I'm never sure if posting prayers constitutes hypocrisy of the street corner variety, but here, for what they're worth are my draft intercessions for Sunday.  If they're of any use, feel free to plagiarise or copy...

Holy God we give you thanks for your precious gift of the Holy Spirit, our helper and encourager along life’s way.  As we ponder some of the images used in the Bible, we allow them also to shape our prayers for our world – your world.

Sometimes like a gentle breeze on a hot summer’s day, cooling and refreshing us.

Sometimes like a powerful hurricane sweeping away everything in its path.

We think of the people of Burma whose lives have been torn apart by the cyclone just a week ago.  As the death toll continues to rise, and as aid agencies begin to be allowed entry to that proud and troubled land, we pray that you will inspire all who seek the good of that land to work together to restore hope.  Bring comfort to those who mourn, and healing to those who suffer.

God of love, hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit, Living Water

Sometimes like a playful brook, bubbling and babbling as it crosses a meadow

Sometimes like a rushing ocean, waves crashing on a distant shore.

We think of those whose lives are blighted by water – its lack or its excess.  We pray for those whose fields have been washed away by floods, and for those whose crops die in parched earth.  We pray for the work of organisations that seek to bring clean water to distant villages, to develop irrigation schemes and to develop coastal defences.  Refresh those who are thirsty, renew those who grow faint and weary.

God of love, hear our prayer

Holy Spirit, Free flying bird

Sometimes like a gentle dove, fluttering down, cooing softly

Sometimes like a hawk, hovering over the chaos that is our world

We think of those places known to us where there is violence, hatred and disorder, seeking you healing peace.  Especially we recall the lands of Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine, Zimbabwe, but know also that there are countless wars and violent acts that we will never hear about.  We pray for all who seek to bring an end to violence, for peacemakers and peacekeepers.  We pray for all whose lives are torn asunder by human sinfulness.  Bring peace to broken lands, order instead of chaos.

God of love, hear our prayer

Holy Spirit, Oil of Gladness

Sometimes like the oil used to anoint powerful men and women for service

Sometimes like the balm of eucalyptus oil rubbed on the chest of snuffling child

We pray for all who hold positions of power and authority, in government, commerce, industry and in public service.  Please give them wisdom in the decisions they make, and compassion in the execution of their duties.

We pray also for those known to us who are sick at this time, in body, mind or spirit, asking for your healing balm to be upon them and those who care for them at this time.

God of love, hear our prayer

Holy Spirit, Flaming fire

Sometimes like the cosy glow of red embers on a winter’s night

Sometimes like the white heat of a furnace melting ore and refining metal for service

We pray for ourselves, aware of our own shortcoming and need to be purged of all that hinders the fulfilment of our true humanity and our discipleship of Jesus.  Please cleanse from failure and sin and renew us to continue our journey.  Where we have grown cold or complacent, revive the fire within us, to strengthen our resolve.  Where we are tired and over burdened, please grant us rest and release.

God of love, hear our prayer

Holy Spirit, Wisdom of God, Comforter in our sorrows, Counsellor in our confusion, Intercessor when words fail us, we implore you to present our prayers to the Living God in the name of Christ Jesus our eternal hope and salvation.  Amen.