Intercessions for Palm Sunday 28.03.21
‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever.’
Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning to pray for our world. We praise you for its beauty and diversity and thank you for signs of spring in our gardens and on our walks, which lift our hearts.
- Thank you for news from the Sibthorpe family in Australia; please bless Ben in his work for MAF, Anne in her new job caring for older people, and the children in their work and studies at school and university.
- We also ask for your blessing and protection for Daniel & Sarah and their daughters in Brazil.
- In a moment’s silence, we remember friends and family across the world, acknowledging that they are known by you and naming them before you now.
On this Palm Sunday we think of the crowds waving branches and rejoicing as Jesus rode into Jerusalem.
- We thank you for the words of Zechariah saying ’He will proclaim peace to the nations’, and pray for that peace to come to countries and regions where there is war and conflict.
- We pray for cooperation and an easing of the tension between the UK and the European Union over the supply of Covid vaccines, asking that all countries might be able to work together to achieve the best outcome for all their people.
- Father, as we celebrate Palm Sunday and look forward to Easter, we remember how easily a peaceful crowd can turn ugly. We pray for the city of Bristol in the aftermath of the violent protests there this week, asking for healing for those who were injured. Please give wisdom to all in leadership, the mayor, council, police and faith leaders, including Bishop Viv.
Compassionate Father, as we have looked back this week on a year since the first lockdown in this country:
- We remember the many thousands of lives lost to the pandemic.
- We lift to you all those who have lost loved ones and ask for your comfort in their grief.
- We thank you for the dedication of staff in hospitals and care homes, asking that you will heal and restore those who are traumatised and exhausted.
- We thank you for the scientists who pulled out all the stops to develop vaccines, and the results we are seeing as more people are vaccinated and the number of cases comes down.
- Please grant wisdom to our government as they seek to lead us safely out of lockdown.
Finally, Father, we pray for our local community, homes, families and friends.
- We ask your blessing on our schools as they seek to provide a safe learning environment.
- We pray for those who particularly need to know your presence and your healing at this time, naming those who are known to us, thanking you that all are known to you.
‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’