Lay Anglicana, the unofficial voice of the laity throughout the Anglican Communion.
This is the place to share news and views from the pews.

Get involved ...

Posts Tagged "Intercessions for 27 January 2013":

Intercessions for Epiphany 4: 27 January 2013

The Collect

God our creator, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness: we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, shine into the hearts of all your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of 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: Nehemiah 8.1-3,5-6,8-10

All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen,’ lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’

 

Psalm 19

Refrain: The commandment of the Lord is pure and gives light to the eyes.

The heavens are telling the glory of God *and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
One day pours out its song to another *and one night unfolds knowledge to another.
They have neither speech nor language *and their voices are not heard,
Yet their sound has gone out into all lands *and their words to the ends of the world.
In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, *that comes forth as a bridegroom out of his chamber
and rejoices as a champion to run his course.
It goes forth from the end of the heavens and runs to the very end again, *and there is nothing hidden from its heat. R
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; *the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right and rejoice the heart; *the commandment of the Lord is pure and gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *sweeter also than honey, dripping from the honeycomb.
By them also is your servant taught * and in keeping them there is great reward. R
Who can tell how often they offend? * O cleanse me from my secret faults!
Keep your servant also from presumptuous sins lest they get dominion over me; *so shall I be undefiled, and innocent of great offence.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Refrain: The commandment of the Lord is pure and gives light to the eyes. Christ, the sun of righteousness, rise in our hearts this day, enfold us in the brightness of your love and bear us at the last to heaven’s horizon; for your love’s sake.

 

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12.12-31a

Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’  On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.

Gospel reading: Luke 4.14-21

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

 


Let us pray for the Church and for the world

¶The Church of Christ

Lord, we ask you to illumine the Church with the light of your truth. We pray for Justin Welby, as he prepares to take on his responsiblities as Archbishop of Canterbury next week. For the clergy, and all those who lead services. For members of Synod, churchwardens, organists, choir members and all who make our churches welcoming places of worship. As the days begin at last to lengthen, give them also renewed strength to make our churches beacons of light for those we live amongst.

 Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer, enfold us in the brightness of your love: in your mercy, hear our prayer

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

Lord, who has sent us a light to enlighten the nations, we pray for the troubled places of this world. We think particularly today of the events in Mali and Algeria,  for the families of those involved, and those who have fled their homes in fear. We ask you to shine your divine love on those trying to keep peace in the Maghreb and the nations of the Sahara. We pray that your kingdom may come and your will be done on this earth, as it is in heaven.

 Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer, enfold us in the brightness of your love: in your mercy, hear our prayer

¶The local community

We thank you for those people who sustain us by their love and forgiveness. Thank you for the network of people with whom our lives are inextricably linked and who make up the fabric of our family and community life. Make us alert to each others’ needs and quick to serve and encourage one another. May our gentleness with each other reflect your gentleness with us.

 Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer, enfold us in the brightness of your love: in your mercy, hear our prayer

¶Those who suffer

Lord, we pray for those who are going through times of trouble and difficulty. We ask you to touch with your all-encompassing love those who are on our hearts today because of their suffering. May your love flood their lives with hope and healing and may they know your comfort, both now and in the coming days.

 Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer, enfold us in the brightness of your love: in your mercy, hear our prayer

¶The communion of saints

We thank you for those who have lived and died in quiet holiness, and whose prayers have helped sustain the world. We pray also for those whose faith is known only unto you. May your light shine upon them for ever, and our lives be richer because of their memory.

 Oh Lord, our strength and our redeemer, enfold us in the brightness of your love: in your mercy, hear our prayer

The illustration, which I hope you will agree is very powerful, is ‘The road ahead’ by Oliver Pengilley. The original painting and also prints of varying sizes can be purchased on-line from Veritasse here.

 

A reminder that the readings for today, the 4th Sunday of Epiphany, are taken from the readings for the 3rd Sunday in Epiphany. The readings for Epiphany 4 are not used this year.

We rely on donations to keep this website running.