Proper 25 | Year A

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.

People of God, called to serve God and our neighbor, 
let us gather our faith and bring our petitions for the world, 
for the church, and those in any need or trouble.

O God, we pray for all who are victims of cruel laws and petty laws,
those who are subjected to prejudice
denied opportunities, excluded, pushed to margins.

For all those who are betrayed,
who don’t know loyalty, who fear to trust, or to love,
and who don’t realize that they’re already loved by you.
Loving God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father

Our prayer today is for the landless and homeless,
the refugee and evicted,
those who find themselves in foreign places and strange places.

We pray for the overworked and the underpaid,
for those in dangerous work and those in compassionate work,
for those who long to work but are denied the opportunity

Our prayer today is for the Church, for all the branches of the vine
including this one we gather as part of, today:
The body of Christ, people of Christ.

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father

Our prayer today is for the gifts of creation,
this earth in all its mighty wonder, yet tender fragility,
the gifts of life and resources to treasure.

Our prayer today is for those who lie close to our hearts
those whom we worry about, those whom we miss,
those who carry disproportionate burdens at this time.

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy

Proper 24 | Year A

God of grace and God of glory, 
yours is the voice we can scarcely hear
because you speak to us about grace and forgiveness, 
chosen-ness and unconditional love, 
and about suffering, dying, and new life. 

You know each of us by name, O God,
and in your sight we have found favor,
yet our minds cannot comprehend the vision of your glory
or the vastness of your love.
Grant that as we glimpse your greatness,
reflected in your many gifts,
we may always return to you
the praise that is yours alone.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, we are impacted by so many other voices
that have to do with power and competence, 
success and failure, 
diminishment and judgment, 
voices that tempt us to try to earn your acceptance or prove ourselves to others.

We do know that you are the voice that gives us life, 
that you are the voice that opens futures to people who are hopeless. 
We are a part of a people who are hopeless, 
or at least cynical or complacent because the other voices eat at our hearts. 
We are immobilized, and we become deaf. 

So we pray for new ears. 
We pray that your voice may be made more audible to us, 
that we may be able to sort out the death-dealing from the life-giving voices among us.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

We pray that your voice is loud and clear to our nation’s leaders
so that the power they wield may be wise, measured, compassionate, 
and for the benefit of the common good.  
Guide our direction as a country, 
that we may be peacemakers instead of instigators of violence, 
good stewards of your creation instead of abusers of the environment, 
And generous in coming to the aid of others.

We pray for your healing and comfort with all those who are grieving, 
who are ill or struggling with chronic health conditions, 
who are suffering from trauma or uncertainty.  
Bring stability and renewal to families
who have been hurt by recent natural and violent disasters.  
Grant all your people your peace that surpasses all human understanding. 
All of this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 23 | Year A

Let us pray for the whole Church, the nation, those in need, our church and special concerns.  Oh God, we pray that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.  Strengthen the leaders of our church that they may rightly preach your Word and administer your Sacraments. 

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good. Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.  Remember the poor the hungry the oppressed, and those in prison.  May we be instruments as we reach out to the least of these. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 22 | Year A

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Holy Friend,
health of the sick, comfort of the sad, rebuke of the oppressor,
judge of the greedy, hope of the repentant, friend of the downtrodden; 
in prayer we lift up to you this world with its outrageous injustices
yet also its outpouring of human kindness from ordinary people.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, we pray for the victims of another senseless shooting.
You are one who knows sorrow. 
You are acquainted with grief.
You are the God who weeps.
In this time of loss, comfort us.
In our fear, bring peace.
In our anger, point us to you, God of justice.
Embrace us, Lord, with your love.
 
For those enduring the loss of life, surround them with your presence.
Let those hurting sense and know you, the God of hope.
For those of us mourning, help us to come close to you; not against you.
 
Shine your light of love into the darkness of our lives.
Help us embody your love, grace, and compassion.
We need you. We confess that you, Lord Jesus, are our only hope.
Give us the courage to remain faithful to you.
In your mercy and grace, hear our prayer.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, reach out your hand over each of us gathered here now,
That our faith may be enlarged and fortified,
Our vision enlightened and extended,
And our compassion refreshed and widened.

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 21 | Year A

God of salvation,
who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
hear our prayers
on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
with your unending compassion.

We pray for the family of Jaymeson West,
The 16-year-old student who tragically lost his life
After battling depression.

We pray for all those wrestling with depression;
That when all is darkness
When they feel weak and helpless,
That you, O God, would give them a sense of your presence,
Your love, 
Your strength.

Help those suffering to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry them,
for, living close to You,
they will see Your hand,
Your purpose, 
Your will through all things.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, author of Creation
Giver of Life:
We call upon your mercy and compassion now.
We pray for the people of Puerto Rico.

We pray for the hearts of the world
To be moved with compassion
We pray for the feet and hands of the world, ourselves included,
To be moved to help. 

Where there has been devastation,
Bring renewal.
Where there is suffering,
Bring comfort
Where there is need
Bring provision.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

The world has great need of Your mercy, O God
As demonstrated by Christ,
As demonstrated by the global Church
As demonstrated by individuals.
May your spirit illumine our lives like never before
Bringing life where death has reigned.

Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 20 | Year A

Most merciful and compassionate God,
Giver of Life and Love,
hear our prayers
and let our cries come unto you.

Again we gather in the wake of natural disasters,
Of earthquakes and hurricanes
Shaking our world, taking lives, and turning cities to dust.
In these times we remember that we too come from the dust,
We remember the fragility of life.
As we collect our faith, hear our prayers
for a world torn apart by the earth’s quake,
For a world divided by human quake,
Hear our prayers.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, We weep with your people
We hear the cries of orphaned children and laments of bereaved parents
We feel the desperation of those searching for loved ones
We behold the silence of vanished villages.
We see the devastation.
We are overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.
Our hearts are hushed, our minds are numb.
Let not our hands be stopped, our voices mute.

God of the universe,
Open our hearts to feel your compassion,
Spur in us the act of continued giving,
Bond us to our sisters and brothers in need,
Comfort and heal the injured, the bereaved, the lost

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Strengthen the aid workers and medical personnel
Bolster the resolve of governments and those with power to help
Open through this tragedy pathways to partnerships and peace
May those hurting, grieving, and rebuilding be surrounded
By communities of mercy, healing, and compassion.

O God, hear our prayers
And make us faithful stewards of the fragile resources of this earth
Help us to care for this world you created and its inhabitants
so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven.
Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 19 | Year A

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.

God, where most people only see chaos and destruction
We see the helpers.
Where most people only see wrath and anger,
We see unending love and patience.
Where most people only see torture on a cross,
We see a story of kindness lived out.
Where most people only see humanity destroying itself
We see the Kingdom near.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, we acknowledge that those beset by disaster
have endured great trauma:
The losses and mess,
The danger and fright,
The distress to body and soul.
These are deep wounds, real wounds
That take time to recover from.

You weep, oh God, with those who weep.
You mourn with those who mourn.

Heal your people, oh God.
Rescue them from their distress,
Enfold them in your kindness,
And surround them in your care.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, make of us a strong and resilient people:
A people prone to compassion, 
A people prone to good works,
A people prone to patience,
A people prone to listening,
A people healed and whole.

Let the work of rebuilding --
Lives, homes, livelihoods, communities --
Be the work of new life and imagination;
The work of Heaven-on-Earth

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Image: Joseph and his brothers by Jacob Chayat Acrylic on Canvas

Proper 18 | Year A

God among us,
we gather in the name of your Son
to learn love for one another.
Turn our feet from evil paths,
our hands from shameful deeds,
our minds to your wisdom,
and our hearts to your grace.

You call us to love and serve you
by loving and serving our brothers and sisters, near and far;
And to put their needs and interests ahead of our own.
And so we offer our prayers for the world you created,
In Your mercy, hear our prayer.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

God we pray for all those affected by disasters around the world;
For victims of Hurricane Harvey and Irma, 
For the dozens of lives lost in the Mexico earthquake,
And for those forced to evacuate their homes as fires rage in Oregon.

Help us think of others before ourselves. 
Shield us from apathy when our ears hear news of more flooding, demolished homes, devastated families, exhausted rescue crews, and lost lives. 
As the waters recede, stir our hearts and mobilize our efforts
to tackle destruction and devastation at home and abroad.
Show us once again how to lovingly and justly respond to the victims of a catastrophe.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name.

Holy God,
you call us to righteousness and light.
Teach us the undivided law of love,
that we may love your children even as you do,
love you with all our will and strength,
and find our freedom in this blessed service,
taught to us in word and deed
by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 17 | Year A

God who is,
God who has been,
God who will be;
Your faithfulness we praise.
Your name we call upon.
Your presence we worship.
We are here,
on this holy ground,
in this time,
offering our lives and ourselves to You.
We come open to Your Spirit,
and trusting in the love of Your Son, Jesus,

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

We ask for the Church: that the fire of the Holy Spirit will embolden us to give witness to God
and to serve others by following the example of Jesus

That we may embrace the cross as we experience opposition, hardship or rejection
and allow God to raise to new life

That in times of loss, we may trust God who is with us even when answers or new beginnings are not apparent

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

As people cry out,
as land dries out,
as floods wash away futures,
as food and water become scarce,
open our eyes to see what is happening.
May Your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

That public figures may respect the human dignity of each person
and find ways to address the heart of the real issues that face society

For all who labor so that others may have the necessities of life, food on their tables, and live in safety: that God will renew their energy and help them to use their gifts and talents fully

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Faithful God,
you are the hope of all the oppressed,
and the source of freedom for those held captive.
Make us strong to witness to your liberating power,
in generosity of life and in humility of spirit,
that all the world may delight in your goodness.

Your voice burns within the depths of our being,
O God of our ancestors,
and draws us into your presence and service.
Hear the cries of your people
and speak a word of comfort,
that we may proclaim to all the earth
the glory of your name. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 16 | Year A

Here are the Prayers of the People from this past weekend at Sanctuary:

O God, we praise you for your abiding guidance
for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah,
to model for us the way of love for the whole universe.
We offer these prayers of love
on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors,
on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.
Let us pray:

Gracious God,
In love You created us,
and in love You sustain us, day after day.
So it is with confidence that we bring our prayers to You,
knowing that You hear us, and will respond.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

We offer our prayers for the world around us.
We pray for those who find themselves in bondage:
those forced into slavery or prostitution,
those oppressed by governments or economic systems,
those enslaved by personal addictions.

We pray for those who struggle to raise their children
in the midst of violence or poverty;
those who can only stand by and watch as their sons or daughters die
of starvation or malnutrition,
of preventable disease,
or from gang violence.

We pray for those who refuse to participate in violence or injustice, who courageously stand up for what they know is right, regardless of the personal consequences.

We also pray for those who oppress others,
who are unable to break free from cycles of violence and anger, who are no longer able to empathize with their victims.

We pray for all who suffer this day,
whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
May Your presence surround and sustain each one,
so that they may know your love and live.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, we pray for those caught in the path of Hurricane Harvey;
For the hundreds of thousands left without power,
without food,
without shelter.
Grant them safety and give grace to the first responders and teams
Rushing in to provide relief and rescue.

Finally, God, we pray for the members of your Body here on earth.
Break down the barriers that divide us from one another.
Unite us in our common allegiance to you as Lord and Savior.
Grant us compassion and humility in our relationships.
Release the gifts you have given to each one,
So that your kingdom might come and your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

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. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 15 | Year A

God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.
Let us pray:

God, sometimes your commands are baffling. 
You seem to expect absurd things from us,
Things which go against our instincts:
To love our enemies,
To forgive our betrayers,
To provide for our oppressors,
To eat at a table with sinners,
To support sick and poor people,
To renounce violence,
To welcome foreigners
To embrace outcasts

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

God of the foreigner and outcast,
your arms reach out to embrace
all those who call upon you.
Teach us as disciples of Christ
so to love the world
that your name may be known
throughout the earth

O God, you are the gathering one
who calls us into community
with each other
to love and to work, 
to support and to heal.

You are the gathering one
who calls us into community
with all people; 
to bring justice and hope, 
freedom and truth.

You are the gathering one
who calls us into community
with the whole creation; 
to live in harmony, 
to cherish and renew.

Wherever your Body is divided, unite it
That she may do justice, love mercy,
And walk humbly with you, O God.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God we pray for the city of Barcelona,
For the lives lost and for the lives left reeling
After this most recent act of terror.
Help us to rightly name the evils among us,
Help us to stand in holy opposition
Against the principalities afflicting our nation and our world.
Help us to be a people that do justice, love mercy,
And walk humbly with you, O God.

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 14 | Year A

Let the peace of this place surround us as we offer our petitions.
Let the hurry and worry of life fall away.
We are God's children.
God loves us and cares for us. 
God is here with us now and always.

People of God,
The Lord is in our midst.
He is a God of mercy and healing,
Who hears the cries of the oppressed.
Let us gather our faith and lift our petitions
For all who are troubled
For all who need peace
For all who need courage and comfort.
Let us pray:

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Lord Jesus you prayed that your people would be one. 
Forgive us Lord, 
and take away the pride and arrogance
which divides your church. 

Break down the walls which separate us; 
And unite us with bonds of love.
We pray that by the power of your Spirit
your healing would work in the body of your church
and through us, 
to bring about the purpose of your will. 

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Lord Jesus, your Kingdom is good news
For a world caught in racial hostility.
We ask that you would give us grace
To face the deep challenges facing our country.
We confess our anger,
Deep sadness,
And collective sense of weakness
To see this world healed through our own strength.

O God, we confess that the gospel is good news
For both the oppressed and the oppressor.
Both are raised up.
Both are liberated, but in different ways.
The oppressed are raised up from the harsh burden of inferiority.
The oppressors are raised from the destructive illusion of superiority.
Only you can make all things new.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

Lord, we pray for our enemies,
For those overcome by principalities;
The principality of white supremacy,
The principality of racial oppression and hostility.
Grant them deliverance by your love and mercy.

Enable this church to do your will; 
Make it vulnerable, that it may speak with calm humility; 
Make it outward-looking, that it may care deeply; 
Make it a community of peacemakers and bridge builders; 
In the midst of turbulence, let the church make space
To hear your still small voice,
For your love is spacious,
And only you can make all things new.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Loving God, often in our lives
we feel as if we have battled against the wind and the waves
and we feel weary to our bones. 
May Jesus come to us
across the waters of our fears and doubts, 
and filled with his Spirit, 
may we continue to believe
even in the midst of the most difficult situations.

Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 13 | Year A

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.

O God who wrestles with us,
circle our hearts,
centre our minds,
still our bodies
be present to us now.
Let us pray.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, show us your face.  
May your Church be satisfied in your presence.  
May you reveal to her your ways
so that she might walk in the light of your truth.

O God, your eyes are fixed on justice.  
We pray for all victims of war and violence and famine.  
Hear the cries of those in need throughout the world.
For those who find themselves alone,
Grant them companionship.
For those caught under the weight of overwhelming anxiety,
Grant them rest and respite.
For those grieving the loss of loved ones,
Grant them comfort and peace.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

God of Abundance, 
you have blessed the Earth to bring forth plenty. 
May we recognize the abundance in our own lives
and so that those with little may also have their fill.

O God, have compassion on the people of our region.  
Show us your marvelous loving-kindness
so that our fears may be replaced with trust in your goodness.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

God of Blessing, we call upon you, 
for you answer us in our need. 
We pray this day for all those desperate for your blessing.  
Moved by compassion, heal the sick and suffering ones we hold in our hearts this day.

Let us take a moment to pray for those close to us in any need

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

God beyond all seeing and knowing,
we meet you in the night of change and crisis,
and wrestle with you in the darkness of doubt.
Give us the will and spirit
to live faithfully
and love as we are loved.

Visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name.
All this we ask through Christ our Lord. 
Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 12 | Year A

People of God, as we come to prayer
let us remember that we do not
have to twist the arm of a reluctant God
to seek good things for this world,
nor find ways to persuade a distant God
to come near and listen to us.

Let us remember that as we pray
we kneel alongside Jesus Christ,
in the presence of God,
with the help of the Spirit.
Let us pray.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you
with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation
and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
and receive these petitions
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

O God, we may not be able to confront queens,
or challenge presidents;

We may not have the capacity to divert resources,
or uplift entire communities;

We may not have the voice to silence the noise of war,
or the words to negotiate peace between armies;
But, as we follow you, O Christ, we are able to do something.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

So, we pray that you would inspire us
to commit to and act on
the small difference we can make:

May we bring peace
through small acts of gentleness
and reconciliation;

May we bring wealth
through small contributions
and collaborations;

May we bring safety
through small acts of consideration
and acceptance;

May we bring wholeness
through small acts of care
and service.

And in the small ways, O God,
may our small difference make a big contribution
to your saving work in our world.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

O God, we pray for the pastors and churches in our city
That continue to address issues of racial division.
Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the imagination to conceive
The dreams you have for our neighborhoods, 
Our communities, and the broader city of Tulsa

Continue to plant the seeds of justice
Both in us and among us,
Help us to knead the yeast of mercy,
That it might spread into every area of our lives
And give us endurance to seek out
The places and the ways in which
Your Spirit is moving

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

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. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 11 | Year A

God of salvation,
who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
hear our prayers
on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
with your unending compassion.

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father

O God, we pray for your Church in all the places she is gathered;
From the ancient cathedrals to modern stadiums,
From the rural churches to those in the cities,
For congregations big and small,
For those forced to worship in secret in homes and basements,
And those boldly worshipping you in the streets.

Grant her wisdom and discernment
As she navigates the path toward becoming the bride of Christ.
Guard her from distractions,
Including the distraction of focusing on our differences
Rather than embracing the diversity of expression throughout the body.
Help her and us to move toward unity in mind, mission, and in care
For one another and for the stranger.

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father

O God, we pray for our nation and all in authority;
Help them to use their power and persuasiveness for your purposes;
Help them resist the temptation to trust in military might alone as the path to security;
Help them to see true security comes in doing your will,
By doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with you, O God

We pray for the welfare of the world,
For the places torn apart by war and violence
Open our eyes
that we might see the burdens of those whose loads are too heavy
Open our ears
that we might hear the cries of those who are lonely and in need of a friend
Help us to be your hands and feet, 
Emboldened by your love and moved by your compassion,
That you might heal our broken world

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 10 | Year A

God of salvation,
who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
hear our prayers
on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
with your unending compassion.

O God, we give you thanks
For all the blessings of this life
For family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers,
Who nurture us so that the love of God may grow in us. 
We pray that your love, your word, like a seed,
May grow to produce good fruit in us.

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father

We pray for the leaders of various nations and cities,
That they may lead with strong hearts, gentle hands, and generous spirits,
With compassion and mercy,
With wisdom and grace.
May our leaders reflect your will, guiding their actions and decisions.
May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father

We pray for those who serve in harm’s way,
For those who live in dangerous places,
Those who live in areas of war and strife,
Those who live in fear,
For those who carry the anxiety of unemployment,
Questioning how they will pay their bills or buy food,
For all who struggle to find dignity in life.
Grant that your grace would bring peace and safety to all people.

O God, we pray for those among us who suffer from any illness or dis-ease,
Whether of mind, body, or spirit.
Restore them, and all those we carry in our hearts, by your love
to fullness of health, soundness of mind, and joy in their spirits.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

We pray for the city of Tulsa
and the rising number of violent crimes across our neighborhoods.
Grant us a readiness to share the burdens of our community,
A willingness to attempt solutions to social problems,
And the zeal to join in efforts for the common good.
Put an end to gun violence wherever it rears its ugly head,
And help us to trust in your justice and mercy over and against
The myth of redemptive violence.

O God, we pray for our law enforcement officers, 
that you would keep them from the temptations
To apply force improperly,
To use their authority unwisely,
To rely on the instruments of coercion exclusively.
Give them strength as our defenders
Give them gentleness when they serve those who are hurt or neglected
Give them sympathy for those whom they serve.
May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name. 
All of this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy

Proper 9 | Year A

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.

Proper 8 | Year A

Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you
with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation
and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
and receive these prayers
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

Gracious God,
we are grateful that you have revealed yourself to us,
each of us loved by you as children,
each of us a reflection of you,
each of us bound together by love,
which is in fact your presence among us.

Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.
Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome

We come to you weary and carrying heavy burdens.
Some of us bear the yoke of illness;
some of us bear the yoke of loss and grief;
some of us bear the yoke of caring for those who cannot care for themselves;
some of us bear the yoke of unemployment or underemployment;
some of us bear the yoke of hunger;
some of us bear the yoke of homelessness;
some of us bear the yoke of oppression or marginalization;
some of us bear the yoke of violence;
some of us bear the yoke of anger;
some of us bear the yoke of depression;
some of us bear the yoke of addiction.

From these and so many other burdens, O God,
we pray for rest;
we pray healing;
we pray for release;
we pray for wholeness.

Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.
Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome

On this holiday weekend,
we recognize that our nation also bears many burdens:
we don’t trust our leaders;
we cannot find ways to work together for the common good;
we allow the least among us to suffer and decline;
we lose our children to endless conflicts and wars;
we fixate on what divides us
rather than on what brings us together as one people.

O God, we pray for our leaders at every level of government.
We pray that they would not see you as Lord-elect, 
But as you truly are
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Grant that our leaders would not delay
in obeying Christ until he returns,
But that by your grace they would work to do your will.

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us whole again

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us one.

Remind us this weekend of our calling.
Remind us of our common creed
that all people are created equal.
Inspire us to ensure that all of your children
enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Help us to be profoundly grateful for our freedom and security,
to never take these gifts for granted,
and to use them for the betterment of all.

God of all life,
may peace and justice fill our land
and, indeed, the whole world.
We pray for places around the globe where people are victimized,
where safety is threatened,
where freedoms are denied,
where life is treated as anything less than sacred.

We pray this morning for the continued suffering and violence
in Mosul, Syria - where women are forced to boil cardboard
until it is soft enough to feed to their children.
We know you are near to the broken hearted,
And you are present with the people of Mosul even now.
Help us to not turn a blind eye or deaf ear,
But that your love might move us to compassion,
And from compassion into action.

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us whole again

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us one.

Gracious God,
grant us the yoke of Christ,
binding us together,
tethered by your love,
guided by your presence,
bringing your kingdom into this world.

Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us whole again

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us one.

Proper 7 | Year A

Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has freed us of our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
and those in need.

You call us to love and serve you
With our body, mind, and spirit,
By loving your creation
And our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
And receive our prayers
On behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.
Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome

We pray for your Church gathered around the world, 
for its members and its mission. 
We recognize that we are all part of one body
focused on bringing your image to bear
in a world that has greatly distorted your image
and what it means to be human. 
Just as your body is broken and blood is shed in the Eucharist, 
so break us and pour us out
That our lives might be a gift to our neighbors.

Draw your Church together, O God, into one great company of disciples,
Together following our Lord Jesus Christ into every walk of life,
Together serving him in his mission to the world,
And together witnessing to his love on every corner and every margin.

Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.
Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome

O God our Creator,
When you speak there is light and life. 
When you act there is love and justice.
Grant that your voice may be in the mouths of those in authority, 
and your actions may be present in the works of our government, 
so that what we say and what we do as a nation would be filled with your Holy Spirit.

Your word says, “Let the humble hear and receive,”
So we ask for humility in our leaders and those in power,
That they might hear your word
and not only receive your mercy,
But extend that mercy to others.

Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.
Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome

We confess, O God, that we pray to you to protect us from our enemies
but we do not find ways to love and pray for our enemies. 
Teach us and all people to respect everyone as your children, 
Created in your image as a dream come true.

Help us to honor the dignity of all people,
to work out differences, 
to pursue paths toward reconciliation, forgiveness, 
and the rebuilding of communities with hope.

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us whole again

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us one.

We pray for the poor, hungry, and neglected all over the world,
that their cries for daily bread may inspire works of compassion and mercy among those to whom much has been given.

We pray for schools and centers of learning throughout the world,
for those who lack access to basic education,
and for the light of knowledge to blossom and shine
in the lives of all people.

We pray for the health of women, children, and families around the world,
Especially for an end to maternal and child mortality,
That in building healthy families,
All people may be empowered to strengthen their communities,
Repair the breaches that divide nations and peoples,
And undergird the love and care for the other

Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.
Love shall overcome,
Love shall overcome.

Hear our prayers,
That we may love you with our whole being,
And willingly share the concerns of our neighbors.

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 Christ Jesus, our Lord,
In whose name we offer these prayers. Amen.

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us whole again

Hear our prayer,
Hear your people.
Turn our hearts to you,
Make us one.

Proper 6 | Year A

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.
 
O God, we pray for those who have power
without the wisdom to use it well,
and for those who have wisdom
without the power to apply it.
 
We pray for people who want to learn
but have no teacher,
and some who have much to teach
but no one will listen to them.
 
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father
 
O God, we pray for those who have been forced to retire too early,
and for those who are overworked and long for retirement.
 
For some people who are famous
yet long for some privacy,
and some who are lonely
and long for recognition and company.
 
We pray for those who are too tender-hearted
and need to be toughened
and for those who are tough
and need to be made gentle.
 
For the wounded and diseased
who have inadequate care,
and for the pampered
who turn ill-health into an obsession.
 
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father
 
For people who are dying
with no one to mourn them,
and for those who mourn
with no one to comfort them.
 
We pray for all who remain cheerful
in the midst of poverty and grave handicap,
and for some who are disgruntled
in spite of plenty and good health.
 
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy
 
Heavenly Father, you love all as one human family, 
yet deal with us individually as if we were the only child you have. 
Please give to us your generous and practical spirit,
so that our prayers may be converted into action.
 
Redeeming Sustainer, visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them generously and faithfully in your name. 
Amen.
 
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy