Intercessory Prayer - October 11, 2021
This week in my Calvin Seminary class “Forming Worshiping Communities” we are tackling the topic of “Public Intercessory Prayer.” A part of worship that I have not ever personally led or prepared! While many of us (young and old) often think of this prayer as the “long” prayer, it is actually a beautiful moment in worship when we bring to God the needs and joys of our community and of the world. As my professor put it: “What a church prays for in public reveals what a church believes God is doing in the world. What a church prays for in public forms what worshipers will come to believe God is doing in the world.” This prayer shapes and informs our prayers for the rest of the week; and also reveals to the community (many of whom are listening on-line) what is important to us as a church.
I have been encouraged, strengthened, and moved by the wonderful “Prayers of the People” here at Mountainview. Your prayers are deep, rich, broad in scope, and yet personal too. Your prayers show your compassion for our church community, and also the belief that God cares about the world, and the pains and hurts we see all around us. Thank you, prayer-leaders!
Can you imagine a church that never prayed about Covid and the divisions that it’s causing in our society? Can you imagine a church never mentioning that over 1000 children’s bodies have now been found in un-marked graves on residential school sites? Or a church that ignored an earthquake in Haiti? Or a mass shooting in the United States? If we believe in a God who created and is caring for his world; a God of justice and mercy; a God who hears our prayers and can heal, then we must pray about these things! Even if it’s sometimes with faltering, stuttering words of grief and lament.
We have also come to realize at this time with worship service recordings on YouTube, and livestream making our services public, that we might want to be careful about naming names and personal information in our prayers. For example, Pastor Erick and I recently had a personal family prayer need that we might have felt comfortable sharing with the church but definitely not sent out over the internet for all to hear and know. And so that’s left out of our Sunday morning prayers of the people. Which is okay! Others are praying, and all will be well.
There are many things to pray about: and we know we can’t possibly cover them all in one 5-minute prayer on a Sunday morning, as Pastor Erick has recently mentioned. Our pastors and prayer-leaders sift through the world’s needs; our church’s joys and needs and mission and ministry; and ongoing issues in our lives and in the life of our country. I am discovering this is not easy.
Ruth Ann Schuringa
Will you pray with me, through this assignment?
Creator God, may the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all of our hearts be pleasing to you, our Rock and Redeemer.
God we are grateful for your faithfulness in our lives this week again. Your presence was known and experienced in school, in our play, in our work, in our homes, in the ordinary routines of our ordinary days. Thank you for caring about even the smallest details of our lives!
We are grateful that we are beginning to see the end of the pandemic: that we are able to safely re-start some ministries again. Continue to guide the staff and board as decisions are made regarding health and safety precautions for our congregation and community. Give wisdom, God, and may we have grace with each other in our differences.
Triune God, we need your Holy Spirit present and active at the classis meeting today. Difficult conversations surrounding the Human Sexuality Report will be happening. Please give discernment, wisdom, love and grace to each person there.
God, bless the council-staff retreat happening mid-November. Bring a spirit of joy and camaraderie as we work together, bringing leadership to and for Mountainview. Direct us with your Holy Spirit to make good decisions.
Creative God, we are looking forward to our Trick or Canning event on Sunday evening. May the town of Grimsby respond with hearts of compassion and bags full of food for those who are in need. Keep us and Trick or Treating children, safe on the roads; bless us with a generous community.
This week we bring our offerings for Cairn Christian School. God, we are grateful for this place of teaching and learning. Be with the staff and the students as they continue to adjust and adapt to Covid-19 protocols. Keep them safe and healthy. Jesus, be especially near to those students who are struggling with anxiety and other mental health issues. They need to know that you are walking with them; please bring them peace.
Healing God, we are grateful for good news from Brian V. We pray for continued positive results in Trish DV’s cancer treatment. And we pray this week for peace John VH who is now in palliative care. God of compassion and comfort, hear our silent prayers for others who we know are suffering…
Just and merciful God, we know you care about your world and all its people. Bring justice to Iqaluit in the form of clean water. We acknowledge a history of injustice for Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit peoples in our country. There are many more communities suffering from lack of clean water, adequate health care, and education. Give us eyes to see, ears to listen, and hands to help, God!
Bring hope and healing to Haiti, a country that has been pummeled by natural disasters and political un-rest. And now a kidnapping of missionaries. God, we are at a loss as to what can be done. Please bring restoration to this country; raise up just and wise leaders; and please return these missionaries safely to their communities and families.
God, we offer all these prayers in the confidence that you do hear us. And when we have doubts, God, give us faith. Show us your powerful answers to our prayers.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.