Intercessions.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 429

Intercessions.

Thanksgiving and Humiliation. Let us give Thanks — For another year of the infinite patience and mercy of God. . * For every victory m our individual and national life of the Spirit of . Christ. For the sense of failure revealing the greatness fo. our task; for the breakdown of worldly policies and the emptiness of earthly success,' revealing our need of Christ and His sufficiency. For every adventure of faith through the overcoming of ■•fear and doubt ; arid God *s response to it. , Let us Confess— Our failure m past resolves; our lack of obedience; our denial of the spirit of fellowship ; our feeble grasp of the range and glory of Christ's Kingdom on earth ; the closed mind and the hard heart and the censorious temper. And let us Pray — For the spirit of utter sincerity; the open mind to truth from whatever quarter; the ready heart to carry "burdens m fellowship with Christ;

the spirit of practical service, and sacrificial sympathy; the willingness to accept rebukes, and to learn from those to whom' by temperament or conviction we are opposed. That being stripped of pride and* searched m heart before the Cross, we may claim no standing but m His mercy and grace.; The Church Universal. Let us give Thanks— For all increases m charity, through a new sense of what lies behind our differences. • For an awakening social conscience throughout the Church, and a braver claim to spiritual leadership. For a clearer -vision* of the things ; m which we can work together- for the dominion of Christ. For all scorn suffered through our loyalty; and for all criticism through which we have come to see and confess our failure. . Let us Confess^— Our frequent blindness to spiritual issues m temporal things; our resentment of rebuke; our bigotry and prejudice; our want of faith; m new enterprises; our foolish fears, for the truth; our. failure to. explore and employ the powers which' ftre 9W& i»

Christ Jesus; our want of the marks , of the Cross, reflecting the spirit of the Lord. And let us Pray — For a new and burning conviction of the world's need of Christ and of His glorious appearing; for a love that will win its way through all hindrances into the hearts of meri; for a new fearlessness and hope ; for a message without confusion and a heart without despair. That the desire for unity among the branches of the one Church of Christ may be strengthened ; that movements towards reunion may be guided by the Holy Spirit m all things; that a new confidence m the Evangel of Jesus Christ may ■■ pe^ yade the whole fellowship of faith. Nations and their Rulers. " Let us thank God-r- y For the deepening desire . of peace; for the settlement of questions m the Far East . which have long threatened the future; for efforts towards the restoration of Europe; for -a closer international unity ; the . willingness to forget the past and to try- new paths;' for the quickensed sense of resp§p||bility among rulers fe ths

lMifffcenSffi^e-of -world-peace.-Let us, Confess — t .... ■".. i'he. defects', of pur patriotism; Our false ideas of ' national greatness; our want of sympathy with the difficulties of other nations; the cruel ty an^iilhWm-a'iiity" which have mingled 'with- pr'Pgress'; our slow emancipation fro'itt- th.B ; Spirit- pf national sei--fiShnekl/y^^' 1 :■ x : 's .xH^sM : ;Ani;ief.% r Pray— - FbV airifulefs, that they may be •'fitfetf for Spiritual leadership ; have a clear eye for moral issues- m political f^MioriV, arid .courage, at all costs, to Jfpilo^'thfc light.:" : - ' ■••"; ' .-''." 'Fpr^all 'ri'atroris/thait the strong' -miy I ';incfeasirigiy v i , 'espect the right of -the 'Jveak.' ':',; : ,y " '■''' ;';'^hat ' the 1 ' rising - spirit- of -iiation- : aMtyMiWghout , the world -may be sMf luifefthat a visipti of ' God as Holy m^be granted to clfeanse from vice and., selfishness; a .vision -of God as. Love t'o_ deliver (from ;.. disdain pi\ strife; that all natioips.TAay .pcane =to. see their,, mutual dependence jin the. family ;Of mankind; that .^ the ; kingdoms -of the world may ,sooipL be- ; .the : ,cpn),e kingdom., of God ans~His .- -jSon,/; Jesiis Christ. . „v

Misaions. Let us give Thanks — For the courage and loyalty of mission staffs and tremendous difficulties. For the rallying of the Church to meet the strain. * For the power of Christian ideas m the outlook of native governments; and the witness of the Spirit m countless heathen hearts. Let us Pray- — •For true conceiDtions of the Kingdom of Christ, and for His coming to reign. ■ • ' For union on the mission . fields, and deliverance from intolerance and narrowness, from carelessness and disloyalty. For. all missionaries, that grace may be given iri the application of Christianity to the practical quid- ' ance of life among their converts. That the march . of Islam may be stayed; that national movements may become a new Christian opportunity; . that. Christian men may find an increasing place m native governments. For the 'deepening unity of all nations m J^e. fellowship of missionary service.^x*^'.' :' yy.

Families, Schools, Colleges, and the Young. * Let us thank God— '-....' For the increasing demand for education..- -' ' For the fresh interest- awaking m many quarters m the teaching of the Bible. , For- the growth of movements for child welfare, and the r training' of the young; for all Christian /movements m our Schools and Colleges, and for all they- have accomplished. Let us Pray— For the recovery of home, religion . and "the practice of family prayer. For the restoring of reverence by which love: is : purged from passion and bast caprice. For the -capture -by Christ ' of the student mind and a new recognition of Him as Leader arid Friend of youth. ' : For the uplifting of ambition m youth -from the spirit' of gain into the spirit of service. ' For increased efficiency m Sunday Schools; that the "Church may lay the burden of the young 'i^pon her heart to bring them to God.