what to do as an intersection in church

In the Church of England, we ofttimes pray with language which comes from the Bible and from the texts of our liturgy. But we knit together these words and images with ideas which come from our own hearts and from the communities in which we pray. It is important to prepare for the chore of leading the intercessions with care because in every instance the intercessor is not simply offering prayers independently, merely as well helping to encourage others in their own.

In your customs, it is helpful to retain a basic construction for the intercessions, since familiarity will assistance people to join in, and volition assist the intercessor plan what is to be said. Sometimes a church building will have such a structure which it unremarkably uses for the intercessions. The typical blueprint for intercessions in Common Worship services is this:

1. The Church building of Christ;
2. Creation, homo order, the Sovereign and those in authority;
3. The local community;
4. Those who suffer;
5. The communion of saints.

It is sometimes advisable to deviate from the design, particularly on a significant occasion or in time of catastrophe.

Some intercessions include a response from the congregation, thus:

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer. (All)
Lord, hear u.s..
Lord, graciously hear u.s.. (All)

Responses can assist to break upwardly the prayers to assistance people concentrate. They also aid people to join in, merely as nosotros say 'Amen' at the end of prayers. Common Worship provides a range of possible responses, simply it is helpful for the congregation to know which will be used. If no other advice is given, the intercessor tin can model the response.

Ways of using the design

Yous could utilize the pattern higher up, or the equivalent in your church, in several different means:

1. Using an invitation to prayer, sometimes called a 'bidding':

'Let u.s.a. pray for the sick and for those who suffer, for all in the nursing homes and hospices of our parish, and for those who are housebound. Nosotros remember all who are ill, among them … (a list of names follows)

Comfort and heal all those who endure in body, mind, or spirit; requite them backbone and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your conservancy.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.'

Sometimes 'bidding' prayers may take the post-obit form, usually throughout the flow of intercessory prayer:

For this community, for every city, town, and village, and for all the people who live inside them,

let united states pray to the Lord.
Lord, accept mercy.

In this case, each petition ends, 'allow united states pray to the Lord', with the congregation responding, 'Lord, have mercy.' Typically the syntax of the bidding volition exist the aforementioned in each example; for instance, 'For X, that God will do Y.'

2. Integrating the 'bidding' into the prayer:

'Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially … (a list of names follows) … and all those beingness cared for in this parish. Give them backbone and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.'

3. Praying more than freely, using different words:

'We hold in your presence all who are existence cared for in this parish, and give thanks y'all for the care and dedication of the staff. We name before you all those with particular needs who have asked for our prayers, especially … (a list of names follows). May they know your presence with them, and that you are their strength, their healing, and their salvation.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.'

Your church may take a preference for a particular format, or familiar words to use in a item role of the intercessions. Y'all may also be able to exist creative and utilize some of the rich imagery of Scripture and liturgy to create your own prayers.

Some churches employ intercessions which are differently structured. Ane example, often found at Morning or Evening Prayer might be the apply of a bidding, followed past 1 of the Collects from the Book of Common Prayer or Common Worship.

Other intercessions might prefer the language of, for example, something else which has been read or sung in the service. They might be accompanied by songs or chants. Sometimes, the intercessions will invite prayer based on the readings in the service, especially from the Gospel. Try out some ideas and encounter what works in your church!

Some advice

Similar other forms of ministry, leading the intercessions in a service is both a privilege and a responsibility.

• Remember that you are helping to atomic number 82 others in prayer, not merely praying in public;
• the linguistic communication of your intercessions should broadly lucifer the style and vocabulary unremarkably used in your church's worship;
• the intercessions are not a 'shopping list' of concerns, nor are they a news report or an opportunity to express a personal opinion which might not exist shared by others; they are appeals to God who already knows the prayers on our hearts.

This page is based in part on Leading Common Worship Intercessions: a simple guide, by Doug Chaplin, which provides a more comprehensive introduction.

Used with permission of Church Business firm Publishing.

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Source: https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/topical-prayers/leading-prayer-through-intercessions

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