Songs, Hymns and Music for Intercessory Prayer

Short refrains for Prayers of the People / Intercessions.
  • Online Resource O Holy O Blessed O God hear our prayer (Pat Mayberry) A beautiful simple sung response to prayers. Free sheet music.
  • TiS 741 / AoV1-017 / ATE 282 / LBW368 / ELW407 / GA431 / SFFS 2200 / G(II)410 / GC586 / GC(II)566 / Taize / W&R484 / Srce519 / URW390 O Lord hear my prayer (Jacques Berthier) A simple and very well known Taize chant. Works well during intercessions. Good for kids.
  • Online Resource / NCYC09 Understanding through you Lord (Heather Price) A prayer for peace seeking understanding of suffering, and that our leaders gain understanding. Nicely written tune, very catchy once you've got it. Would be great to use for the intercessions. Sound sample and sheet music.
  • URW311 I love you Lord you hear my cry (Isaac Watts) A simple song with two verses, or you could use it as a Psalm refrain with the text read by a leader. It would be pretty amazing if you can sing it in 4 parts, I reckon. The 2nd verse could be quite appropriate on its own during intercessions.
  • VU953 For God alone my soul awaits (Eleanor Daley) Simple refrain before time of silence. 
  • Online resource Come in your fullness / Lord hear our prayer (Ross Langmead) A good and quite simple response. Sheet music and sound sample. 
  • StF761 Merciful Lord in your loving kindness hear our prayer (Simei Monteiro) A lovely simple song that can be sung as an Intercessory response. In Portuguese and English. 
  • AoV2-078 / VU952 / GA151 / SP206 Through Our Lives And by Our prayers (John Bell) An excellent chant for use in Intercessory prayers (or anytime really). Not super easy, but once known, it's very memorable.
  • Walk as one God of Justice hear our prayer (Rosie O'Reilly) A simple chant. Book available to purchase here.  
  • GC(II)554 / G(3)664 Lord hear our prayer (Lawton) A very simple prayer response. Good if you'd like an alternative to the Taize "O Lord hear my prayer". Could be used as a response during intercessory prayers. Lead sheet. Sound sample (is that an accordion?).
  • Online Resource Be with those who wander (Hannah Brown / Benjamin Brody) This song invites us to pray for those who are going through difficult times. The tune is quite lovely, and will be picked up fairly quickly I think. Sheet music sample and purchasing options.
  • Worldmaking.net / CP086 / SP&P More Than We Can Ask (Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan) A great chant for use during intercessions. Very simple and genuine. Sound sample and lyrics.
  • AoV2-070 / ATW 496 / MV090 / StJ / G(3)719 Don't be afraid (Bell) Excellent. I love this song of reassurance. "Don't be afraid, my love is stronger. My love is stronger than your fear". This song can be used as a response to intercessions. Good for kids.
  • GC(II)753 / G(3)860 Watch O Lord (St. Augustine / Haugen) Lovely gentle prayers of intercession for an evening service. A bit schmaltzy, but worth it. The verses have a cantor and response.
  • Iona (LFB) / Lau930 Listen Lord (Iona / Bell) Beautiful chant-like chorus, can be used on its own or as a response, or used with the verses. Good to use for the intercessions.
  • MV096 And when you call for me (Lynn Bauman / Linnea Good) This simple chant "And when you call for me I have already answered... I am already there" might work nicely during the prayers of intercession. Tune is not immediately easy, so teach your congregation first. Good for kids.
  • AoV2-137 / Iona (SBL) / CH262 For the world and all its people (Somos Pueblo) This is a beautiful, haunting song. It will need to be taught, but once your congregation gets it, I'm sure they'll love it. Particularly good to use during intercessions.
  • SP&P125 In our prayers / O lau tatalo (Fowler / Pouesi) A simple chant suitable for Intercessions with Samoan translation.
  • PfAS006C How long how long O Lord (Walhout) A very simple Psalm refrain which will work very well as a prayer of lament for those who suffer - during intercessions for example. 
  • VU280 Mother and God (Winter) A slightly longer short song, suitable for before the intercessions or communion. Beautiful words; some may find the breastfeeding God image a little challenging. Simple tune. Lyrics.
  • STB111 God receive our prayer (Gibbs) A nice intercessory prayer response.
Kyries are also very useful as prayer responses.

Longer hymns with a focus on intercessions:
  • CH265 / StF527 Pray for a world where every child (Ruth Duck) A good song about praying for things that are difficult to name, including domestic violence.
  • CH721 / URW156 We lay our broken world (Briggs) Beautiful words seeking global healing, healing of relationships and healing for self. Sung to familiar tunes (ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL in URW). I prefer the tune in CH, but maybe there is an even better tune for it. Lyrics.
  • URW160 In your love make us whole (Friedman) The chorus is a little bit mushy, but satisfyingly so. The verses are particularly good for prayers of intercessions.