Prayers of the People/Intercession on Relationships
May we be no one’s enemy, and may we be the friend of all that is eternal and abides with Christ.
May we never quarrel with those nearest us; and if we do, may we be reconciled quickly.
May we love, seek, and attain only that which is good.
May we wish for everyone’s happiness and envy none.
May we never celebrate the misfortune of one who has wronged us.
May we win no victory that harms either us or our opponents.
May we help reconcile friends who are angry with one another. May we,to the best of our abilities, provide help to our friends and all who are in want.
May we never fail a friend who is in danger.
May we respect ourselves. Amen.
Eusebius of Caesarea, Adapted
God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Lord of all our yesterdays, todays and tomorrows: thank you that we don’t need to be afraid of what’s coming because you’re already there ahead of us. Nothing takes you by surprise. Nothing confuses you or confounds you.
There’s never a drop of sweat on your upper lip from anxiety, worry or panic. Therefore, trusting not ourselves but you, we open our hearts to your strength and love today, giving over what we can’t change so you can.
For those ill or injured, anticipating surgery or recovering from it, for those who await test results or who are anxious for another: come, as our Healer; and dispel diseases of body, soul, mind and emotions. Speed recovery. Strengthen care-givers. Assuage fears and restore trust in your power.
For those who mourn, whether grief is fresh or lingering: come, as the Resurrection and the Life; and console the grieving. Comfort and companion the lonely. Share in tears of sorrow and in laughter at remembering. Impart hope for this life, and hope for beyond the grave.
For those with relationships coming apart at the seams; for families stressed by estrangement, separation, or divorce; for friends divided by anger; or colleagues separated by differences, for any alienated by sin from someone they’ve loved–Jesus, come as the great Mediator and Reconciler: break proud spirits–and replace them with humble hearts.
Enable each to speak truth in love; to repent and to forgive; to be patient and gracious with one another and with their own selves. Restore them to the right relationship with each other. For peoples, countries and nations–including our own: come as King of Kings, as Lord of all and Prince of Peace. For those in leadership–give them wisdom from above; and the courage to do what is right, not just expedient or politically correct.
In dangerous places and in war zones: Protect the innocent. Guard combatants, especially our own sons and daughters, from harm–and their families from fear and anxiety. Insure justice and mercy, truth and freedom, so the Gospel may flourish in hard places,as your people live safely there.
For missionaries and pastors, congregations and evangelists, who live your truth and declare your truth in hostile nations or among indifferent people: come as Light and Truth, with grace and love: keep your people faithful. Strengthen missionaries whose vigor flags; and encourage them when they’re discouraged. This is our prayer in Your name, Jesus. AMEN
God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–You know what it’s like to be many and one at the same time. In You, we too are many … yet one. You’ve made us one body—a single family unified for one purpose; with one baptism—giving us a single identity. You’ve given us one Spirit—Your Spirit; and one hope—in the same future. And, with one faith we trust You for our salvation, our one Lord, Jesus Christ.
So together, with one voice and a single heart, we hold varied anxieties and hope, concerns and commitments, and give them to You. For those we love who are ill or injured, anticipating surgery or recovering from it–we pray healing of body, peace of mind and trust in You.
For families who gather this week–we ask safety in travel, joy in shared times; and where reconciliation is needed to bring a marriage and family together, we ask You to give grace, humility, forgiveness and growth in love and trust. For those who can’t be together this week–we ask peace.
May Your grace give reason for thanks in shared memories. For our nation–so blessed by You over the years, we offer thanks: for freedom, for abundance of resources, for the ability to worship You unafraid. Yet, we’ve also grown proud of our power, our wealth and our technologies. Forgive us for turning to other gods to lead and protect us; and for when we’ve trusted ourselves too much and You too little.
For our world, so splintered by national interest and suspicion, by prejudice and hatred: we pray for understanding and empathy, justice and compassion between peoples. Strengthen Your missionaries, keep them faithful in serving You as they declare and live Your gospel as lights throughout a dark world. For Your Church, for this church–we thank You. Thank You for Your people who love us as we are, who care for us when we hurt, who lift us up when we fall, who are there when we are in need. Thank You for a church that’s faithful to proclaim and demonstrate Your truth with grace and compassion. Thank You for ministries that quietly change lives, for leaders who faithfully serve and for all who sacrificially give of themselves. So, with thanksgiving in our hearts, we pray all this, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
God, our Creative Father, Living Lord, and Holy Spirit:
You call us by name and make us Your own–but you don’t leave us alone. You put us in relationships, families, and churches for our encouragement and support, and to advance Your Kingdom in our world. So, as one people, we pray.
We pray for the ill or injured, the recovering and recuperating. Heal them, Lord, and restore them by Your saving power. We pray for those who mourn: comfort them, especially…[enter names here]
We pray for parents and grandparents, for step-parents and single parents: Give them the necessary strength, patience, wisdom and love to shape lives entrusted to their care after Your image and in Your truth. And we pray for children to value them as mentors, guides, and protectors.
We pray for our nation: Guide us in good and right ways; lead us to reflect your kingdom’s values in all we are and do. And we pray for our world, with all its difficulties: May poverty be overcome by generosity; Hunger by compassion; Disease by caring; and War by peace. We pray for your church: to be a colony of heaven on earth, that brings You honor and not shame by what we do and say. All this, and more, we pray in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. AMEN