THE PRAYERS,
10th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 15, Cycle C (August 18, 2019)
Let us pray for the Church, the world, and for one another.
A brief silence
Father, sometimes your word dismays and unsettles us! We don’t like to hear about divine fire, judgment, and division. Make us courageous and steadfast in our faith. Give us ears to rightly hear, and hearts to rightly repent. And give us grace to show the fruits of repentant faith, to your glory and for the nourishment of your people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Make your Church a faithful witness to your Word of Law and Gospel. When it must speak of fire, judgment, or sin, let it do so humbly and lovingly, but also honestly and fearlessly. Help it always point to Jesus, the merciful pioneer and perfector of faith, and the Salvation for whom the world languishes.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Renew the faith, increase the zeal, and strengthen the deeds of everyone in this congregation. Cast the purifying fire of your Holy Spirit in our midst, so that all we say and do is in accordance with your Word and so that through us, your will is accomplished in the lives of many people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We are surrounded by a cloud of faithful witnesses, including Christians who are persecuted throughout the world in this age of “tolerance and diversity.” Help us to be strengthened and encouraged by their example. Give them patience and steadfast hearts; and through their witness, burn away the sin and purify the hearts of those who hate them – and you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Establish your peace among the nations, tribes, clans, sects, and communities of this world. No plan or project of ours can heal the seeds of wickedness and violence in our hearts. Thus we plead: heal, purify, guide and direct the people and the leaders of every human endeavor, in accordance with your will and for our common good.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Until your peace is established, good men and women must risk grave dangers to protect lives and liberty. We pray for all of them. Purify their minds and hearts, and direct their decisions and deeds, so that even places of chaos and violence may begin to know a measure of your peace. Bring them safely home to their loved ones, and bless their hearts and lives with that same peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for everyone who is afflicted by the powers of sin, evil, and death. Most especially we remember before you: {List}. Be their sure hope and strong deliverer. Strengthen their faith in times of trial. Bring them safely into the fellowship of those who love them and into closer communion with you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, we humbly commend our departed loved ones into your care. Renew to us the promise you made to all the faithful who have gone before us: that “when through fiery trials your pathway shall lie, my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply.” Keep our faith steadfast and firm in your excellent Word, until that day when you bear us in your bosom into your everlasting Kingdom, and make us stand before you with all whom you have upheld by your righteous, omnipotent hand.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear our prayers, gracious Father, offered through the power of the Spirit; and for the sake of your dear Son, grant us all that is in accordance with your merciful will, to your glory and for the good of your people. AMEN.
