This liturgical resource has now been expanded to include forms of intercession for numerous extra occasions: Principal Feasts - for example: the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Annunciation, the Transfiguration, other Holy Days - for example: the Birth of John the Baptist, Holy Cross Day, Holy Innocents, Red Letter Saints' Days, Evangelists, Pastoral occasions in the context of a Eucharist - baptism, confirmation, marriage, funeral, healing service, Remembrance, and, Installation of a new incumbent.

The essential guide for anyone - lay or ordained - who leads intercessions in their local church. Ideal both as a source of inspiration for experts and a training tool for beginners.

Leading Intercessions is a resource for individuals and groups involved in the important task of leading prayers in public worship. This user-friendly handbook covers a rich and broad spectrum 'from traditional services, to worship with children and young people, to group prayer, to personal devotions. Each section begins with practical principles and is filled with easy-to-use ideas for ways to improve presentation and creative suggestions for enlivening the prayers. Sample prayers are included, as well as material for seasons, major festivals, and special events. Leading Intercessions is a how-to book on preparing intercessions for many communal situations 'how to write them, and then how to present them in church. With a variety of activities for getting children and adults to pray, it includes material for preparing intercessions for the full year. This handbook will stimulate the reader into his or her own explorations of intercession. Leading Intercessions is divided into five sections with sample prayers in each section. Sections are Intercessions in Mainstream Worship, Intercessions at Festivals and Special Occasions, Intercessions in Informal Worship and Small Groups, Intercessions with Children and Young People, and Personal Intercessions. Right Reverend John Pritchard is the Anglican bishop of Jarrow. He was archdeacon of Canterbury and, before that, warden of Cranmer Hal, Durham. He has served in parishes in Birmingham and Taunton and has been diocesan youth officer for the Bath and Wells Dioceses.

This versatile collection provides a wealth of supplementary material to help you customize Common Worship services for any locality, age group, special occasion or festival. It offers: • Advice and guidance on planning, preparing and structuring services. • Over 250 pages of prayers and liturgy, conveniently organised by function, e.g. Gathering and Greeting, Praise and Thanksgiving, Action and Movement. • 22 easy-to-adapt sample services for eucharistic, non-eucharistic, all-age worship and seasonal services.

Over 12,000 copies of this book have sold since publication in 2004. Containing completely new material, this user-friendly sequel to the bestselling Intercessions Handbook is for individuals and groups involved in the vital task of leading prayers in public worship. Easy to adapt to particular situations and with a wealth of creative suggestions for enlivening the prayers, The Second Intercessions Handbook covers: mainstream public worship festivals and special events, informal worship and worship for small groups, intercessions with children and young people, and personal intercession.

This book offers a model of profound and accessible congregational prayer. At once inspirational and practical, it will empower and equip laypeople and clergy alike to offer heartfelt, informed, and appropriate prayers on behalf of the people of God. As Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher say, "Interceding in public worship is a duty. This book is intended to make it a joy." Shaping the Prayers of the People begins by considering what public prayer is and offering practical guidelines for avoiding common pitfalls. It explores prayer as an integral part of worship and discusses the language we need (and don't need) to address God. Significantly, the book also provides an array of example prayers along with commentary.