Prayers of the People/Intercession on Prejudice
O God,
whom we cannot love unless we love our neighbors,
remove hate and prejudice from us and from all people,
so that your children may be reconciled
with those we fear, resent, or threaten;
and live together in your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray for those who govern us.
[Silent prayer]
Amen.
The Worshipbook: Services,The Westminster Press, 1970.
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.
God of Grace and Power—our Friend, who sticks closer than a brother: You know when we screw up …and You know when we manage to get it right. You know when we forget you … but You never forget us.You know when we’re weak, for then You are strong.Today—because of Your grace, we can come to You just as we are, not as we aren’t nor even as we might pretend to be.
Because of Your power, we know You can do what we can’t. So, we humbly ask you to hear us as we pray for those who are ill or injured, for those whose sickness is incurable by us, for those unjustly imprisoned, for those without hope, and those who are homeless or abandoned. As You move toward us in love, lead us in Jesus’ name to be with them in their suffering as Your Spirit is close to them.
We ask You to sustain those who need Your healing touch; please… restore the wounded and make the sick whole and strengthen their caregivers. Please, Lord, give hope to the dying and comfort all who mourn–whether their grief is fresh or lingering. Indeed, please uphold all who suffer in body or mind, not only those we know and love, but also those known only to You … that they may know the peace and joy of Your upholding care.
We also ask that You hear the cries of the world’s hungry and suffering–and answer them. Give us, who consume so much of the world’s resources, the righteous will to reorder our lives so all may have a rightful share of food, water, medical care, and shelter, and have what they need to live a life of dignity. Lord, we ask that You guide rulers and leaders of all nations.
Move them to set aside fear, greed, and vain ambition, and to bow toYour gracious and sovereign rule.
Inspire them to strive for peace and justice, so all people may dwell securely, free of war and injustice. For our nation, we ask You to renew us in the ways of godliness and grace, justice and peace. Guide those who make and administer our laws to build a society based on trust, respect and faith inYou.
Erase prejudice that oppresses. Give all our citizens a new vision of a life of harmony that reflects Your eternal kingdom. Lord, we pray for Your church around the world: that You’d empower its life and witness.
Break down barriers that divide us and, instead, unite us in Your truth and love, so that our witness brings glory to You and hope to the world. And strengthen us in this congregation in its work and worship. Fill hearts with Your self-giving love; enable voices to speak Your praise; and bring lives into conformity to the image of your Son, Jesus our Lord.
Prayer for the Unity of the Church
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church (1979)
Prayer for our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church (1979)
Prayer for Equity
Mighty One
In your justice
In your mercy
bring equity to your world
raise up all who suffer from discrimination
break the rod of oppression and prejudice
free us from our addiction to violence and division
The congregation is invited to offer their own prayers for equity and justice
Jesus – the laborer, the migrant, the homeless, the oppressed
You hear their cries and so do we
Fill us with courage and conviction
Make us instruments of your peace
your justice
your mercy
Fill us with your passion and power
So we may truly live the prayer you taught us
Conclude with The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer for Equity © 2023 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com