The Book of Common Prayer uses the title “Prayers of the People” for the oratio fidelium or general intercessions in the eucharist. Such prayers have a long and venerable history. Their existence was first mentioned by Justin Martyr about the year 150, and for centuries they formed a vital part of the Daily Office and eucharistic liturgy. In the early church they usually included a long series of biddings that were chanted by a deacon, to each of which the people responded with “Kyrie eleison”
At St. Martin’s, the Prayers of the People are seen as a companion to the sermon and thus composed by either the Rector or the preacher of the day and led by a member of the congregation. They seek to focus our attention on timely concerns in both our community and the world around us – channelling the power of our communal prayer to strengthen the values and expectations of God’s kingdom for the world.
Prayers of the People:
The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple
2 February 2025
The response to the bidding, “Lord of all life,” is “Hear us”
Lord in time and space – in the celebration of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple we honor him as the firstborn son of Mary and Joseph while also giving thanks for Mary’s safe delivery and return to public life. Lord of all life, Hear us.
We pray for the Church and her life: For Sean, Presiding Bishop, and Nicholas, our bishop; for Hosam, Archbishop of Jerusalem, remembering the pastoral outreach of the Diocese of Jerusalem among a sorely oppressed Palestinian Community; for Pope Francis; for Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch, and other Christian leaders. Lord of all life, Hear us.
We pray for the world and its pressing needs: We continue to pray for peace with justice to come to the Holy Lands of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon giving thanks for the cease fire in Gaza and the return of Gazans hitherto displaced by the war. We pray for Syria, for Ukraine, for Sudan and an end to the conflicts in sub–Saharan Africa. In our own land we pray for all who are increasingly afraid in a time of intense polarization.
Lord of all life, Hear us.
We remember the earth, our increasingly fragile island home. We pray for a US return to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We pray for a strengthening of the emergency services and necessary infrastructure to meet the unprecedented challenge of increasing climate instability. Lord of all life, Hear us.
We pray for all in need: for those whose strength is failing through ill health; whose spirits are flagging through depression; whose determination is being sapped through addiction; that they might know God’s comforting presence and healing.
We remember with love those who have asked for our solidarity in prayer: Mary, Sam, John, Raya, Larry, Benjamin, Bill, Shirley, Leigh, and others we name: [pause]. Lord of all life, Hear us.
We pray for our own needs, together with those nearest and dearest to us, remembering especially those celebrating birthdays this week; Walter Cotter, Jane Gruber, Jamie Worrell, Denny Scott, and Jeffrey Bartsch.
Lord of all life, Hear us.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of so great a cloud of witnesses, we remember those we love but see no longer, especially the victims of Wednesday’s air crash in Washington, DC; and those we name [pause]. We remember those experiencing loss.
Lord of all life, Hear us.
Celebrant adds a concluding prayer.