THE PRAYERS, 

10^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 12, Cycle B (July 29, 2018)

 

Let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Most holy God, you have rooted and grounded the Church in the life-giving body of your dear Son. Use it to feed, heal, teach, and draw many people to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Shelter and bless all who suffer greatly on account of naming Jesus as Lord, especially our sisters and brothers in Syria, Pakistan, North Korea, and Iraq. By their faithful endurance and charity, soften the hearts of their enemies and bring many to repentance and salvation. Use your missionaries to feed many hearts with the Word of life and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Nourish the people of this congregation with the living Bread of heaven. Heal us with your compassion and forgiveness. Give us boldness to proclaim your saving love to those around us who need to hear it most.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Bless our young adults with lively faith and the strength of character to resist the fads and follies of the culture. Channel their energy and idealism to accomplish deeds of mercy and words of wisdom. Use them to introduce skeptical friends and cynical co-workers to you, the source of all goodness, truth, and beauty.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give to those entrusted with leadership – in government, justice, education, industry, or the arts – upright and honest hearts. Teach them to love wisdom, justice, and mercy. Grant that, through their proper use of authority, all people may receive the blessings of food, health, safety, opportunity, and peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for police, firefighters, our military, and all the unsung heroes who risk their lives on behalf of liberty, justice, and safety. Give them the wisdom, courage, and integrity they need to do their jobs faithfully and well. Help us to honor their service and sacrifice, and give them new opportunities to benefit their communities when their present duties are completed

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bestow your Holy Spirit upon all who cry out to you for help, especially those we name before you now: {List}. Graciously help, heal, restore, and strengthen them. Bless everyone who assists them in their time of need; and increase their faith and trust in you, their Strength and their Redeemer.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Keep in your tender care, dear Father, all who have died trusting in your promises – especially those whose loss we feel most deeply. Heal our grief, strengthen our faith, and forgive our sins of doubt, despair, or bitterness. Nourish us with the Bread of Life and refresh us with your Holy Spirit. And lead us into your heavenly Kingdom, where with all the redeemed, we shall rejoice in your goodness forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 Hear and graciously answer our prayers, dear Lord, as it is best for us and most glorifies your holy name. Amen.

 

“Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will say; for He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; but let them not turn back to folly.” (Psalm 85:7-8)

There have always been those who hear the voice of the Lord and listen to the goodness of His counsel. There are, from among them, those who turn away from the Lord and go back to the ways of the wicked. The path is before you and there are two choices. Come into the way of the Lord, for He alone shall grant to His children that which is good, right and fitting.

Lord, daily, there are the temptations of this world to go into the way of the wicked. I watch those to my left and right fall into the snares of wickedness. Preserve me, O Lord, that I would humbly walk in Your ways no matter the circumstances. Keep me close to You that I would walk in Your ways all the days of my life and keep far away from the path of wickedness.

Lord Jesus, without You my desire to remain among the godly would be impossible. I need to be rescued by You. Lead me, O Lord, to see in You the hope of glory and to walk in Your ways. Guide me according to Your grace to lean upon You in all things and for all things. You alone are able to lead me in the way I should go and keep me from the clutches of wickedness that are all around me. Amen.