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.
We pray for our brothers and sisters around the world
that are experiencing heartache and pain,
That by being your hands and feet
we might offer them your peace and presence
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 taken
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.
We pray for those among us,
Even here, even now
That are grieving loss,
Wrestling with anxiety and depression,
Those that are weary from the warp and woof of life,
And all that seek rest and respite.
May Sanctuary embody that name,
Offering rest for the weary,
Companionship for the lonely,
Comfort for the grieving,
And hospitality for the outcast.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
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.
Loving God,
open our ears to hear your word
and draw us closer to you,
that the whole world may be one with you
as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
All of this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.