Prayers of the People

Gracious God,

On this day of worship, we sing, we pray, we contemplate, we hear your call toward changed lives. Give us grace to be the people who You have called together, to be the ones who are called to particular ministries in this place -- in this church, in this city, in this world.

As we worship, we are mindful that we have many emotions and states of being today. We have many concerns. Some of us are not at peace. Some of us are sleepless. Some of us are unemployed. Some of us are grieving. Some of us are afraid. Some of us are lonely. Some of us are sick with concern for a sin-sick world.

Grant us your abundant love, that unrest may become peace, that sleepless nights may become rest, that unemployment may become opportunities for meaningful work, that grief may turn into hope, that fear may turn into trust, that loneliness may turn into deep, rich community, that sin-sickness may turn into works of compassion toward this world that suffers.

You love the world, O God. You love our church. You love our city. You love our nation and every nation of this world. May our prayers lift toward you in such a way that we are called anew to serve the very people for whom we pray.

We don't have to go far to find people who are sick, to find those who are suffering.

Members of our congregation are struggling with illness.

Members of our congregation know the fears associated with gang violence.

Members of our congregation are unemployed.

Members of our congregation are experiencing the heartache of divorce and death.

Members of our congregation live in poverty.

Help us be a part of the very prayers we make, O God, to give gifts of healing toward our very own family of faith.

We don't have to go far to find difficulties, but we do also look beyond ourselves. We pray for those beyond our walls. . .

. . . for 30% of children who live in poverty right in this very zip code, we pray for wholeness, for freedom, for abundance, for opportunity.

. . . for the people of Tunisia who are protesting against their government, we pray for healing, for justice, and for peace.

. . . for the city of Tucson, we pray for Your loving kindness, Your care, Your inspiration, Your comfort.

. . . for the city of Brisbane, which has been ravaged by floods this week, we pray for shelter, for community, for needed resources.

For all of these people - and those that are known in the recesses of our hearts - we ask Your loving kindness, and we claim the promise that Your hope, Your healing, and Your resurrection of this world are larger and more abundant that we can ask or think or imagine. Your love and Your goodness are the last and most meaningful Word of our lives.

And in trust of that great truth, we are bold to pray as your children the prayer that Jesus taught us, saying. . .

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed by Thy Name,

Thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

Amen.

-Prayer of Pasadena Presbyterian Church