Prayer of Intercession February 3, 2008
Bruce Van Voorhis – Hong Kong
We bring before you, Lord, the problems of our world today-our planet’s changing climate, the wars in Darfur, Iraq and Afghanistan, the decades of death and animosity in Palestine and Israel, the ongoing political violence in Kenya and the repression in Burma and countless other countries.
Our problems today, Lord, are signs that we have turned our back on you and have sought to go our own way. We have chosen to create our world, not your world, Lord, but what cruel chaos and confusion we have made!
Today we have an abundance of violence, greed, corruption and indifference but a lack of love, compassion, justice and peace. Can it be that we have too little of the latter because of too much of the former?
In the midst of this suffering world, we give thanks for the gift of your Son and the way of life and values and wisdom he taught us when he walked among us. We pray once again, Lord, for your guidance to lead us back to you that we may build a different world than the one we presently have, a world in which we respect and honor life again, the world that you call us to create rooted in your love and wisdom.
We bring before you, Lord, the problems of our world today-our planet’s changing climate, the wars in Darfur, Iraq and Afghanistan, the decades of death and animosity in Palestine and Israel, the ongoing political violence in Kenya and the repression in Burma and countless other countries.
Our problems today, Lord, are signs that we have turned our back on you and have sought to go our own way. We have chosen to create our world, not your world, Lord, but what cruel chaos and confusion we have made!
Today we have an abundance of violence, greed, corruption and indifference but a lack of love, compassion, justice and peace. Can it be that we have too little of the latter because of too much of the former?
In the midst of this suffering world, we give thanks for the gift of your Son and the way of life and values and wisdom he taught us when he walked among us. We pray once again, Lord, for your guidance to lead us back to you that we may build a different world than the one we presently have, a world in which we respect and honor life again, the world that you call us to create rooted in your love and wisdom.
We especially lift up to you today, Lord, those families in mainland China who are struggling to be reunited for the Chinese New Year in the middle of severe snowstorms and other hardships. We pray that they will soon be warm in the company of their loved ones. We also lift up to you today, Lord, those who are cold, homeless and hungry in our community. We particularly remember the asylum-seekers and refugees in our midst and elsewhere in Hong Kong. Bless them all with warm clothes, shelter and food, Lord, and the knowledge that they belong and are cared for.
We also pray today, Lord, for our church community and our sisters and brothers in the ecumenical family in Ireland and the United Kingdom countries of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Nurture us, Lord, so that we may be your faithful disciples to serve you in making this the world you call us to create. Lead us as we seek new members for our church council in the months ahead. May each of us prayerfully discern the role that we can play in our congregation and the contribution we can make.
We now pause and lift up to you, Lord, in silence the joys and anxieties within us (silence). Amen.
Bruce Van Voorhis
Bruce Van Voorhis serves as missionary with the Asian Human Rights Commission located in Hong Kong. He serves as a writer and editor with the Commission.