Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being,
Sends us out as the light of the world, to shine before others.
Let us pray for strength on the way
and for all those in the church and the world
who need justice, mercy, and peace.

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins,
and give us the liberty of that abundant life
which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.

Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, may we daily choose the path you have for us
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to set free the oppressed,
to share our bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into our home;
That we may be one as you and the Father are one;
striving to show forth love and light and blessing to this world,
despite our failures and limitations.

God of compassion, your love for humanity is revealed in Jesus,
whose earthly life began in the poverty of a stable
and ended in the pain and isolation of the cross:
in the midst of the bitter winter months
we hold before you those who are homeless and cold,
without a safe place to rest their head.
Draw near and comfort them in spirit
and bless those who work to provide them with shelter, food, and friendship.

Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord, Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit,
May be faithful as your adopted children.
O God, we hold before You all those who are in need
and we offer our prayers either silently or aloud…

God of our lives and our concerns,
God of this world and its multitude of troubles,
God of the universe beyond our imagination,
help us to be still in these moments,
to know that you are here in this place,
to lift our hearts up to you, to settle down,
to slow down, to rest in you.

All this we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.