Prayer Cycle (2- 8 March, 2014): Andorra, Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland

Intercessions

 

Give thanks for:

• The high standard of living and the availability of high-quality education and health care that are enjoyed by the people in these prosperous countries.
• Long centuries of Christian tradition and witness, especially for those Christians committed to serving others.
• The work of the World Council of Churches and other church organizations, the YMCA and YWCA, all with offices in Geneva.
• The many ecumenical and international agencies based in Geneva and Vienna, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the agencies of the United Nations.
• Fondue, alphorns, and cowbells.
• The history of welcoming refugees.
• The gifts of foreigners who bring the richness of their cultures.
• The glorious beauty of the alps.
• Those who are struggling to curtail the output of greenhouse gases to ease global warming, which is melting the glaciers in the Alps.

 

Pray for:

• The leadership and institutions involved in struggles against the neo-Nazi movement in these countries.
• Those involved in banking and finance, tourism, and casinos, that they engage in these activities with integrity and fiscal responsibility.
• Christian communities in the region, both laity and clergy, that their witness may remain vital and their faith communities strong amidst materialism and secularization.
• Those who struggle with poverty, even in the midst of such great wealth, particularly immigrants, workers in the tourist industry, and expatriates.
• Young people who have lots of material resources but lose hope of having a meaningful life.

Prayer

You, my Lord and my God,

Give me all that leads me to you. 

You, my Lord and my God, 

Take away from me, all that separates me from you. 

You, my Lord and my God, 

Take me away from myself and offer me entirely to you.

Source: oikoumene.org