Sisters and brothers in Christ,
God invites us to bring our doubts and fears,
our joys and concerns, our petitions and praise,
and offer them for the earth and all its creatures.
O God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son,
and to care for those who are our companions,
not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love.
Seeking to be true friends of all,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the church and the world.
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father
O God, giver of life, let us live our lives in the fullness of the Spirit,
with humility, care, and compassion, and in your Son’s image.
Let us forgive where forgiveness is sought.
Let us strive to ease the burdens of others,
and in so doing, lighten our own load.
We ask of you in your infinite wisdom,
to cherish us all in this world you created
and protect those who cannot protect themselves.
As we celebrate this Easter season,
we pray for our brothers and sisters around the world
for whom this season has brought only heartache and pain.
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father
Let our thoughts and prayers turn to all refugees
whose lives are lived in the desperation of poverty,
the fear of illness, and ill-treatment,
in the struggles for freedom and justice,
in the weariness of war, and in the bleakness of despair.
We imagine you, O God,
seeing the precious lives of your loved ones in each nation,
each with their own struggles
and pray that if we are all your children,
as is Christ Jesus,
that you help us to see clearly who and what we are called to be for one another.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
We pray for those countries involved in continuing conflicts;
for the violence in South Sudan where tens of thousands have been killed
and thousands more are fleeing the border;
for the rising tensions over North Korea
where the United States is desperately seeking to resolve and ease relations
and for the ongoing conflict in Syria.
As we hear the death toll from the bombing of a crowded
bus convoy near Aleppo has reached 126 lives, including 68 children,
we pray for those innocent souls caught up between the warring sides.
We pray for the all service personnel in active duty around the world,
and ask that you will keep them safe
until they return home to their families and those whom they love.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Elusive God,
companion on the way,
you walk behind, beside, beyond;
you catch us unawares.
Break through the disillusionment
and despair clouding our vision,
that, with wide-eyed wonder,
we may find our way and journey on
as messengers of your good news
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father
Guide us in the path of discipleship,
so that, as you have blessed us,
we may be a blessing for others,
bringing the promise of the Kingdom near
by our words and deeds
Receive these prayers, O God,
and transform us through them,
that we may have eyes to see and hearts to understand
not only what you do on our behalf,
but what you call us to do
so that your Kingdom will come to fruition in glory.
We ask these things in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.