Prayer for Epiphany 4A

Lord,

We come to you humbled by your greatness, your wonderful love, your holy wisdom.

We bring our praise of you, praise of your creation, praise of you tender mercies you bestow on us.

We come singing our love for you.

Lord , we pray for those who are poor in spirit that the may be made rich in you.

Lord we pray for comfort for those who mourn

We pray for those whose lives have been humbled by hardships that may be strengthened.

We pray for those who are hungry that their bellies be filled. But we also pray for those who hunger spiritually, may their souls be filled.

We pray for those who need mercy in their lives, may we show them your mercy in the way we treat them.

We pray for those who can’t see God that one day they may.

We pray for peace in our world especially for those places where there is great unrest and tension.

We pray for those all around the world who are martyred and persecuted that you will keep them safe and from harm.

We pray for those who are bullied, pushed around, made fun of and rejected; that others will stop the bullying, stand up for them, love them and accept them.

Lord we thank you for hearing our prayers. We thank you for being with us always.

We thank you for your son Jesus, Amen

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new year new tasks

Well

I have some new tasks in this new year that I am presently working on.

I am now working on how to keep up with new members in this large church. If you have ideas please let me know. I think we do a good job of contacting our visitors who sign in the registration book. But we are not sure we do a good job of contacting and connecting our new members. One of our Finance Committee members who works at a bank shared with us what his bank is doing now to contact and stay connected with their first time accounts. And it was a good idea.

Prayer for Epiphany 3A

Lord,
We come to you in a time of coldness and darkness,
Looking for warmth and light.
There are those whose homes are physically freezing,
And there are those whose lives are spiritually chilly
We know that we can help warm people’s homes.
We also know you can warm people’s lives.

We pray that there will be no more gloom for those who were in anguish
We pray that you lift away people’s burdens.
We pray you remove the things that oppress from people’s lives.
We pray you give courage to those who fear.

Lord your light calls us forth to follow and serve you.
Your light still shines for all to see in this world.
May we continue to reflect your light in our lives,
in our service, in our words and in our deeds.
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Prayer for Epiphany 2A

Lord we praise your name and thank you for your never ending love.
Lord, we wait on you believing that you will hear us and answer.

It is horrifying when we call to mind the shooting rampage this week in Tucson, Arizona.
We pray for those who were killed; six people -- including a federal judge, three senior citizens, a Giffords staff member, and a third grader.
We pray for the healing of the wounded; Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, a number of others injured.
We pray for both justice and healing for the shooter Jared Loughner.
We pray a prayer of thanks for those who intervened and for the first responders.
We pray for healing for those who were there that day and traumatized by the shooting.
We pray for our elected leaders, politicians and media that there would be attitude of civility.

We pray for the people of Brazil, Sri Lanka and Australia where there have already been many people that have died in the floods..
We pray for safety for all others.
We pray hopefully for long term recovery for the people of Haiti who are still recovering a year later from an earthquake and also from a lifetime of problems.
We pray for restoration of order where there has been a breakdown of law and order in Somalia, where women are being forced into marriage or being beheaded; and in Tunisia, where riots, killings and curfews are a part of everyday life.
We pray for strengthening of the hope, faith and love of so many Christians under persecution whether in Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, India, or Afghanistan.

We want to thank you for Martin Luther King who served you faithfully in a difficult time.
We thank you for his example in our own ministries to keep serving you faithfully.
We thank you for his work to bring justice, rights and peace to your people.
May we continue the work for justice, rights and peace for your people.


Lord, we pray that you will lift us up out of the ditches of our lives.
We pray you will pull us up out of the quagmire of our lives.
We pray you will set us down on the firm rock and keep us safe.
We thank you God for hearing our prayers and responding from your great faithfulness.

cross posted at revgalblogpals and preaching to the choir

Sunday Prayer for Baptism of Christ A

God who shows no partiality,
Show your favoritism on all your people.
Send forth your justice for all to see.
Save us your people.
Empower us to preach and testify to your great love and mercy.

God who makes and keeps covenant with your people,
You called us to be a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to set the prisoners free,
Help us to answer your call that these things come to pass.

God of grace and glory,
We pray for those who suffer from pains and sorrows.
We pray for those whose hearts are broken.
We pray for those whose families are fractured.
We pray for those whose lives are ravaged by war.
We pray for those who struggle with poverty, and starvation
We pray for our brother and sisters in Christ who are being martyred and tortured for their beliefs.

Thank you for hearing our prayers.
Thank you for pouring out your spirit on you son
And pouring your spirit out on us too.
May we too hear you say to us this day that "This is my son, my daughter the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
amen

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Prayer for the 1st Sunday in the New year

We begin our new year with you,
Hoping that this year will be different and be better than last year.
Hoping we will be better persons ourselves.
Hoping our work will be improved.
Hoping our marriages will be better.
Hoping our families will be stronger.
Lord, we place our hope in you for you are the author of our lives.

We pray for our churches that your spirit will be alive for all to experience you.
We pray for our country’s leaders that they will use wisdom in their decision making.
We pray for country that as we continue to come out of this recession; jobs will continue to become available, foreclosures will continue to decline, and that debt will be paid down.
We pray for our world that relations among all your people will be better, that strife will cease, that those who hunger will be filled.

Holy Author,
We have no idea what this year holds for us, but we know who holds us.
And because it is you that holds us, we place our faith and trust in you.
Lord help us to have our eyes open to your light, your ways, and your presence as we go throughout this year.
Amen.
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Prayer on Reformation Sunday

Dear Lord,
On this Reformation Sunday, we thank you for those persons you have poured your spirit into that then set about reforming your church. We thank you that you are still at work in the life of the church reforming us reshaping us, and remaking us into your image.

One of the ways we reflect your image Lord is how we care for one another with love,care and prayer. We pray for those who are in the hospitals today. We pray for those at home with illnesses, pains and recovering from treatments and/or surgeries. We pray for those in nursing homes and those who are home bound. We pray for their families during these times. We pray for those who are facing death. We pray for those who have died and for those who are grieving. We pray for their Doctors, nurses, health care workers and care takers.Lord may we reflect your image in our love, care and prayer that we put to action for these your children.

We reflect your image in how we love, care and pray for the world. We pray for those around the world who as Christians face imprisonment and martyrdom. We pray for those who countries torn by civil war. We pray for those living in poverty. We pray for those who live in starvation. We pray for those who are being used in slave labor, child labor and sex labor. We pray for those who have been effected by disasters such as those in Indonesia because of the earthquakes and Tsunamis. We pray for those in disaster areas who face outbreak of diseases such as Haiti with the cholera outbreak. We pray for our country as this Tuesday we vote for new leadership. Lord, may we put into action our love, care and prayers for the world.

Lord, we pray for your church that we be a beacon of hope, grace, love and light in this world. May our open doors reflect your open arms to all. May our arms and hands reaching out to those in need reflect your love for all. May our forgiveness of one another reflect your forgiveness for all.
Amen.

Prayer for Proper 25C / Ordinary 30C / Pentecost +22

God of hope,
We thank you for this wonderful fall weather that brings forth the beautiful colors.
We thank you for you many gifts and graces you bring us in our life.
God of hope,
We pray for those who may be feeling hopeless these days that they may experience hope from you.
God of hope,
We pray for those who are dealing with illnesses, bring forth your healing for their lives.
God of hope,
We pray for those who are grieving, bring hope to them in the midst of their grieving.
God of hope,
We pray for those who have lost their jobs and need work, open the doors for work.
God of hope,
We pray for those dealing with addictions that they may be set free.
God of hope,
We pray for those whose marriages and families need healing, set forth in motion the forgiveness and reconciliation that is needed.
God of hope,
We pray for hope in our lives where we may need it.
God we thank you for your hope in all our lives.
Amen

Prayer for P 24C / O 29C / P +21

Lord,
Your son taught us to pray and to never lose heart.
But frankly God there are times that wear us down and we feel fainthearted.
We feel weary and close to giving up.
There are times Lord we lose hope and give up.

It is times like these that we need to hold each other up in prayer.
It is times like these that we need to encourage each other.
It is times like these that we need to be there for one another.
It is times like these that we need to cry out to God for those in need.

But God it is not just for those in need, it is also for justice that we cry out.
We plea for those who can not speak up for themselves.
We stand up for those who rights have been violated.
We seek peace with justice for those who need both.
We pray for justice for those who are the weakest.

We thank you for your justice at work in this world.
We thank you for hearing our prayers and answering them.
We thank you for your showing concern and protection.
We thank you for your mercy that you pour out with your justice.

In all of this may we be found faithful

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Image found at Christ Church Nanton

Prayer for P23C / O 28C / P20

Jesus,
Just as you healed the lepers,
Heal us of our leprosy, heal us of our negativity, our judging others, our bad attitudes toward others.
Just as you healed the lepers, heal those that need healing today.
And Jesus, just as the one came back rejoicing and giving thanks to you, may we too come back giving thanks to you.
Lord, we pray for those who have experienced or are experiencing bullying in school and life just for being different.
And we pray for those who bully others.
Help us to be the ones who take a stand against bullying, who find ways to stop the behavior and who bring healing into their lives.
Jesus, we want to express our thanks and gratitude for the rescue workers being able to reach the trapped miners in Chile.
We pray for those who were affected by toxic sludge in Hungary.
Lord, there are many more in this world whose impoverished lives have been made worse by natural disasters; we pray for the necessary recourses be made available, the people who can bring help go forth to serve.
Lord may we be your agents of healing in this world today.
Amen

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Prayer for World Communion Sunday

God we come to you during this special day of worship when we share communion our brothers and sisters in Christ from all around the world. And yet we realize we are not in communion with those in Christ in the world. Lord may this moment of shared communion bring us closer to each other and closer to you.

Lord we pray for those around the world suffering in so many different ways, whether it is violence, war, terrorism, huger, displacement, or homelessness. We ask for these things to end and be replaced by your great mercy new everyday.

Lord we are reminded that this is breast cancer awareness month. We are reminded that it mainly affects women but it does affect men too. And so we pray for those who have breast cancer, and those who have lost loved ones to it.

We are also reminded that this domestic violence month. There are so many effected by domestic violence not just at the hand of abuse, but also those who have been killed. We prayer for families that have been ripped apart by domestic violence, and we pray for those who have died due to it.

Lord it is also Clergy appreciation month, may we take time to appreciate our clergy that we have now and those before. It is sad that the stress of the job of clergy is having such an effect on them; that they are unhealthy, depressed and discouraged so much so that they often quit. Lord we take time to pray for them, encourage them, support them and appreciate them.
Amen

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prayer for Proper 17C / Ordinary 22C / Pentecost +14

Gracious God,
You are a God of hospitality; there is none like you that invites all to come to you.
You have invited all to your home, to your table, and to your arms.
Lord, would that all would hear and receive this good news.
Lord, help us to remember that no one is better than anyone else in your Kingdom.
Help us to then treat each other the way you treat people.
Generous God,
Because you treat us with your tender love,
We take time to pray for our friends, family members and others who need you more than ever.
Pour out your healing on all who need it.
Be generous with your transforming love for those who needs it in their lives.
Bring forth your reconciliation in families, and in places where it is needed.
Gifting God,
You give us the gifts of the spirit to use to further your Kingdom
and to be the Body of Christ in the world.
We take time to remember the people devastated by Hurricane Katrina
and to thank you for the restoration that has already taken place.
Empower us to continue to be your hands and feet
to continue the work that needs to be done there and in so many other places.
There is none like you God in your love, your generosity, your gifting and your hospitality.
And we thank you that you are in our lives, working in us and through us to let people know your kingdom is open to all.
In the name of your son, who opened the doors for all and broke down barriers that kept people from you, amen.

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Prayer for P 16C / O 21C / P +13

Listening God,
Hear our prayers as we come before you.
Hear the ones who are crying with pain in their heart.
Hear the ones who are weeping with grief long into the night.
Hear the ones who are sobbing in their loneliness.

Loving God,
Heal their pain.
Restore their lives
Mend their broken hearts.

Leading God,
Lead us through the dark valleys.
Lead us through troublesome times.
Lead us to our home with you.

Teach us to listen to your voice,
That we may hear the cry of the needy and respond.
Teach us to love that
We may offer care that brings others to you for healing.
Teach us to lead,
With your vision so that we not lead others blindly through life.

Through your son who taught us to pray:

Prayer for P15C / O20C / P+12

O God,
Thank you for the rain here in the South where it has been so needed.
Thank you for the sunshine where it has been needed.
Thank you for the rain of grace in our lives where we have needed it.
Thank you for the sunshine of your Son where we have needed him.

O God,
We continue to pray for those in Russia where the fires and high temperatures have caused a higher number of deaths.
We cry for the lives lost in the flooding in China and Pakistan.
We pray for Mexico with escalated drug wars.
We pray for our own country’s continued recession with continued job losses.

O God,
We pray for faith to live our lives as faithful as the Israelites when they passed through the Red Sea.
We pray for faith to be as courageous as Rahab was.
We pray for faith to finish the race as all those who were before us did, who now stand cheering for us.
We pray for faith to keep our eyes on Jesus who started this race and leads us to the very end.

Amen.

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prayer for P14C / O19C / P11

God of mercy and love,
we come to you with our prayers for ourselves, our families, our friends, our coworkers, our brothers and sisters in the world.
Lord hear our prayers
for our children who start school tomorrow or within a short period of time, may their minds be readied.
We pray for their teachers may their minds, hearts and hands be readied as well.

God of hope and peace,
We pray for those who are sick, in the hospital or facing some kind of physical problem. May their strength be renewed. May they receive the kind of healing in their lives they need. We pray for those who are heart sick may their hearts be refreshed. We pray for those who are grieving, may their tears be felt.

God of justice
We pray for the families and friends of the medical team who were killed in Afghanistan. We pray for those that they were bringing medical treatment to. And we pray for those who killed them. We continue to pray for the Gulf of Mexico and for its restoration. We pray for those who are struggling with job loss and job search. Open the doors or jobs for them Lord. We pray for those in Pakistan whose lives have been devastated by the floods. We pray for those in Russia trying to catch their breath in the midst of the smoke caused by major fires. We pray for all effected by this heat wave.
We pray for the healing of our world.

God of wisdom,
Teach us to learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.
Teach us to have faith in you when we are fearful and unsure.

Oh Lord we thank you for hearing and answering all our prayers. In the name of the one who taught us to pray,
…….. Amen

prayer for Sunday P13C / O18C / P+10

God of enduring love
When our steps in life our unsure,
When the way to go is unclear,
Guide our path

God of enduring love
When life throws us curveballs,
When things look bleak,
Strengthen us.

God of enduring love
When we find ourselves surrounded by too much stuff,
When we want more and more to satisfy us,
Draw our hearts to you.

God of enduring love
When we lost our hope,
When we grieved and grieved some more,
Hold us in your arms.

God of enduring love
When we are drowning in a sea of debt,
When we are overwhelmed by the tasks of work and life,
Lift us up into your bands of love.

cross posted at revgalblogpals

prayer for Proper 8C / Ordinary 13C / Pentecost +5

Here we are Lord,
on our knees,
Crying mercy;
Mercy for our souls,
Mercy for one another,
Mercy for our churches,
Mercy for our nation,
mercy for our world.

Here we are again
Standing in your presence
in awe of you your holiness,
your otherness,
your mystery,
and your incarnation

We stand bringing the needs of our friends, family, church, community, nation and world to lay at your feet.
We cry out in pain for the struggles of the world.
We cry out for those who are in pain, sick, in the hospital, rehab, homebound, nursing homes and those on their death bead.
We cry out for the divisions and conflict that seems to be in our lives, our families, our churches, our communities, our nation and our world.
We cry out for those who live in poverty, those who are starving, those who are in prisons, and those who live under oppression.
We cry out for those affected by the gulf oil spill for the marsh and salt lands, for the sea creatures, for the living ocean.

Lord pour out your mercy
Like healing comforting rain.
Amen.


cross posted at revgalblogpals

prayer for Father's Day

God,

We today pray for Fathers near and far.
We pray for Fathers alive and Fathers who are dead.
We pray for Fathers who were present with their children and those who were absent.
We pray for new Fathers and old Fathers.
We pray for those who loved well and those who did not love as well.

We pray for Fathers who play(ed) with their children and those who don’t.
We pray for those who take their fathering seriously and those who don’t.
We pray for biological dads and dads who raised us.
We pray for those who don’t get to be dads at all.

We pray for Fathers who were let down by their dads,
We pray for Fathers who were not loved by their fathers.
We pray for Fathers who missed out on the presence of fathers.
We pray for fathers whose fathers did not play with them.

We pray for Fathers who may be caught up in this recession and lost their jobs.
We pray for Fathers who serve in the military in far away places and lands.
We pray for Fathers who may be trapped by addictions.
We pray for Fathers who are serving in prison away from their children.
We pray for Fathers who are all wrapped up in their work too busy for their children.

We pray for our fathers.
We pray for them to have strength, wisdom and courage.
We pray for them to raise their children in the way that they should go.
We pray for them to love, laugh, play and live.
We pray for forgiveness for our fathers, for their shortcomings, their weaknesses, and their abuses.

And God we pray that we may then be able to pray to you Abba Daddy.
Amen

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Sunday prayer for Proper 6C / Ordinary 11C / Pentecost +3

Lord of love and light, shine into our lives and bring your love into our souls.
Remind us of the amazing ways you have loved us even when we turned our backs on you.
Open our hearts to receive your loving spirit.
Open our minds to receive your wisdom.
Open our hands to show others your loving compassion.

Lord of love and light, we hold in our hearts those around us who feel unloved.
We bring them to you for you to shine your love into their lives.
We hold in our minds those who overwhelmed by their needs and difficulties.
We hold in our hands your loving compassion to give them.

Lord of love and light, there are people and places that are dark and in the dark about your love.
Shine forth your light and love in their lives and in those places.
There are people and places that have closed their minds to you, to others, to new and fresh ideas.
Shine forth your light and love to open their minds to you, to others, to new and fresh ideas.
There are people and places that need our hands reaching out to them with your loving compassion.
May our reaching out to them with your love and compassion, shine forth your light and love. Amen.

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Prayer for Sunday Proper 5C / Ordinary 10C / Pentecost +2

Lord,
We find ourselves living in vulnerable unsure times, what with a major oil spill, recall of vehicles from companies once with spotless records, a slow economy, jobs still not returning, and anger in our nation.
We cry out to you for help Lord,
help to lead,
help to discern,
help to heal.

We look around and realize it is not only our economy that is in peril, but the economies of other countries are as well. We see anger, fighting, rioting and terrorism in countries near such as Mexico and Jamaica; and far such as Thailand, and Pakistan. And we find ourselves confused and disheartened by the news of the attack of Israel on an aid ship, and at the same time the continued attacks from Palestinians.
Lord to you we cry for your graciousness,
Your forgiveness,
Your healing.

And Lord we see the destruction and continued long term effects from hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and earthquakes. And We cry out that our weeping would not last for ever and that your joy be returned to us. And we pray that we can be your hands and feet to the hurting people of the world, that by doing so we may bring you glory and that your light would shine in the darkness of people’s lives.
Amen.