Prayers of the People

This is a beautiful prayer of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It can also be found on the church's website.

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth for our Gracious God looks upon us with steadfast love and compassion: Preserve us from faithless fears and worthless anxieties, O Gracious One, as we bring our needs before you in faith, saying: For God has comforted the people, and will have compassion on those who suffer.

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Litanist: Empower your Church as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries, that we may strive first for the kingdom of God and your righteousness, O Holy One. For God has comforted the people,

and will have compassion on those who suffer.

Guide our leaders and all in authority throughout the world to bring forth your justice as trustworthy stewards, O Mighty One, that they may establish the lands in equity, so that none may hunger or thirst, or live with worry and anxiety. For God has comforted the people,

and will have compassion on those who suffer.

Like a nursing mother, you cannot forget us or fail to show your children compassion, O Loving One: Still our souls to be quiet, like a child upon its mother’s breast, that we may wait upon God, from this time forth, for evermore. For God has comforted the people,

and will have compassion on those who suffer.

Hear the cry of all who call to you, and in a time of favor, answer them, that every person may be fed as the birds of the air and clothed in radiance as the grass of the field. For God has comforted the people,

and will have compassion on those who suffer.

With childlike trust we offer to you in prayer those for whom we make intercession.

We give thanks to you for your blessing and providence, offering our gratitude.

We entrust to your never-failing arms those who have died.

For God has comforted the people,

and will have compassion on those who suffer.

You have inscribed your people on the palms of your hands, our Creator, and you care for us with your eternal loving kindness: Bless all humanity with your grace, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide us from the light of that love that is immortal, and given to us through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.