THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

1^st Sunday in Lent, Cycle C (March 10, 2019)

NOTE: This is a “bidding prayer,” with announcement of topics, time for silent personal prayer,

and a brief “collect” before the  “Lord, God, hear our prayer.” You may want to print out the prayer, or explain how it is to be done!

 

For the Church, the world, and our poor sinful selves, let us pray to our Lord, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

 

A brief silence

Let us pray for the Church throughout the world, that our Lord should purify, forgive, heal, unite, strengthen and guide it, and thereby bring many to the foot of his life-giving Cross.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on your Church, and bless it; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for all who are persecuted on account of Jesus, that they may be strengthened in their trials by his strong Word; and for our {synod/district}; our partner congregations and dioceses in {names/places}; and all missionaries throughout the world, that this same strong Word should dwell in their hearts and be confessed by their lips.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on your servants, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for this congregation, that God should keep us steadfast in faith, humble in service, diligent in worship, persistent in prayer, and loving in fellowship.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on this congregation, and bless it, for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for our children, that God would set his angels around them, to shield them from evil; deliver them from danger; and guide them in the way of eternal life.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on our children, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

 Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for our broken world, that God should heal and transform it;  for our leaders, that he grant them wisdom, justice and compassion; and for all people, that he deliver us from evil, strengthen us in every good gift, and bestow his peace among us all.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on your world, its leaders, and its people, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

 Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for all whose work is difficult and dangerous, that God would give them cool heads, wise words, and right actions; and that he would shield, support and strengthen those who fall and those who await their loved one’s return.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on these servants, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us pray for the sick and injured; the abused and their abusers; the despairing and the confused; the homeless, imprisoned, abandoned and oppressed; the dying and the bereaved, and for all who cry out for mercy, including: {List}: That God would save them from their time of trial, deliver them from evil, and bestow upon them the promise of his eternal Kingdom.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on all who suffer, and bless them; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Let us with gratitude entrust our beloved dead into our Savior’s keeping; and let us pray for ourselves, that throughout the Lenten pilgrimage of our lives, Christ Jesus would give himself as bread for our journey; forgive us and make us eager to forgive each other; strengthen us in times of trial; deliver us from the power of the Evil One; and bring us safely to his Father’s house.

Silence for individual prayer; then:

                Holy Lord; holy and mighty; holy and immortal, have mercy on us, and bless us; for your glory and for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord God, hear our prayer.

 

Hear us, gracious Father, for the sake of your well-beloved Son, who intercedes for us before your throne of mercy.

Amen.

 

 

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Ash Wednesday, Cycle C (March 6, 2019)

 

Let us humbly beseech God for his mercy upon the Church, the world, and one another.

 

A brief silence

Have mercy on this world that you created in love, though it has turned away from you, most Holy Father. Have mercy on the people who sit in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death, and whom you came to save, most Holy Son. Have mercy on this fallen and broken creation that cries out in travail for its deliverance from futility and death, most Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on your Church, O Lord. Cleanse it from false teaching, feigned holiness, and fake discipleship. Form it in the likeness of your dear Son, fill it with your Holy Spirit, and use it to draw all people to yourself.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on your persecuted servants, O Lord. Cleanse them from bitterness, hatred, or thirst for revenge. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to lead the enemies of Christ to repentance and salvation.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on this congregation, O Lord. Cleanse us from apathy, inattention, and contention. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to draw our families, friends, and communities to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on all who doubt your existence or your goodness, O Lord. Cleanse them from spiritual darkness, intellectual pride, or emotional despair. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and bless them with faith and trust in you, their Savior, Lord, and Friend.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy upon all who are entrusted with power and authority in this sin-shadowed world, O Lord. Cleanse them from cruelty, lust for power, and worship of self. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to bring your blessings of peace, prosperity, and concord to all people.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy upon all who stand in harm’s way on behalf of others, O Lord. Cleanse them from wrong judgment or base motives in the execution of their duties. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and use them to bring a measure of safety, justice, and freedom in places of chaos and danger.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy on all whose lives are shadowed by suffering, sorrow, or any kind of evil, O Lord. Cleanse them from all that troubles them and prevents them from turning to you, their Strength and their Redeemer. Form them into the likeness of your dear Son, fill them with your Holy Spirit, and restore them to wholeness and hope, in the company of all who love them.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Most holy and gracious Father, we commend into your mercy all our beloved dead. We who are but ashes and dust humbly beseech you for your mercy upon us as well. Cleanse us from every sin which separates us from you and from one another. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to help lighten our neighbor’s burdens throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Lead us, with all whom you have redeemed by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, into your Kingdom, where, untroubled by sin, evil, or death, we may rejoice in your goodness and gaze upon your glory forever.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For these things, and for whatever else is needful, dear Father, we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

 

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your
enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong
scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” (Psalm 110:1-2)

The gentiles rule by lording it
over others. This is the way of the wicked. The Lord rules with love, mercy and
compassion. When the Lord rules it is not as the world rules. See the
difference and know that the Lord is lord over all. His strong scepter, the rod
of Jesse is that which was promised long ago and fulfilled with the reign of
Christ. Come sit with the Lord who invites you by His side.

Lord, You have spoken Your Word and it has come to pass as You have declared. Guide my heart and mind to see through the nonsense of this world to live into the hope of glory You give for those who believe. Let me not worry about kings and rulers, but about Your Kingdom which is forever. Guide me day by day to live according to the truth of Your declarations.

Lord Jesus, You are the King of kings and the fulfillment of the promise that the rod would not pass from Judah until peace came. You are the Prince of peace and in You is the everlasting hope. You have offered Yourself that I may abide in You. Teach me how to abide in You that I may learn from You and know the unsurpassable