Prayers of the Church, St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Transferred – September 20, 2020

Let us approach the throne of grace on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence is kept.

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling us, though like Matthew we are numbered among the tax collectors and sinners. Thank you for lifting us up when we fall away from your commands, and for restoring us to positions of trust and the task of proclaiming the Gospel when we have repented.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Fill your Church with faithful teachers and preachers of your Word. Kindle its worship to be a living flame of praise to you. Make it wise as serpents and innocent as doves as it bears witness to Jesus. Grant it grace to lavish the treasures of your Kingdom upon all who need them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant such lovingkindness and faith to missionaries that, through their labors, many gladly receive your forgiveness and life. Help us pray for, defend, and assist your persecuted servants however we can. Give them grace to speak truth in love to their enemies, so that they repent and believe in you.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Give the people of this congregation ears to hear Jesus’ gracious call to discipleship. Help us to invite fellow sinners to feast on Jesus in Word and Sacrament. Make us wise and winsome, so that like Matthew, we share the Gospel in ways that lead others to faith in Jesus.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray for our young people, especially those considering a vocation to ministry and service in your Church. Give them delight in learning, and love for your people. Preserve them from the consequences of folly or malice. Use their energy to please you and to serve their neighbor.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Give wisdom and humility to our earthly leaders. Make them good stewards of power and authority. Remind them that they must give an account of their stewardship to you, their Master and King. Be the shield and defender all who risk their lives on behalf of others. Fill them with courage, integrity, and competence. Use their labors to accomplish your will in places of chaos and violence. Help us all to have a heart for the poor, and the will to assist them effectively and graciously.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless volunteers and workers, not only in the church, but throughout the world, who seek to serve you and neighbor. Multiply their gifts and talents, so that through their labors, many people receive mercy, comfort, and a clear sign of your providential care.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

You raise the poor from the dust and care for all who cry out to you. Therefore with confidence and hope, we remember before you all who are afflicted in body, mind, or spirit, including: {List}. Bring them out of darkness into your glorious light; and restore them to fellowship with all who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, receive into your Kingdom all the faithful departed, especially those dearest to us. Keep us steadfast in faith; diligent in service; truthful in word and honest in deed. Bind us together in cords of compassion for one another. Bring us, with all whom you have redeemed, into the fullness of your presence. Give us hearts, minds, and voices, forever to adore and glorify you, in the blessed communion you share with your Son and the Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Conform our prayers to the heart of Jesus, hear them through the interceding of your Holy Spirit, and grant them in accordance with your gracious will. Amen.

Prayers of the Church, Pentecost 16, Proper 20 – September 20, 2020

Let us approach the throne of grace on behalf of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence is kept.

Thank you, Father, for calling us early, midday, and late in life, to be your disciples and workers in your Kingdom’s vineyard! Thank you for seeking us to do your work, even when nobody else thinks we’re good enough to amount to anything. Give us grace to hear your call, and strength to do your will. Thank you for the wages of everlasting life and salvation, and for your pleasure in us.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make the Church that place where all may see the fair beauty of Jesus; find shelter in his widespread arms; grow in faith and joy; and labor fruitfully to his glory and for the benefit of others.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray for our persecuted sisters and brothers around the world, especially in North Korea, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, and Nigeria. Give them courage to honor Christ in their body; to speak and live the Gospel with boldness and joy; and to know that they are participating in the suffering of Jesus.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Help the people of this congregation to stand firm together, of one spirit, striving to proclaim the Gospel by words and deeds. Make us willing to work at whatever task pleases you and draws others closer to you. Make us glad when latecomers join us in our labors, knowing that your grace has drawn them to serve you, even as it drew us.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray for our young people, especially those considering a vocation to ministry and service in your Church. Give them delight in learning, and love for your people. Preserve them from the consequences of folly or malice. Use their energy to please you and to serve their neighbor.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant wisdom to our earthly leaders. Let them seek you while you may be found; call upon you while you are near; and govern in accordance with your holy will. Graciously grant patience, kindness, and humility to everyone, so that we may lead peaceable lives.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Be the light and salvation to those who stand in harm’s way to safeguard life and freedom. Amid warfare and violence, let them put their trust in you and not be afraid. Cause them to bear the fruits of justice and righteousness; and give them the fair wages of honor, health, and peace when their work is done.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Be the safe shelter and solid rock to everyone in times of trouble, and especially to: {List}. Lift them high above the things that assail them; and be the strength of their life. Give patience and compassion to all who care for them, especially those whose work is long, hard, and thankless. Restore them to the joy of fellowship with those who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We thank you, Father, for those we love who have departed this life and are now with Christ. Though we grieve, we also rejoice; for we know that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Give us strength to labor cheerfully in the vineyards of goodness, kindness, forgiveness, and righteousness. Make us as generous to others with those things as Jesus is to us. Make us rejoice to see how many he has redeemed and welcomed into your blessed Kingdom; and when we see him face to face.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Conform our prayers to the heart of Jesus, hear them through the interceding of your Holy Spirit, and grant them in accordance with your gracious will. Amen.

“I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:8-9).

If we are to be like Christ, what then?  He who made all things and for whom all things were made became poor for our sake.  He gave Himself to us that we might give ourselves to Him.  This then is at the heart of it all.  Will you give yourself to Him?  Will you give up all things that with Him you might be rich in grace, mercy, compassion, and love?  Will you join with Him?

Lord, I struggle in this world because I want what I want.  I struggle in this world because I believe I do not have.  Yet here You are right before me.  You offer me Your love.  Let me see that all the other things I am chasing are nothing, for You are everything.  In You is light and life.  In You is liberty.  In You is hope.  Help me see the truth of You that I may live my life in You.

Lord Jesus, You who are everything gave it all up that I who am nothing might join You and be all whom You are making me to be.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always abide humbly in You as You abide in me.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy that I may walk the path You set before me and learn to love You above all things.  Amen.