Prayers of the People/Intercession on Faithfulness
Lord Jesus: knowing that you are good and strong, loving, wise, holy and faithful, we come to you today in prayer for all the needs and concerns in our minds and hearts. Lord, we pray for Your whole church and for this congregation,that we might live as your followers, citizens of your kingdom, walking in grace and truth, loved and affirmed by You (We pray especially for… church leaders…and all God’s People.)
O God, who rules forever in power and grace, justice and compassion:ever keeping watch over the nations: We pray for all nations of the earth, that love would guide us and genuine peace prevail. We pray for our nation, our community, and all in authority. (Our president, vice president, congress and judges …)
For wisdom to know the good and right way, and for the courage to lead us in that way for your glory and our good. Lord Jesus, as you gave sight to the blind, restored the crippled and healed lepers…,we pray that you would heal those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and we pray especially for …
You hold our souls in life, O God, and will not allow our feet to slip. We pray for those we love celebrating with joy, birthdays, anniversaries and accomplishments …Give them joy in your grace.Father God, we remember our Lord’s resurrection which we celebrate every Sunday as we remember before you those who’ve died, (especially…)
May they rest with Christ in eternal glory; and may their families and loved ones find comfort in your presence and in the promise of the resurrection.Lord Jesus, in your faithfulness to us, you shower us with grace, mercy, love, and all we need;we pray that you would shape our hearts that they would be filled with gratitude, so we will always turn to you and give thanks.
Faithful God, our Father, Lord and Counselor: By your grace you know our names before we are even born. By your grace you call us your own sons and daughters. By your grace you give us an eternal purpose. And, by your grace give us everything necessary to fulfill that calling: Your very own self before us, beside us, inside us, with us.
You invite us to open our hearts to your love and power; and so we do. We pray for a world gone mad–no longer safe (if it ever was), and increasingly filled with war, disease, terror, ambition, prejudice, greed, and distrust. Please, Lord …Bring peace between people and nations. Give leaders wisdom, courage and grace.
Open doors of reconciliation and healing between peoples. Protect those who serve in dangerous places to protect our freedom; and comfort families of those who’ve met harm in so doing. We pray for your church, called to graciously offer your truth in confusing times, your light in dark days, and a welcoming place of refuge amidst the chaos.
Enable us, along with those who serve you as missionaries, to remain loyal, bold, gracious and loving. Make us one in purpose, in faith, and in commitment to you. For this congregation: we thank you for a year gone-by, full of your grace and faithfulness; and we ask your blessing on the year ahead: that men, women, girls and boys may come to know you intimately, as Lord, Savior, Father and Friend. We also interceded for those sick physically or emotionally. Heal them by your power, love and grace;and make them whole again.Give your comfort and peace to those separated from loved ones by death. Now, we pray for our preacher this morning: Give him/her strength, vitality, and your clear Word for us; and enable us to hear, believe and receive your Truth. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Faithful and Good God–our Father, Redeemer and Companion. You know all about us–and love us anyhow; nothing we are or do surprises you or puts you off. Therefore, we turn to you with assurance and trust in your love and power. You care … and you can make a difference. You care about our world–as confusing and messed up as it is.
You care about nations in turmoil within and at war without. You care about the poor caught in the crossfire of politics and economics, and You care about those disenfranchised because of their skin color, ethnic heritage, or religious upbringing.
So we pray for your grace to reach out to all created in your image and for whom you died: bring peace, banish hunger and poverty, give hope in Jesus’ name! You care about this nation–even as we’ve strayed from your ways. Forgive our obsessions and addictions to pleasure, wealth, sensuality, comfort and ease.
Forgive our driveness to acquire and protect our stuff, and to hold it with a closed fist–rather to see it as a gift to be given to benefit others and build your kingdom. Guide the coming election. Raise those who will lead our community, state and nation in the ways of your kingdom justice, compassion and truth. Protect our young men and women serving in harm’s way.
You care when your people are touched by death, loss and grief–and so we ask you to comfort those who mourn. Give them peace, your peace, that comes when we trust our loved ones to you and rest in the hope of the resurrection.
You care whenever we encounter trials and pain, whether they’re physical, emotional, spiritual or relational. You’ve been here, so you know. Therefore, we pray you heal damaged or strained relationships–before it’s too late. Please … heal depressed souls, troubled minds, and broken hearts.
Enable us to receive and give forgiveness as those you have forgiven. And, we also ask you to restore and heal those who are sick, injured, recovering and rehabilitating physically–make them well as soon as possible, and give them patience in the meantime. Grant strength, fortitude and grace to all who care for them. This is our prayer, offered in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Good and Gracious God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit: You knew us before we knew You. You loved us before we even knew Your name. You sought us when we ran from You. You know the longing of our hearts even before we put them into words. You know all about us…but You love us anyhow; You love us enough to live for us, die for us, and be raised to a new life for our sake. How could we not love You … and trust You?
So we do love You and trust You; and it’s in love and trust we come to You with our hurts, our needs and our hopes … We celebrate new beginnings in You. Bless each family with grace to live into the newness of life in You. We pray for those who are ill, injured, or impaired, for those whose body, mind, spirit or soul is in need of healing or restoration. Come—make them whole. Be their Healer. And strengthen those who are their caregivers.
We pray for those who mourn this day—asking You to comfort them with Your presence and console them in Your peace. May they know the good hope of the gospel and the resurrection.
We pray for a world in need: in need of peace to overcome violence and wars, in need of wisdom to overcome confusion, in need of the will to share resources by the “haves”with the “have nots” …providing food for the hungry, clean water for the thirsty, shelter for the homeless, protection for the vulnerable, and justice for the mistreated and abused.
We pray for Your Church–for this church. We give thanks for those among us who exhibit faithfulness in loving You and walking with You, faithfulness in loving Your followers, and faithfulness in loving their neighbors, and in living the Gospel before a watching world. We pray, too, that we can be so faithful—faithful as we live the light of Your truth in a dark world; faithful in showing Your love to one another; faithful in actively loving our community for Your sake; and faithful in grace and holiness, humility and compassion … at all times with everyone. This is our prayer—offered trusting in the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. AMEN