Prayers of the Church, 4^th Sunday in Lent (March 22, 2020)

Let us lift our hearts and voices to the Lord in prayer, that he would be merciful to his people.

A brief silence

Holy Father, thank you for the light of sun and moon, stars and streetlights, candles and lamps. Thank you for these “created lights” that are the faintest glimmer shed from your true and uncreated Light, your Son, Jesus Christ. Lead us, even when eyes fail and earthly lights grow dim, to his kindly light, which no darkness can overcome.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Heal the blindness of your Church. Give it eyes to see its own sin, and to repent. Give it eyes to see the world’s sins, and to offer your forgiveness to any who will receive it. Give it eyes to see the plight of all who are afflicted by the powers of sin, death and the devil, and to proclaim your gracious redemption, bestowed through the Passion of your dear Son.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Heal the blindness of those who persecute followers of Jesus, and of all who turn a blind eye to their plight. Grant that all who suffer on account of Christ may be so faith-filled and gracious that their tormentors turn to you for healing, forgiveness, and new life.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Be gracious and merciful to your missionaries, to our seminarians and their professors, and to all who strive to be Jesus’ apprentices and disciples. Give them clear sight and strong faith, so that through their labors, many who are spiritually blind may be led to Jesus and healed.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Heal the blindness from which we, the members of this congregation, suffer. Give us new eyes to see Jesus in one another, and for his sake, to love even the person we don’t yet like. Give us eyes to see new opportunities for serving you; for sharing our faith in you; and for making this church a lamp that shines with the light of Christ’s love for everyone we encounter.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Let your healing, blessing and grace rest upon the blind and deaf; and upon those with impaired or distorted senses of touch or taste, balance or movement. We often take for granted these gifts; unless it happens to us, we can’t imagine lacking them. Give them strength and courage. Sharpen the perception of their other senses. Surround them with people whose respect and encouragement leads them to greater faith in you, their light and their life.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Heal the blindness of the nations, and all who are in positions of authority. Give them eyes to seek your will, and hearts and hands to do it. Give them eyes to see injustice, deceit and cruelty, and the strength and courage to combat them. Make each of us into children of your light, living in faith toward you and with fervent love toward one another.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

As your dear Son healed the man born blind, we pray that he would also bring healing, light, hope, and renewed faith to everyone who suffers from any affliction. Especially we lift up the needs of: {List}. Lift them up from their pain, sorrow, fear or grief. And give them the joy of your saving help, now and always.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We thank you, dear Father, for receiving into your greater light and into your eternal life, everyone who died trusting your promises. Deal mercifully with those shadowed by grief and loss. And we beg you: Lord, let us receive our sight, so that day by day, we see you more clearly; love you more dearly; and follow you more nearly. Bring us to that endless Day in which we see you face to face in the company of all who have been redeemed by the merits of your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Into your hands, gracious Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the Church, 3^rd Sunday in Lent (March 15, 2020)

Let us lift our hearts and voices to the Lord in prayer, that he would be merciful to his people.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, your living water given to quench our deepest thirst. Sometimes we don’t realize how thirsty we are. Sometimes what we drink makes us even thirstier. Thank you that Jesus provides exactly what we need most – your goodness, love, forgiveness, and life – in the most spiritually digestible form: Himself.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make your Church a place where your living water flows. In it, quench the thirst, heal the hearts, and cleanse the souls of people perishing from the powers of sin, evil and death. Inspire all pastors, deacons, theologians and teachers to share your holy Word so that many may hear, and come to believe, that your Son is the Savior of the world.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray on behalf of our sisters and brothers who, in remaining faithful to you, have endured suffering we cannot comprehend. Fulfill in them the Apostle’s words: that suffering produces endurance; endurance produces character; character produces hope; and hope does not put them to shame, because God’s love has been poured into their hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Jesus said the fields are ripe for the harvest. Therefore we pray: send, guide, and strengthen missionaries to preach the Good News. We also ask that you make each of us disciples “on a mission with you” to eagerly share the Living Water with thirsty souls in our communities.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Have mercy on this congregation, dear Lord; do not let it become a place of grumbling or quarreling, but rather a place to worship you in spirit and in truth; to care for one another with gentle hearts; and to share the living water of your Son with everyone we know or meet.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Thank you for the people and organizations that make clean drinking water available throughout the world. Thank you: for water pumps and purification units; for sanitation and irrigation instruction; for desalinization and chlorination; and for the simple joys of a glass of cold water or a hot shower. Grant that all who benefit from the pure and refreshing waters of this life may also be drawn to the Living Water of eternal life, Jesus Christ your Son.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Have mercy on our nation, its elected and appointed leaders, its people, and the people of every land. Although we are all ungodly and rebellious, save us, we pray, from our folly. Give us hearts and minds that delight in your law, and wills set to obey it. Remove from us, and from every nation, the spirit of discord and strife; and crown us with the blessing of your peace.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Refresh and heal with your Living Water everyone troubled by pain, grief, despair, fear, guilt or confusion. Especially we pray for :{ List}. Give them renewed strength; deep peace; unshakeable hope; and abiding faith in your gracious compassion.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

With reverence and affection, we entrust our beloved dead into your unfailing care, dear Father. Wipe away the tears of those whose grief runs deep. Refresh us with your Word and Sacraments as we pass through the dark valleys and desert places of this life. Help us to encourage one another; to rejoice even though suffering; to honor and cultivate good character; to live in hope; and to lean on your never-failing promises. Speed the day when, in Spirit and in truth, the whole company of the redeemed will worship you, and acclaim your beloved Son as the Savior of the world, our Lord and our God.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Into your hands, gracious Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God
is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be
able to endure it.  Therefore, my
beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:13-14).

Have you ever asked why this
constant tug-of-war?  Has not the Lord
promised that He will grow in you the image of Christ?  Do you not yet see that the Lord is working
all things together for good for those who love Him?  Do not be tossed about by the thinking of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Flee from that which tempts you and walk in
the counsel of the Lord.

Lord, help me to see that the war of this world is over.  Guide me in the way of true life that I would
not place myself in a position to be constantly tempted.  Help me to walk humbly with You knowing that
only by Your grace can I not be thrown about by the constant pressures of this
world.  You, Lord, have provided the way
of living that all who walk with You may walk in peace.

Lord Jesus, You know all that we
face and You have provided all that is needed. 
Teach me to flee from those things which entice that I may not be tossed
about by this world.  You have led the
way to worship the Father in spirit and truth. 
Continue to teach me what this means that I may always come into the
Father’s presence and abide with You and the Holy Spirit, doing what is
pleasing in His sight. Amen.