6th Sunday of Easter, Cycle B (May 9, 2021; Mother’s Day)
6th Sunday of Easter, Cycle B (May 9, 2021; Mother’s Day)
Acts 10:34-48 (Peter preaches to Gentiles, who receive Holy Spirit and are baptized)
ELW: Acts 10:44-48 (having preached to them a couple of weeks ago 😉, now Peter baptizes Gentiles)
Psalm 98 (Let all creation praise the Lord, the Judge of the world!)
1 John 5:1-8 (We know we love God’s children when we love him, obey his commandments and believe Jesus is his Son.)
ELW: 1 John 5:1-6 (stops short of obeying his commandments…)
John 15:9-17 (Love one another as I have loved you. You didn’t choose me – I chose you to bear much fruit)
THE PRAYERS
Let us pray to our victorious Savior on behalf of the Church, the world, and all people.
A brief silence
Lord Jesus, thank you choosing us to love you, to love one another, and to bear your love into the world. The world needs you so much! Make us faithful and fruitful, so our words and actions nourish hearts starved for your love.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless your Church with the power and presence of your Holy Spirit. Fill it with your love. Nourish it with Word and Sacrament. Through it, let the world see, desire, and dwell in your love forever.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Cheer the hearts and strengthen the spirits of all who are persecuted for your Name’s sake, and use their witness to cause many to repent and believe in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless the people of this congregation with faith, hope, and charity. Fill us with wisdom and prudence. Through the gift of your Holy Spirit, make us glad to obey your commandments.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give a double portion of your Spirit to all mothers, and to everyone who acts with a mother’s love toward your little ones. Grant them patience, wisdom, and a good night’s sleep. Forgive them when they falter in their high calling. Renew their spirits, and make them a perpetual blessing to their children. Comfort all who have lost a child, and all who long to have children but cannot.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Fill the leaders of the nations with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might. Teach them to love justice; to act with mercy toward the poor and hungry in their lands; and to walk humbly before your Father. Grant to all people the blessings of peace and unity on earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Bless all who safeguard life, health, and freedom. Grant them wisdom and integrity. Guide, protect, and strengthen them. Let their labors help create a safe, just world where the innocent may live in peace. Help us to honor their work and sacrifice on our behalf.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant the refreshment and joy of your life-giving Spirit to all who cry to you for help, especially: {List}. Grant them wholeness of body and mind; a joyful and confident hope in your goodness, and the peace which the world cannot give them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, thank you for choosing, forgiving, and saving the faithful who have gone before us. Grant that in this life, we may bear the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Gather us into your Kingdom, where those fruits will fully ripen and be perfected, to your glory and to the delight of all whom you have redeemed.
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.