The intercession

I've mentioned before that my church here in K-town uses the liturgy. Its an Anglican church...and i continue to love it in new ways every time i'm there.

one of the things i love is the intercession. its so steady. thought out. it's like it takes my heart's frantic cries, the desperate yearnings...the pleading for divine intervention, mercy, wisdom - and distills them into something beautiful.

The time of intercession begins like this...
"In our intercession let us join our prayer for the whole human family with the unceasing prayers of Christ the Lord."

and then we pray, very systematically...at the end of every "topic" the leader says, "Lord in your mercy" and we say, "Hear our prayer"

I love the whole intercession, but today this section stirred my soul.

For those who are suffering, and the poor and hungry, the destitute and oppressed, the unemployed, the sick and the dying, and for all who help them.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

so many words i can't say
thoughts i can't verbalize
frustrations i don't know how to share
burdens i carry
wounds my soul feels
longing i can't express
hope that i cling to
restoration i long for
freedom and beauty that i can't see - but desperately wait for, work for

all that and more - in deeper ways that even i understand

distilled into words
spoken in community
joining my prayer for the whole human family with the unceasing prayer of Christ the Lord.

"Hasten, heavenly Father
The coming of Your kingdom,
And grant these petitions
Which we offer in the name of your Son,
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
amen.