Prayers of the Church, 20th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 24 – October 18, 2020
In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the world, the Church, and one another.
A brief silence is kept.
Thank you, dear Lord, for creating us in the image and likeness of your beloved Son. Thank you for making us his image-bearers to a world seduced by idols, pretenders, and fakes. Give us a double portion of your Spirit, so we constantly honor and serve Jesus, and show him to everyone we meet.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Imprint the blessed image of your dear Son upon the Church. Conform its worship, teaching, fellowship and outreach to his likeness. By faithful proclamation of your Word, and through right administration your Sacraments, use your Church to lead many people from vain idols to life-giving trust in you, the true and only God.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
We pray for our fellow Christians who suffer persecution because they refuse to render to anyone or anything that true worship and love that is due to you alone. By their faithful witness, lead their enemies to repentance and amendment of life.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Help this congregation to render to you all honor, glory, worship, and praise. Help us to render to one another the kindness, forgiveness and compassion which is their due. And help us to render to our neighbors the love, respect, and justice which you command.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Sometimes we who bear Christ’s name display such a blurred, shabby, and distorted image of him that others are scandalized and dismayed. Forgive us, and sanctify us, so that Jesus’ love and mercy shine clear and bright in our lives, to his glory and for the sake of those he came to save.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Until your peace reigns undisturbed throughout the world, direct the thoughts, words and actions of our military personnel, police, first responders, and all who risk their lives to bring safety and justice to others. Prosper all they do that serves your will. Bring healing to the wounded, hope to their families, and honor to all who have honorably served.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
As you anointed Cyrus to accomplish your will for Israel when it was captive, we ask that you anoint the leaders of this and every nation upon earth. Equip them to do whatever accomplishes your will for all who are captives to injustice, poverty, or violence. As many of us are preparing to vote in an important national election, teach us to put our trust in you, to seek your will for the nation, and to live honorably, peaceably, and kindly with one another.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
We plead on behalf of all who are afflicted by pain, sorrow, turmoil, or any other assault of the Evil One. Especially we lift before you the needs of: {List}. Come to their aid; heal all that is wounded; and restore them to wholeness of body, mind, and spirit.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
Holy Father, we entrust into your never-failing care our beloved dead. Continue in us the work, begun at our Baptism, which fashions us into the blessed likeness of your dear Son. Grant us faith, through your Holy Spirit, to commend ourselves, one another, and our whole lives to Christ our Lord. Bring us into that eternal Kingdom where we shall see him face to face, and shall behold his image, perfectly restored, in the faces of everyone whom you have redeemed by his blood.
Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.
For Jesus’ sake, grant the fulfillment of all we ask that conforms to your holy will. Amen.
