Worship Archive

Sunday Intercessions

Changes to the Sunday Intercessions

The purpose of Intercession is to pray for and remember the concerns and thanksgivings of our community. We are sometimes tempted to think that it is only the sick who are in need of prayer. But we want to hold one another in prayer at all times and in all circumstances.

I strongly believe that our practices surrounding prayer need to be revised. Our current system doesn't really seem to engage us and has led to a certain amount of stagnation. Many names have been on the prayer list in the service sheet for a very long time. In some cases, particularly those beyond parish boundaries, names have been left on the list after the reason for which we were praying has passed.

We want to be deliberate in making sure those who are in need of prayer are prayed for. In order that our prayer can be fresh, timely, and specific, I am making these changes:

• In order to keep the list of Intercessions an accurate and up to date reflection of the prayers of our community, names will be on the list for two weeks, then removed unless the office is notified. This enables us to remember those whose need for prayer extends beyond a two-week period.
• In addition to this change, I am developing a Parish prayer cycle which will enable us to lift every member of the parish before God over the course of the year.
• Every quarter, a separate insert will be published with the Cycles of Prayer for the Diocese, the Canadian Cathedrals, and the Companion Diocese. People can take this insert home for use in their daily prayers.

Beginning September 5, the Intercessor will read aloud the names on the list.

1. Email (office@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca) or telephone the office with the request. Emails should have the subject heading 'Intercessions'. Please include your name, the name of the person(s) to be prayed for, and their relationship to you.

2. Requests must be received by 4 pm Wednesday in order to be included on the printed list in the service sheet.

3. Should you have a request which arises after Wednesday, please email the me directly (leighton.lee@anglicancathedralcalgary.ca) I will ensure that the name is read aloud on Sunday morning and also added to the list for the next week's service sheet.

4. The current list of Intercessions will be cleared on September 5. Any requests the office receives between now and then will be added to the current list and placed on the new list for the two-week period.

The Rev'd Leighton Lee
Rector