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Intercessions for Third Sunday of Epiphany Year A 26 January 2014

Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

¶ The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Isaiah 9.1-4

There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan – The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their  joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

Psalm 27.1,4-12

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? * The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
One thing have I asked of the Lord and that alone I seek; * that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord * and to seek his will in his temple.
For in the day of trouble he shall hide me in his shelter; * in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me  and set me high upon a rock.
And now shall he lift up my head * above my enemies round about me;
Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness; * I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; * have mercy upon me and answer me.
My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ * Your face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not your face from me, * nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
You have been my helper; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.10-18

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no-one can say that you were baptised into my name. (Yes, I also baptised the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptised anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 4.12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:  “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.


Prayers of Intercession

Lord,  teach us to remember to pray for others and save us from being self-centred in our own prayers. May we be so bound up in love with those for whom we pray, that we may feel their needs as acutely as our own, and intercede for them with sensitivity, with understanding and with imagination. *

¶The Church of Christ

Lord, send out your light and truth upon your Church, that they may bind us together as they lead us to your kingdom. Instil in us the same sense of urgency and mission that your Son inspired in the fishermen of Galilee, as we seek to do your will through our hands and feet. And to sustain us on the journey ahead, kindle, we pray, the flame of your love in our hearts .

Lord, keep our lamps burning as you turn our darkness into light: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

Lord, we pray for the world that we live in, truly a global village thanks to modern communications. As we daily hear news of disaster somewhere on our planet, help us not to become insensitive to world events, and respond with what help we can, without losing heart and courage. Faithful to your covenant with the earth, steady our hearts and wills in times of great turbulence, that we may fulfil your purpose for us as heralds of your just and lasting peace.

Lord, keep our lamps burning as you turn our darkness into light: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶The local community

Lord, we thank you for the strength you give us to build our community, to maintain our settled routines of caring and sharing. But now we ask you to set us on fire, to burn from us all that dims your light. Kindle an answering flame in the lives of those around us, that darkness may be driven back and glory stream into your world, transforming it so we may walk in your light.

Lord, keep our lamps burning as you turn our darkness into light: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶Those who suffer

Lord, we bring before you all those that are in pain or despair. Give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Inspire them with the belief and trust that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from your presence, and that we are more than conquerors through your love.

Lord, keep our lamps burning as you turn our darkness into light: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

¶The communion of saints

Lord of time and eternity, we thank you for the lives of all who have encouraged us and taught us of your love, and now live in your fuller presence. We pray that we in turn may be given a share in your glory.

Lord, keep our lamps burning as you turn our darkness into light: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

*Based on a prayer of Calvin, anthologised by SPCK in their useful collection of prayers online.

5 comments on this post:

minidvr said...
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Thanks Laura

21 January 2014 06:34
Drew_Mac said...
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The images you choose for the Sunday make great lock screen pictures on my mobile phone. Also the Taize Video will be really useful in my service for Candlemas next week. Oh, and your prayers are as excellent as usual. What translation do you use for the readings? NRSV would be better but I guess you are snookered by copyright. Thanks.

25 January 2014 14:52
layanglicana said...
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Thanks Drew – I take it from Visual Liturgy, and I have assumed – perhaps wrongly?- that I am covered by their copyright declarations

26 January 2014 14:06
layanglicana said...
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This is Visual LIturgy’s acknowledgement this week:

“Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Pub. Hodder & Stoughton

Post Communion (3rd of Epiphany) © 1985 Anglican Church of Canada: The Book of Alternative Services

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000

Gospel Acclamation (Epiph. to Eve of Presentation) © The Crown/Cambridge University Press: The Book of Common Prayer (1662)”

I didn’t use the post-communion prayer (always the danger of duplicating the priest here!). But I see it does not specifically mention NRSV this time… off to check some more

26 January 2014 14:11
layanglicana said...
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Oh dear, it is (the dreaded!) NIV:
Jesus Begins to Preach

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

26 January 2014 14:20

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