Hear Our Prayer
Raymond Chapman is Emeritus Professor of English in the University of London and a non-stipendiary priest in the Diocese of Southwark. He is Deputy Chairman of the Prayer Book Society and the author of many religious and literary titles, notably Leading Intercessions which has sold over 13, 000 copies.
By the same author
Widely praised and extensively used in churches that follow the three-year lectionary, Leading Intercessions is an invaluable worship resource which links the intercessions to the scripture readings of the day.
‘Raymond Chapman’s book … combines masterful use of language in succinct expression, a profound understanding of liturgical prayer within the context of Word and Sacrament and a depth of devotion that will encourage in the way of prayer all who use these prayers.’
Tufton Review
‘beautifully written’
Church Times
‘clear, dignified and appropriate for today.
My deep hope is that people … will steal Raymond
Chapman’s words shamelessly.’
Andrew Burnham, New Directions
‘sensitive and pastoral’
Church Observer
Hear Our Prayer
Gospel-based Intercessions for Sundays, Holy Days and Festivals – Years A, B and C
RAYMOND CHAPMAN
Copyright information
© Raymond Chapman 2003
First published 2003 by The Canterbury Press Norwich (a publishing imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern Limited, a registered charity)
St Mary’s Works, St Mary’s Plain,
Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 3BH
www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk
Second impression 2007
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, Canterbury Press
Raymond Chapman has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Author of this Work
British Library Cataloguing in Publication data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 1 85311 556 1
Typeset by Regent Typesetting, London
Printed and bound in Great Britain by MPG Books Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall
Contents
Other Days in the Church’s Year
Afterword – On Leading Intercessions
Introduction
The kind reception given to the previous volume Leading Intercessions has encouraged me to follow a similar pattern in this new collection of intercessory prayers. They are again designed for use with the Revised Common Lectionary.
These prayers are, however, composed on a different basis. Instead of finding a theme across all the readings for the day, I have drawn entirely on the Gospel passages. The accounts of the life and teaching of our Lord provide a pattern for all that we have in life and death. Whether we are concerned with worship, with global and local needs, with sickness and affliction or with the life to come, there is comfort and guidance in relating them to the written foundation record of our faith.
One of the strengths of the RCL is that a single Gospel is followed through each of the three years, with occasional readings from the Fourth Gospel. We become accustomed to the style and approach of each of the Evangelists, and this gives variety to the intercessions based on them. If only two of the other Sunday readings are used, and whichever Track is followed during Ordinary Time, the Gospel will always be read and will be the same in all churches. In the few instances where the Church of England has made different provision from the rest of the RCL, I have followed this reading, I hope without offence to the ecumenical intention of the whole book.
These prayers use images and phrases from the Gospel which will have been heard by the congregation a few minutes before the period of intercession. All present will be able to relate them to the petitions offered in prayer. It is the place in the Eucharist when the Ministry of the Word draws to its close before the Offertory leads into the consecration of the gifts and the communion of the people. What has been proclaimed is brought into the life of the present and gathered towards the sacramental mystery.
If we base our intercessions on the Gospel, we are reminded of one of the most wonderful truths of the Christian faith. God knows our human condition and its needs not only through divine omniscience but by the direct experience of taking our nature in its sufferings and limitations. This is a deep mystery which makes us bold to relate our concerns closely to the life of Christ on earth.
The intercessions offered here are based on the Sunday readings for the Principal Service. Major Festivals like Christmas and Easter which have the same reading in each year are not repeated; otherwise there is something for every Sunday in each of the three years.
As well as the Sunday cycle, there are other days which are commonly observed during the year, and prayers are provided for these. There are also intercessions for special occasions, which can have wider application. For example, the order for a service with intention for the Guidance of the Holy Spirit would be appropriate for a Parochial Church Council or similar executive body, and prayers for the Sovereign could be used for any national celebration.
The structure of the intercessions
The fivefold division of subjects, which is widely used and has proved valuable in focussing attention, has been followed:
The Church
As intercessions are usually offered within an act of public worship, and always on behalf of all Christians, we pray first for the Church as the Body of Christ on earth and for Christ’s people in their lives of service.
The world
This is the world which God created and Christ came to save. We pray for all human needs and that the lives of people and nations may fulfil the divine purpose. Our cares for the Church and for the world should never be formally separated, but we need to recognize the material preoccupations of secular society and to pray lovingly and without condescension.
The community
Next we move to the concerns that are most near to us: families, friends, neighbours, those with whom we work. Prayers for the wider world are often necessarily general, but here we can make our requests known more specifically.