Intercessions and Thanksgivings.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 10, 1 April 1916, Page 129

Intercessions and Thanksgivings.

"■ In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."— Phil. iv. 6. 0 .God the Father of Heaven, 0 God the Son, Redeemer of the World, * 0 God the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, 0 Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity, Three Persons and One God, Have mercy upon us.

I. INTERCESSIONS.

That it may please Thee— To grant to Thy Church m New Zealand wisdom and power m this time of national need. We beseech Thee to hear us. (To be said after each petition.) To bless the spiritual work undertaken m the Territorial and Training Camps. To uphold with Thy strengthening grace those who hold office as Chaplains m the Army and Navy, To strengthen our sailors and soldiers to withstand the temp- - tations which beset them, " and that they may be true to their , Christian calling. To give us sorrow for all the sin and faithlessness which have brought this war upon us. To give us grace to amend our lives that we may. be more worthy of Thy mercy and Thy help. To revive m the Church and her members the spirit and power of prayer. To give us all a new will and capacity for self-sacrifice an.4 .service.

To help us to take to heart the failure of the Church's witness to the world through our unhappy divisions. To 'make us full of trust and confidence m Thy over-ruling power and good purposes for the world. For the Armenian Persecution — To look m compassion on the Armenian people m their dire extremity. To have pity on those brought to degradation and slavery, and mercifully rescue and save them. To look m compassion on the bofrs and girls carried away into captivity, and deliver them from the hands of their oppressors. To bring relief to the suffering women and little children left without protection and without support. To receive into Thy Fatherly Hands the souls of those who have perished m this merciless persecution. To behold the remnant that is left, and . deliver them from the tyranny of their destroyers. To draw many to give generously to the fund now being raised for their relief. For the Persian and Assyrian Church — To preserve the Church's missions m Persia m this time of turmoil, and strengthen and sustain the Persian converts. To grant peace to the land, and open the way for the return of the Kuropean missionaries compelled to withdraw from Persia. To allay the hatred arid prejudice of Moslems towards Christian believers and the Catholic Faith. To send a faithful bishop to be chief pastor of the Church's missions m, Persia,.

To look m compassion on the Assyrian Christians m their persecutions and affliction. To save the remnant that is left, and bring them speedy relief. To receive the souls of those who have perished for their Faith m this religious persecution, and grant them rest and peace. For Home Efforts — To grant us Thy divine guidance that we may, one and all, take our share m tunr'ntr to eood account this Day of the Iyord. ... To endue the Church, with a new outpouring of Thy grace, making us to be strong and united for - the work that lies before us. To enable the Mother Church to train up faithful sons pnd daughters for the service of the Nation and Empire. To encourage missionary workers boldly to claim support for the missionary campaign m these days of difficulty and stress.. To give to those disturbed by the recent controversy a spirit of trustfulness and patience. To guide our Fathers-in Cod, both at home an i abroad, that they may faithfully and wisely administer the godly, discipline of the Church, and promote all that makes for unity and peace. To endue us with- those spiritual graces which serve to allay prejudice and party spirit. To- grant that our Missionary Societies may not fail of the funds . needful for carrying forward the Church's missionary campaign. To draw oversea Dioceses and Missions to use the present distress as an occasion for advancing m self-help and self-support. To lead many women to dedicate their special virtues and gifts to the service of Holy Church.

For Africa — " ? To aid the Church of South Africa m the call to extend its labours into the new territory of the Union. To bless the work of the Provincial Board of Missions m quickening missionary interest and effort. To give Thy counsel to the Church of South Africa that it may direct the many peoples of the Un : on along- the path which leads to unity, brotherly love and concord. To give protection, peace, and wise government to Egypt, and grant that the Church and the missions of the land may be preserved m all podly quietness. To protect and comfort the interned missionaries of the Dioceses of Zanzibar and Mombasa, and enable them to turn their captivity to good account. To give grace and guidance to the African priests, deacons, and lay ministers left to fulfil their ministry alone. ' * For the Diocese — That the Holy Spirit may be abundantly given to all who labour m it, that m all things they may " seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness." > That Thou wouldest direct and prosper the work of the Standing Committee of the Diocese. That to the Bishop may be granted grace and strength for his work, and protection on his journeys. That faithful priests may be found for Te Puike and for Waipiro Bay. >To bless and prosper the Diocesan Home Mission Fund through prayer and offerings. To bless the work of S. Mary's Home, and to grant to it increased financial support. To grant that our Lenten observances may be blessed to the deepening of penitence and holiness of iife. 11. THANKSGIVINGS. Blessing and Honour and Praise and Adoration and Thanksgiving be paid to Thee. Most Glorious

and Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit— For our Creation, Preservation, and the many blessings of this life, We thank Thee, O God. (This response to be said after each Thanksgiving.) For all spiritual blessings through Christ our Iyord. .. For the loyal response to the call of the Emipire, especially for those who have gone forth from New Zealand. For the courage and endurance and the splendid bearing of our soldiers and sailors. For the faithful service of those who have laid down their lives for the Empire. For victories vouchsafed to our arms. For the courage, strength and confidence which the justice of our cause inspires. For the love and unselfishness which lie hidden behind the fierceness of war. For Thy hand of power that can turn affliction into fruitful blessing. For the widespread spirit of service which the war is calling • forth. For the power of the Church to bring comfort and consolation to the afflicted by her ministry and sacraments and prayers. For the openings now given to the Church to draw men nearer to God. For the spirit of unity manifest m the Nation and m the. Empire. Th 2 Persian and Assyrian Church— Fot the beginnings of missionary work m Persia and the blessings granted to the Bishop and his fellow-labourers . For the power of divine grace to draw many souls to the Faith. For the spiritual blessings which come from medical missions and mission hospitals. Africa — For the victory granted to the Union, and peace and unity restored. For the loyalty and devotion of the South African tribes. For the progress of the Church m Uganda. r