18th January 2026 Intercessions
Epiphany 2
Week of Christian Unity (see Benefice Bulletin)
We pray to God in Heaven, who created our world: who created all that is, seen and unseen.
Lord, on this Sunday in the Week for Christian Unity, we pray for all our churches: for all those people who, in this world where material things are prized so highly, still recognise their spiritual needs and bow to worship God in faith and with humility.
Father we pray for unity in our worldwide church - let unity start right here in OUR hearts. We pray that we will always have minds open to the other ways in which people worship you. Grant us a willingness to accept that ours is not the only way; to recognise that we all have different gifts and strengths which make a complete church.
We pray for wisdom and true understanding for those who lead all our disparate churches and determination towards spreading the good news of Jesus.
Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer.
Father we ask for your guidance for all in authority, especially at this time when there is so much anxiety. We pray that our world’s most powerful leaders will follow the ways of justice and peace, without corruption. We pray that good will conquer evil and that there will soon be an end to the dreadful suffering we see on the news each day; that there will be Peace on Earth.
Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father we pray for our families, friends and neighbours.
We pray for your comfort for all who are troubled – those with financial worries; for those in broken homes; the lonely; the bullied. Lord comfort them and guide those who try to help them.
Father we thank you for all those to whom we turn in times of trouble – for our emergency services – we thank you for the brave men and women in the Ambulance Service; the Police Force; the Fire Service; the RNLI. For all those who worked in appalling conditions to restore power, water, electricity, our roads and telephones after Storm Goretti.
We pray for all who are unwell and ask for God’s healing presence with them and those who care for them – at home, in hospitals or in care homes.
Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are facing the end of their earthly lives. Father make your loving presence known to them and to those who love and care for them. We pray for all who have died recently – we remember Alan Blake and pray for Brenda and all the Blake family in this time of mourning.
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Father take the souls of the departed into your loving arms and welcome then into your house of many mansions.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Father, at this time of year when the days seem short and the dark evenings come early, we look forward with joy at the signs of new life and the coming of spring. We thank you for the thrill of seeing early daffodils, buds on trees and those amazing, brave, little snowdrops.
Merciful Father
accept these prayers
for the sake of your son
our Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen