The Prayers of the Church

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 12, 2019 (Mother’s Day)

Let us pray to our risen Savior on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

O Lord Jesus, you alone are worthy! You are worthy to open the scroll. You are worthy to judge the world – and us! – in righteousness. You are worthy of blessing and honor, glory and praise. Give us grace to sing of your greatness, to bless your most holy name, and to live lives worthy of you, our Shepherd and Savior.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Your servant Paul exhorted the elders of the churches to watch over your flock, guarding them from the dangerous wolves that threaten them. Bless your Church with pastors, bishops, lay leaders, and theologians who rightly proclaim and teach your Word; protect your people from falsehood, heresy and schism; and lead your people into lives of holiness, faithfulness and love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The martyrs of your Church stand before your throne, praying for all who are persecuted for your Name’s sake. Join our prayers to theirs. Give courage and endurance to those who suffer on account of you. By their example, cause those who trouble them to repent and turn to you, for the transformation of their lives and the renewal of their minds.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless and direct the people of this congregation. Make us confident that you love us and know each of us by name. Move us past our fears and preoccupations into eager discipleship and loving service. Let all be done your glory, and for the good of those in our family, community, workplace and world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless and gently guide our littlest lambs – our infants and toddlers, and all who are newborns in the faith. Lead them in safety through the dangers of this world; crown their innocence with holiness; and teach them to know your voice and to gladly follow wherever you would have them go.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you for mothers, foster mothers, and for all who care and love with a mother’s heart. Adorn their lives with wisdom, goodness, common sense, and patience. Give them endurance – and a good night’s sleep – to carry out their many tasks with a light heart and ready smile. Be their strength and shield when their burdens are great and sorrowful. And bestow your dearest comfort to all who have lost a child, or who are unable to have one.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give a shepherd’s heart to the leaders of all nations, especially our own. Teach them to seek the welfare of their people above power, wealth, or re-election. By their labors, grant the simple blessings of decent food, clean water, and the chance to raise families in freedom and safety. Give wisdom and integrity to all who risk their lives on behalf of others. And to all people, especially those whose lives have been shattered by violence, grant a measure of your peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh great and good Shepherd, lead with gentleness and compassion all who are sick or sorrowing; lonely or confused; hurting or despairing; and to all who cry out for mercy. Especially we remember before you the needs of: {List}. Give the Spirit of your compassion to all who care for them; and restore them to wholeness and hope.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, we recite the Shepherd’s Psalm at the death of a member of your flock, confident that you have led them through death’s dark vale into your Father’s house. We therefore entrust into your keeping all our dear departed. Lead us, as you have led them: in good times and bad, in health and sickness, in joy and despair, in life and in death. And bring us, and all whom you have redeemed, into that house, there to rejoice in the love you share with your Father and the Holy Spirit, and which you are pleased to share with us, forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant to us all that is in accordance with your will, dear Jesus, and accomplish your salvation among us; for you are risen from the dead and dwell in majesty with your Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Prayers of the Church

The Third Sunday of Easter, May 5, 2019

Let us pray to our risen Savior on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

O Lord Jesus, you stand in the midst of the lampstands which are your churches; and you fill them with imperishable light. Thank you for not deserting us to the darkness of sin, evil, and death. Thank you for dispelling the gloomy clouds of doubt, grief, and despair. Thank you for leading us into the everlasting day of your resurrection life. Grant us grace to lead all people and all creation in praising your Name.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, you commanded your servant Peter to feed your lambs and to tend your sheep. Grant your Church the faithfulness, compassion, and courage to feed your flock with your living Word of truth and grace; your living water of baptismal regeneration; and your living Body and Blood, the source of life everlasting.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Your Church is persecuted in many places, even as it was in the days of the Apostles. Deliver it from its enemies; grant it steadfast faith and hearts free from bitterness; and by its faithful endurance, shine the light of your judgment and forgiveness upon its persecutors, so that they may turn to you and live.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless this congregation. Kindle our hearts to seek the lost, lift up the broken-hearted, and feed hungry souls around us with your holy and precious Word.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As you confronted Saul on the Damascus road, so we pray that you would, in challenge and in mercy, confront the scoffers and skeptics who scorn your Word and refuse your truth. Give us winsome logic and gentle hearts; so that through our words, deeds and lives, you feed the unbelieving with your justice, truth and love.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You are Lord, King, Judge and Savior of the world. Enlighten the hearts of all who take counsel for the nations, and guide them in pathways of justice and righteousness.  Grant that your people everywhere may be fed with justice as well as loaves; may drink of peace as well as clean water; and may be given the safety and freedom to live, learn, teach and work; to raise their families and help their neighbors; and to know and love their Lord and God.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Defend and guide all who stand between life and death; between violence and safety; and between oppression and freedom. Lend them your wisdom and righteousness, and raise them up when they falter. Heal them of wounds to body, heart, and mind; and grant them joyous reunions with those who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Oh great and good Shepherd, lead with gentleness and compassion all who are sick or sorrowing; lonely or confused; hurting or despairing; and to all who cry out for mercy. Especially we remember before you the needs of: {List}. Give the Spirit of your compassion to all who care for them; and restore them to wholeness and hope.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, you alone are worthy to open the scroll; to judge the whole world in righteousness; and to bring forgiveness, life, and salvation to every sinner who dies trusting in your promises. We thank you for fulfilling those promises in the lives of our beloved dead. Give us faith, to trust your Word, no matter what the world screams at us to believe. Give us compassion, to feed and tend all for whom you died and rose, even those who rebuff or belittle us.  Give us grace, to taste, in this life, a foretaste of the banquet-feast of heaven, which you have prepared for all whom you have redeemed by your Blood.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant to us all that is in accordance with your will, dear Jesus, and accomplish your salvation among us; for you are risen from the dead and dwell in majesty with your Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

“You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes. The arrogant have
forged a lie against me; with all my heart I will observe Your precepts. Their
heart is covered with fat, but I delight in Your law.” (Psalm 119:68-69)

The Lord is always good. Never
forget this simple truth. In times of adversity and when things are not
proceeding in ways that make sense to you, the Lord is still good. What He has
promised is that everything will work for His glory. Learn His statutes and
walk in them. Do not believe the lies of the arrogant who have forged a plot
for your demise. Though you be confused, trust that God is always good.

Lord, clear the fat from my heart that I would see through the nonsense
of this age of sin. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would now and
forever hold fast to Your Word. Lead me into the truth of eternity. O Lord, You
are good and Your ways are eternal. Lead me in the eternal way and teach me to
practice Your goodness now and forever that I would abide in You.

Jesus, You promised that if I
abide in You and You in me I would bear fruit. Lead me in the way You have
established that I would walk this day learning Your statutes and precepts. Help
me to always see in the way You have established, the way of everlasting life. Keep
my eyes upon You that I would always hold fast to the truth of what You have
revealed from the beginning. Amen.