we look for

You are the one we seek

You are the one we follow

You, the one we try to defend

You are the one who corrects,

the one who shows the Way

You are the one who heals,

You, the one who always forgives

You are the one we look for

You are the one we seek

Amen 

2. 'The cock crowed' 

Confession 

You saw it

You said it

You knew 

You know our hope

You know our fear

You know our tendency to let fear win

We're sorry

We are so sorry

With Peter, we are dismayed 

3. 'Standing near the cross' 

Intercession 

we pray for the soldiers,

the ones following orders

they may prefer to ignore

we pray for the leaders

giving orders, making judgements,

not always able to be courageous 

we pray for parents and children,

for goodbyes, for new connections,

we pray for the ones we love 

we pray for ourselves

encountering this story again: 

confront us, disturb us, leave us not unchanged