Prayer for Advent 2

God of Peace, On this weekend we lost a man who brought peace and healing to a land torn with anger, hatred and killing. We grieve Mandela’s death. We pray that we keep working for peace and healing in our homes, our cities, our countries and our worlds. We pray for the peace your son, the very Prince of Peace brings. We pray for the people in places like the Mideast, Central Africa Republic, Thailand, Afghanistan, Mexico, Peru, Syria, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Egypt, South Africa and Mexico where violence, civil war and unrest remain. We remember the date that drew our country into a terrible war so long ago and pray that we are not drawn into warring again. We pray for the healing and restoration for those who have been touched by disasters. We pray for healing for those affected by illnesses, tragedy or death. We pray for the day there is no more disease, no more tragedies, no more disasters, and no more death. We pray for the day where Your justice rules. We pray for the day of Your great reversal when The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat; the calf and the young lion will feed together, and a little child will lead them. cross posted at revgalblogpals.org

Prayer for Proper 16C / Ordinary 21C / Pentecost +14

Lord as we come before you today in prayer and worship, We are ever mindful that we have been created by your Lord. You knew us even before we were born. Sometimes we forget that Lord and go about our days thinking of ourselves as just a lump of clay. But according to your word we are much more than a lump of clay. We are your children. We are the ones you have called to speak your word to all people. We are the ones you have called to open the doors for justice in our world. We are the ones you have called to feed the hungry. We are the ones you have called to pour your healing oil on aching and hurting persons. So Lord we pray for your forgiveness of all our sins. We pray for healing of our diseases.. We pray for the redemption of us all. We pray that you crown us with love and mercy. We pray you wrap us in your goodness. We pray you that you renew us. We pray that you make everything right in this world. We pray you put victims back on their feet. We pray for the healing of the brokenhearted. We pray for healing of our broken world. Amen cross posted at revgalblogpals

prayer for Proper 14C / Ordinary 19C / Pentecost +12

Dear God, This is your little flock, Sometimes we are afraid Sometimes we are afraid, because we still feel like little children in this big world. Sometimes we are afraid because we listen to the media too much about just how bad and wrong things are in this world. We forget to listen to you and put our trust in you. We forget that we have put our heart with you and that our treasure is with you. Remind us, encourage us, empower us. We want to be your little flock in this world that is generous and gives to the poor. We want to stay ready as we await your return. We wait faithfully for you Lord. In the meantime may we hold up in faith those who are in the midst of suffering, crisis, death and dying. May we bring hope to those who feel their circumstances are hopeless. May we show grace and mercy to those who are in need. May we love those who feel unloved. Let it be said of us that we are your church, your little flock, your beloved. Amen

Prayer for P13C / O 18C / P +11

God, Help us as resurrected believers to keep our minds on you. Strengthen us to put away our old ways that keep us focusing on you. Enable us to see with your eyes. Empower us to act as you would act. Dress us in your custom made wardrobe for our lives. Remind us that you love everyone and that all are included in your world including us. (Add your own prayers of the people.) cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Proper 8C / Ordinary 13C / Pentecost +6

Lord,

We thank you for our freedom that we celebrate today.

We thank you for our forefathers and foremothers
who worked to set us free.
We pray for those who are not yet free
 that they too may one day be at liberty.
We pray for those who have fought to obtain their freedom.

 

But let us not forget that we have an even greater freedom,

 that comes to us through your son Jesus.
Let us not turn to our selfish desires.
But rather let us live in the spirit, walk in the spirit
with lives that show the fruit of the spirit.
May we treat each other with the love, patience, g
goodness, gentleness, and kindness that comes from you.
May we be faithful to you.
May we master self -control.

 

May the spirit lead us in our days.

Lord sometimes our days are like whirlwinds full of activities,
 meetings, and business.
We don’t know whether we are coming or going,
And we need a double portion of Elijah’s and Elisha’s spirit to make it.
Slow us down, focus us, make us to rest in you.
May we find our peace and joy in you.
Thank you again for our freedom. Amen.

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Proper 7C / Ordinary 12C / Pentecost +5

Oh God our Rock and Strong Deliverer,


We often wonder where you are when we go through troubling times.

It often feels like you are not here that you are more far away from us.

We can’t see you, we can’t feel you and we can’t hear you.

Sometimes we think you will speak to us in a loud voice, and sometimes you do.

Sometimes we think you have to make your appearance in some form of huge supernatural event,

And sometimes you do.

Sometimes we think you have to hit us over the head with a two by four since we can be so stubborn,

And you do find a way to get our attention.

And sometimes we forget that you speak to us through the silence and so just for a moment we sit silently waiting for you to speak…..

And as our hearts calm down and our breath becomes deeper and slower

We focus on you and can hear you…..

And as the tension in our body begins to relax as we give it over to you we are calmer

And can hear you in the midst of the silence…..



And we feel closer to you, filled with your love and grace as we breathe in your goodness into our lives

And as we listen to you…..

We feel we are wrapped in your arms and yet free to move about

And we hear you in a new way……

You enable us to then love the unloved, take away the negative labels from people, see them as you see them, love them as you love them……

We are empowered to reach out to those who are the unseen, the wounded, the lonely, the outcasts, just as your son reached out so long ago to those considered unclean….

And we are given a voice to tell others of what you have done for us and what you will do for them.



And Lord we now pray for those in our lives who are sick, homebound, in nursing homes, and rehabs…

We pray for those who are grieving…….

We pray for those who deal with mental illnesses, addictions, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic illnesses…..

We pray for all these and more your son taught us to pray…….

Sunday Prayer for Proper 5C / Ordinary 10C / Pentecost +3

Gracious God,

Here we are your children coming before your throne of mercy.

We pray for healing and restoration for those devastated by the tornadoes, wildfires and flooding.

We pray for those that are sick and need your healing touch.

We pray for those who have experienced loss this week, may thy be comforted in their grieving.

We pray for our churches and our communities.

We pray for our leaders that you would endow them wisdom

We pray for countries where war continues may your peace and good will come.

May your kingdom come into our lives and into world.

Sunday prayer for Proper 4C / Ordinary 9C / Pentecost +2

On this holy day we do worship and adore you.

We bring our praises of love to you.

We bring our hopes our dreams our visions of a better world and of a new tomorrow created by.

We bring our faith in you when it seems hard to have faith.

We seek you in the midst of our sorrows, our illnesses, our broken bodies.

We seek you in the midst of mighty winds of destruction, winds of war, winds of gossip and rumors,;

We bring ourselves today as your servants to bring your good news to others.

May your love reign in our hearts.

Easter 5 C Sunday prayer

Oh God who created all things including humans, we praise your name for you faithfulness.

We praise you just as all of the creatures of the earth sing your praise.

We look forward to that day when we live with you in our eternal home.

In the meantime come make your home in us.

Come into our neighborhoods, our work places, our schools.

Come live in us Lord.

We await the day when every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more grieving.

In the meantime Lord, wipe our tears when we do mourn our losses, like those in West Texas after the explosion.

We look for the day when there will be no more sickness, in the meantime when we are ailing bring your healing touch to our lives.

We look for the day when all things will be new,

 in the meantime renew our tired land, our old falling down housing, our broken systems, our empty spaces of worship and our aging bodies.

We await that day Lord, when your justice, your love, your mercy rules and thy kingdom has come.

Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Easter 3c

God, our God,

You stay by us day and night and.

You deliver us from life’s messes.

We thank you God.

We thank you that you hear us when we cry out for help.

You love us, you heal our wounds, and you deliver us from our downheartedness.

 

We pray for those who are grieving that the time of their weeping

may not last forever but be turned into days of joy.

We pray for those who are in the midst of a crisis

that you guide them through the crisis and that they find their strength in you.

We pray for those who are sick and ailing that they may find

 peace, rest and restoration in you.

Lord you make yourself known to us in so many ways,

help us to not miss those moments.

And just as you told Peter to feed your sheep you call us to feed your sheep today.

Lord may we be faithful to loving you and feeding your sheep.

 

cross posted at revgalblog pals

Prayer for Lent 2C

Lord,

you are the giver of light,
Come into the dark places of our lives and light our way.
Lord we are afraid,
We feel insecure and fear what lies before us.
Keep us safe, be our strong deliverer, protect us,
So that we are not overcome by these fears.

And Lord we will trust you.

We ask Lord that we get to live in your house
To see how wonderful you are and to spend time talking daily with you.
Lord we need your sanctuary, we need the quiet,
the place we can go to slow down and to take a deep breath.
Lord we all need the peace we can find there with you.
And we thank you for that peace and time we spend with you.

Lord,

Please listen to us when we pray
Hear our cry for those in need of prayer,
those who are downtrodden—lift them up
Those who are ill—bring your healing touch.
Those who have lost a loved one---comfort for their sorrow.
Those who have felt rejected—acceptance and support.
Those who have become homebound, disabled, chronically ill, terminally ill, or
Gone into nursing care—send them your loving presence.
Be gracious to all Lord and answer our prayers.

Lord,

It is often hard to know which way to go in this world,
And so we ask that you teach us your ways.
Light the path well for Lord so we may see our way.
We may stumble and we may fall,
But pick us up, brush off the dirt,
bandage our wounds and send us back on your path.
And encourage us along our way as your believers.
Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals

based on Psalm 27

Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday

Lord,


You have put your wonderful hope in us born of the spirit of Jesus.

This hope empowers us to be your servants in this world

bringing light into darkness.

Hope into despair.

Warmth into coldness.

Friendship into loneliness.

Food into hunger.

Care into trouble.

We are out in the open, not hidden away with shame for our beliefs and love of you.

We practically shine brightly with your spirit in us as we bring a healing touch, a shoulder to lean on, an arm around a person who is hurting, a hand to lift someone up, a ride to the grocery story or the Doctor’s office, or ourselves being present.

Lord Jesus let us remember that after you were transfigured and you were blessed by God as his chosen son, you came down off the mountain. You didn’t stay up there, you came down among your people. And the first thing you did was to heal someone. Lord, you are still in our midst. You are still healing. You are still touching lives. And so we pray that you will do so today in our midst.

Lord we pray for those who are overwhelmed with the snow, cold and no electricity in the North East. We pray for those who live in places of drought. We pray for those who live in areas of flooding. And we pray for those who don’t have clean water for drinking.

We pray for the violence in our world to end. We pray for the countries that are torn by civil war. We pray for the children who are taken into slave trade and trafficking. We pray that your light would shine and transform our world.

Amen.

Prayer for Advent 4C

Shepherd God,

You promised to take care of and feed your flock.

If ever there was a time we needed a Shepherd God it is now.

We need your strength as we feel so weakened by the tragic events of last Friday, by funerals for young children, teachers and a young man.

We are all looking for answers to why and how to stop this from ever happening again. And frankly we don’t know what to do. If we are to believe the media, someone is to blame or something.

Yet as your believers and followers you have taught us not to blame but to forgive and so God help us to forgive.

Lord this tragedy also reminds us to pray for those who have metal illnesses and to not turn our back on them but to assure them proper care and medical treatment.

Lord we are reminded through our scripture today that you did not look down on a young woman long ago who was pregnant out of wedlock but favored her and blessed her.

And you did not shame nor shun and older woman who had been barren for so long, but blessed her and filled her with your joy.

And you have not stopped loving the unloved, favoring the unfavorable, looking for lost, seeing the hidden ones, lifting up the lowly, embracing the poor and fed the hungry and neither should we.

It is through your great mercy that you have done this and it is your mercy that empowers us to give not just at Christmas time but every day.

Lord there are many who need restoring in their bodies, minds and emotions.

There are many who need healing physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually.

There are many homes, marriages, families and children that need to be made whole.

There are countries that are broken and at odds with their own people, that need to be made right.

Lord if there ever was a time when we need a Shepherd God it is now.

Come Lord Jesus come.

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Reformation Sunday

God you are our safe place to hide.

You are our mighty fortress.

You are our ever present help in time of need.

We can and do turn to you in the midst of our troubles.

And Lord our world is full of difficulties.

Lord we may feel afraid, but it does not overcome us

Because we know we can put our trust in you.

 

Your love and grace are like streams of water in the desert.

Your joy comes splashing down upon us.

Your refresh and renew us like rain coming down on the earth.

Bring your water of life to those who are thirsty

 and living in a dry and weary land.

 

Where there are wars, bring your peace.

Where there is starvation, fill the empty bellies.

Where there is despair, bring your hope.

Where there is animosity, bring your reconciliation.

Where there is abuse, bring your tender mercies,

Where there is poverty, bring your charity.

Where there is illness, bring your healing.

Where there is grief, bring your gentleness.

Where there is injustice, bring your justice.

 

Lord you are mighty fortress, our strong deliverer.

In you we put our trust and release ourselves into your hands.

Amen.

 

cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Proper 24B/Ordinary 29B/Pentecost 21

Creator God,

We praise you,
We love,
We thank you.
When we look at all you have created it catches our breath
And we find ourselves in awe of you.
We find ourselves wondering how can such a God care about each one of us?
And yet you do.
And because you care for all of your creation including each one of us, we can bring to you our needs, our cares, our hurts, our frustrations, our joys, our hopes, our dreams and our celebrations.
Caring God,
We bring before you those in our midst who are suffering, praying for your loving presence, knowing that you too know what it is like to suffer.
We pray for those who are grieving for your comfort as you know what is like to grieve.
We pray for those who are worried because they have no work, no food, no shelter, Relieve their fears as they find work, have shelter, and have food to eat.
Loving God,
You sent your son Jesus to be servant of all and to set free many people.
You also call us to be servants.
Lord, it is not easy to serve in a world that values power, being number one and winning at any cost.
You have set the model for us to live as servants through your son,
Encourage us, teach us, and inspire us to lives of service for you.
Set those free from the chains that bind them by the power of your love.
Amen

cross posted at revgalblogpals

World Communion 2012

Lord as we gather around this wonderful meal everywhere

And in every place; bless us all your children.

As we eat this bread and drink this cup linking arms around the world,

pour your grace into us all.

Grace us with your presence as we quietly and loudly pray to you.

May we see in each other your light, your love and you.

May it not matter our differences, our names, our languages,

our looks, and our way of doing things.

May what matter today and everyday be that we are one in you.

 

And as we pray many we call to mind our brothers and sisters

who are unable to be with us today whether in body or spirit.

May you bring comfort to those who are grieving, lonely,

 heartbroken, ill or broken of spirit.

May you strengthen those whose lives feel shattered,

don’t make sense, in crisis, and experiencing  loss.

May you say the healing word to those who need it.

May you bring the human touch of love to those who have not been touched.

May you love the unloved through us.

May you shine your light into those whose world is covered in darkness.

May you use us your children to feed the hungry, clothe the ones who need clothes,

give a cup of water to those who are thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and those in prison.

May lives be awakened to you Lord, to your love, and to your kingdom whose door is always open to all.

 

 

artwork from Presbyterian Church(USA) World Communion resources

Prayer for Sunday Proper 15B/Ordinary 20B/Pentecost 12

Oh God of wisdom,

As our children are headed back to school and college to learn anew, help us pass on to them the wisdom that has been given down to us from the generations before us.

Help our children as they learn their daily lessons to listen and learn.

Help their teachers have the patience and knowledge to teach well.

Help them as they learn life’s lessons of dealing with other people around them.

Help us as we guide them through those lessons.

We ask for your wisdom to discern your ways and path for our own lives.

We ask for your wisdom to discern how to deal with others we meet , live with, work with, shop with, drive our roads, with, wait in line with, eat with and be with daily.

We ask for your wisdom in the difficult situations we may have to deal with as we go through life.

We ask for your wisdom when voting in the upcoming elections.

We ask for your wisdom in dealing with injustices in our world.

We ask for wisdom for our leaders in our world, our countries, our states, and our communities.

We ask for wisdom for our church leaders worldwide and local .

We ask for wisdom for our Pastors as they preach your word, inspire, lead and grow us as disciples.

We ask for your wisdom as we reach out to those in need in our communities and in our world.

We ask for wisdom as we minister to those who are homebound and in nursing homes.

We ask for your wisdom as we minister to those in hospitals, in recovery and rehab.

We ask for your wisdom that not only enlightens us but transforms us and guides us in our daily walk with you.

Amen

 cross posted at revgalblogpals

Prayer for Proper 12B/Ordinary 17B/Pentecost 9

Loving god,

We praise you.

We thank you.

We humble ourselves before you.

We take time now not only to pray but also to listen Lord,

We pray for your compassion on those who are sick and dying.

We pray you show your love to those who are lonely or feeling unloved.

We pray you show your grace to those who are stressed at work,

 those who are jobless and searching for work and Those who are retired.

We ask you show us your hope who find themselves in the midst of despair and hopelessness.

We ask that you show your peace to those who live in turmoil and unrest.

Oh Lord your whole world is hurting

And your people are hurting.

We pray for wisdom for our leaders.

We pray for families affected by the recent mass shootings.

We pray for the families of the victims of child abuse.

We pray for the families affected by alcohol or drugs.

Strengthen, guide them give them grace.

Lord, call us into Christian action to be your hands and feet to your people in this hurting world.

Empower and equip us to make real your love and grace to those in need.

cross posted at revgalblogpals 

Prayer for Sunday Proper 10B/Ordinary 15B/Pentecost 7

Lord, its all yours; this earth, this universe,
All of us. We are all yours.
And we praise your name for the beauty of it all.

We come seeking a deeper relationships with you God.

We come wanting to know you better, and
Wanting to know you better.
And so we come to worship,
come to listen and come to pray.

We ask that you hear our prayers;

Hear the cry of the needy,
fill their hearts with your love.
Hear the cry of the hungry,
Fill their bellies with food.
Hear the cry of the lonely,
Fill their lives with friendships.
Hear the cry of those who are grieving,
Fill their souls with your presence.

Lord, we would love to dance like David

Before you, but some of us are handicapped,
Some are stiffened by arthritis,
 weakened by neurological or muscular diseases,
some of us are tired from our work, and
some of us are burdened down with problems and stress.
Lord we pray for that day when we not only get to feast at your heavenly banquet,
But also for the day when we get to dance like David.

Amen

Prayer Easter 4B

Lord,

During this Easter Season we celebrate that not only did your lay down your life for us,

but that you rose from the dead.

And it is in rising from the dead that so much was changed.

act of kindness are shown by your children to people who need human touch.

We are able to show love to others in practice and deed.

We celebrate this resurrection power that is all because of you.

Lord

A year ago tornados ripped through the lives and communities of Alabama,

Leaving in its swath a path of death and destruction.

Lord those people are still rebuilding, still healing and many are still traumatized.

Help us as the community of faith to not forget them,

to continue to reach out to help them rebuild and renew their lives.

But Lord Alabama has not been the only area hit with damaging power of nature :

there have been major disasters everywhere.

A kids soccer ball showing up on the west coast of America

reminds us that there is still lots to be done in Japan,

And it reminds us of other countries who are still recovering

and that it is taking a long time due to lack of resources.

Lord these people need our prayers, our help and our care.

Lord, these people need a Shepherd, a good shepherd.

They need one that knows them, loves  them,

 cares about them, comforts them and has compassion for them.

Lord,

Truth be known we all need you as our good Shepard.

Will you be our good Shepard?

Amen

cross posted at revgalbogpals

Painting by Daniel Ridgeway Knight