Prayers of Intercession for the New Year – Sunday 3 January 2021
Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
(Isaiah 60: 1-2)
Most gracious Lord, we gather before you in prayer, celebrating your presence and your light in our lives and in our world. 2020 has ended – a very different year, in which life as we knew it before has changed. We thank you oh God our Healer, for your ongoing compassion for all people in turmoil and burdened with illness and fear as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread globally.
As this New Year lies before us; a new year with promise, hope and potential, we pray that your Holy Light will shine upon all nations, all people and all of creation leading us in love, peace and joy. We pray that your guidance and wisdom will lead us in this New Year; that your voice will encourage us to live in your ways and that your Spirit will energise us as we grow, learn and work together.
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year
We pray for the worldwide Christian Church and that that its members may share to the full the work of your Son, Jesus Christ. For those who bravely proclaim the gospel to others, often in faraway places and in difficult and dangerous situations, we pray for your protection. May they be encouraged to continue their work, strengthened in your Name.
For Christians who are persecuted in countries in the Middle East, India, China and others, we pray for your encouragement and strength at the start of this new year.
In our prayers today we also remember the work of SAT-7 in the Middle East. For our Global Mission partners in Recife Brazil, the Medeiros’s with Church Missionary Society, and in Northern Australia the Sibthorpes with Mission Aviation Fellowship. At the start of this New Year may they be renewed in their sense of purpose and strengthened by You.
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year
We pray for all those troubled parts of the world where people are suffering as a result of fighting, of hunger, of disease, of losing their homes. Bring peace and hope, and above all expressions of love into their lives. We pray for those who are in refugee camps – particularly children and for people in countries in Africa, where famine and disease are rife. May you, the God of Hope relieve their distress and help us to be generous in our giving to help alleviate their suffering.
We pray that your grace and your wisdom will be with the entire world's leaders and decision- makers. May their hearts be softened to your ways of peace and justice. May their negotiations be fair and may dignity be restored to all people. They face many challenges in governing their countries – handling poverty, war, their economies and wisdom to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. We pray for a smooth and dignified transition of power in the United States later this month. Nearer home thank you that a trade agreement was finally reached between the UK and the EU. We pray for the smooth implementation of this and for the big adjustments that many in business and industry need to make.
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year
We pray for the local community, here in Lydiard Millicent and beyond. Thank you for the opportunity to proclaim the birth of your Son over the Christmas season through the Nativity tableaux. As the star shone above the stable, may we continue to shine for You in our communities in the coming year.
We pray for our local Primary Schools for Ridgeway Farm, Lydiard Millicent and Peatmoor Schools, that during this time staff and children will be kept safe and thrive as they learn, despite the ongoing challenges we are facing with the spread of Covid-19 in Swindon.
As the Covid-19 virus continues to surge in the UK and in many other countries at present, we pray for those who are lonely and suffer mental illness as a result of separation from their family and friends. For those who are fearful give them hope. Thank you for the great strides made with the vaccine by medical researchers and we rejoice that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is now approved for use. We pray for all the plans to vaccinate the population as quickly as possible – give wisdom to those who make decisions. We also commit to you those in the NHS and Care Homes who are giving so much of themselves at this time – may they feel cared for and supported.
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year
We pray for all families and particularly those who face an uncertain and bleak future where jobs have been lost. In particular we pray for children in families who cannot afford to provide them with regular meals at this time. Thank you for the work of food banks and other organisations that seek to care for families in need – remembering the work of the Swindon Food Collective and Christians Against Poverty.
Finally, Lord we pray for those amongst us who live with health challenges. We particularly remember those in our church with longer term health challenges including Sue and Richard, Bill and Margaret, Michael and Gill, David and Margaret and others known to us. May they know your strength for each day.
In closing, Lord as we start 2021, thank you that we are a family in Christ. Help us to share your love and legacy with everyone that we encounter this year. May we lavish Christ’s abounding goodness upon our families, friends and colleagues. Holy Spirit, come and equip us in our lives. May we be your hands and feet to the needy, your words of affirmation to the oppressed and your arms of comfort to the lonely. Thank you for choosing to use us to bring your kingdom here on earth this year.
Amen