THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
March 20, 2022: 3rd Sunday in Lent
Ezekiel 33:7-20 (you are a sentinel warning people to repent; if the evil repent, they live; if the righteous sin, they die; if you don’t warn, their blood is on you)
ELW/RCL: Isaiah 55:1-9: (Listen to God, eat what is good; he makes everlasting covenant; seek him while he may be found; his Word returns fruitfully to him)
Psalm 85 (Restore us; show us your steadfast love; save us from our sin)
ELW/RCL: Psalm 63:1-8 (My soul hungers, thirsts for you; you helped me; I sing for joy)
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (avoid sin; don’t test Christ; God provides escape when you are tested)
Luke 13:1-9 (tower didn’t fall because the people were worse sinners than you; but if you do not repent, worse will happen to you. Parable of unfruitful fig tree)
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For the Church, the world, and our poor sinful selves, let us pray to our Lord, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
A brief silence
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son. He diagnoses our sin, and provides our remedy. Thank you for your Holy Spirit. He opens an escape door when we are tempted, and helps us to repent when we don’t walk through. Help us in these struggles, and have mercy on us when we fall.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Make the Church your sentinel. Use its words and deeds to help sinners turn from evil and turn toward the Cross, upon which was hung their salvation. Keep your persecuted servants safe in their time of testing; and cause their tormentors to repent of their sin.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Help everyone in this congregation to be fruitful fig trees, abounding in righteousness, faithfulness, love, peace, and every good work. May our lives constantly proclaim your glory and nourish your people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for everyone who is tempted to engage in sinful acts out of fear, desperation, ignorance, or malice. Help us to speak truth in love with them. Help us to hear words of truthful warning when they are spoken to us! Help us to accompany those who resolve to walk in the path of righteousness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, our earthly leaders – in government, industry, education, and elsewhere – often seem blind, deaf, and dumb. They refuse wise words, just deliberation, and righteous deeds. Lead them to repent of selfish, wrongheaded, and evil laws or decisions. Make them eagerly seek the good you set before us all.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We plead on behalf of everyone who suffers in body, mind, or spirit – especially: {List}. We pray for everyone who cares for hurting, lonely, grieving, and vulnerable people. Refresh them with your gracious Spirit, and give them the joy of your saving help.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Most holy Father, thank you for the lives of your faithful servants who now rest from their labors. Keep their memories bright and their witness strong. Keep us in fellowship with them by faith, and with one another by love. In the fullness of time, gather all who have been redeemed through the death and resurrection of your Son into the blessedness of your Kingdom, where with you and the Holy Spirit he reigns as Savior, Lord and God forever.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Hear us, dear Lord; and answer our prayers according to your will, to your glory and for the benefit of the people you long to save.
Amen.
