Easter 4 | Year B

God, we thank you for revealing yourself to us in the Person of Christ
Before him, we were confused about your nature.
We thought you might be ruthless, unquenchably angry
We thought we had to get on your good side.

But Christ has cleared our confusion and showed us:
That all your sides are good;
That the good news is good for all;
That we can trust in your justice and in your mercy.

We thought you were a tyrant king
But you are really a Good Shepherd.
You care for us,
And we are your sheep.
You instruct us in your ways:
The way of mercy,
The way of generosity,
The way of compassion,
The way of friendship,
The way of peace.

And so, Good Shepherd, lead us
Toward green pastures
Alongside still waters
Lead us, and restore our souls.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbors.
As his disciples in this age,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe
in which we are privileged to live
and our neighbors with whom we share it.

O God, enlarge within us
the sense of fellowship with all living things,
our brothers the animals and all creatures
to whom You gave the earth as their home
In common with us.

We remember with shame that in the past
we have exercised the high dominion
of man with ruthless cruelty
so that the voice of the earth,
which should have gone up to You
in song, has been a groan of travail.

May we realize that they live not for
us alone but for themselves and for
You, and that they love
the sweetness of life.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we thank you for all your goodness
and loving-kindness to us
and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ.

And may we offer the same goodness to others:
To feed the hungry
To welcome the stranger
To clothe the naked

To care for the sick
To befriend the prisoner.
Then everyone will know that we are your people
The sheep of your pasture
That you are our ruler
And your law is love.

Open our hearts to your power moving
around us and between us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken.
We ask it through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

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

Easter 3 | Year B

Holy and Mysterious God, the light of your love shines on, illuminating the places where you are present.  As the disciples pondered the stories of your appearance, you penetrated the darkness of their fear and doubt with your word of peace.  You showed them the appalling marks of evil pierced on your hands and feet.  You opened their minds to understand why you had to die to defeat such evil and death. Increase our understanding, we pray, and open our minds and hearts to receive you.

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.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

We also keep company with the travelers on the Emmaus road who felt the strange burning of the truth and hope and love weaving into the sadness that consumed them on their walk. We find ourselves in the eternal movement between fear and faith, doubt and conviction, wonder and worry, and we trust that you are present with us, O God. We pray that like the disciples, we will be able to stand and tell the whole message about this life. 

We give thanks for those who:    

rise early in the morning to prepare food at countless soup kitchens around the world;
search the night streets for lost children and shepherd them to places of safety;
keep watch amidst the sick and dying in countless hospitals and in countless places.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Bring to us O God, the sense of your living presence as we go into this new week.  Renew in your Church the faith you want us to have, the faith that is not afraid to reach out in your name and to share the treasure you have given us, that treasure which is greater than silver and gold.

Finally, O Lord, we ask that you would bless us at Sanctuary with vision for the future and reverence for the past.  Guide us each day as we minister to one another and to world for which you gave yourself.  Help us each day to bear witness to your name and to do that which you would have us do.  We ask it through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen

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

Easter 2 | Year B

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.

We pray for the Church around the world,
for its members and its mission.
We recognize we are all part of one body,
focused on bringing your image to bear
in a world that has greatly distorted your image.
And just as your body is broken and blood is shed,
so break us and pour us out for the sake of the world.

O God,
When you speak there is light and life.
When you act there is justice and love.
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.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God we thank you that you still walk through
our locked doors of fear, insecurity, and loneliness.
Just as you appeared to your disciples
and offered them your Peace,
so grant us your Peace that passes understanding.

Just as you bore your wounds to your disciples,
grant us the courage required to be vulnerable with our own wounds,
that we might become agents of healing to one another.

Just as you breathed on your disciples,
inviting them to receive the Holy Spirit,
we ask that you would send us a Holy Wind -
a Holy Wind that dismantles us,
a Holy Wind that overrides barriers and opens communication,
a Holy Wind that signals your rule among us.

Lord, in  your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we pray for what seems impossible:
Peace in places where war reigns.
An end to strife over boundaries.
Food for the hungry.
Shelter for the impoverished.
Understanding of differences between peoples.

Jesus, we believe you; all we heard is true.
You break the bread, and we recognize you.
You are the fire that burns within us;
Use us to light the world.

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. Amen.

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

Second Sunday in Lent | Year B

God of the covenant,
you call us to be fruitful servants within creation,
and to offer our lives
as the foundation of your kingdom.
We lay before you the desires of our hearts,
that we may be transformed by their fulfillment.

O God, we come to you with wonder and awe,
knowing you will hear our prayers.
You do not turn away from the afflicted,
You always hear our cries,
We pray for those today who are in special need,
For those who are in prison
For those who are alone,
For those who are ill or infirm,
For those who are mourning and continue to mourn...
And we give thanks for those
who have found your healing in their lives...

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, who gathers us into the great congregation,
You invite us to your table
Where we eat and are satisfied.

Give us grace as we seek You
And strive to lead others to You.
We pray for your holy Church,
For this congregation gathered here . . .
For sisters and brothers in our community . . .
For your Church around the world . . .
And for all whose lives proclaim your praise.

O God, you rule over all the nations.
You care for us even when we do not recognize you.
We pray for your help in caring for your creation
That we would become faithful stewards of the world
Which you have entrusted to us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, We pray for those in conflict, in danger,
And those who lay down their lives to protect
Their brothers, sisters, and neighbors.

Somewhere this day innocent people
Are suffering the chaos and brutality of war,
Homes are ravaged,
Bodies are mutilated,
Hatreds enlarged.

Somewhere right now oppressed people
Are working like slaves for scant rewards
While their exploiters live in luxury.

Somewhere at this hour persecuted Christians
Are meeting for worship in secret,
Knowing that sooner or later,
Someone might betray them.

Somewhere, near or far away, there are people
Caught up in the raw grief of a recent death,
So distressed that they may wonder
how they will ever be able to go on living.

Loving God, give us the faith to counterbalance despair
And the love to outweigh self-interest and neglect.

Grand, O God, that the prayers we offer
May be your channel for new and abundant life
Not only hoped for, but worked for,
Through faithful word and deed. Amen.

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

First Sunday in Lent | Year B

People of God:
In this sacred space,
In these moments of stillness,
May our silence and our petitions be like incense.

God of wilderness and water,
Your son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
That we may not avoid struggle,
But open ourselves to blessing,
Through the cleansing depths of repentance,
And the heaven-rending words of the Spirit.

God Your glory touches and transfigures
Both the mind and the material.
Your intimate, gentle Spirit embraces our vulnerability
And fills the emptiness of our lives with hope.
May we know the deep calm that only You can give.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we pray for Your holy Church,
Where we have failed You by lacking
Spiritual depth, selflessness, or courage;
Where we have spoken for the privileged only
and not the poor;
Where we have turned a blind eye to social injustice;
Where we have followed the wisdom of the world
and not the Savior;
Restore your Church, we pray
That she may look on the world through the eyes of Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You were tempted as we are, yet you did not sin.
Be our help and strength in temptation,
Remind us that we can walk into the wilderness
Without fear.
Because you have gone before us,
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

May we greet this season of repentance
And renewed commitment
With both expectancy and enthusiasm,
Humility and grace.

Lord, in  your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, in this time of wars and rumors of wars,
Of earthquake and famine,
Of fires and floods,
And nation rising against nation,
We pray for the welfare of the world
And for the faith to see
That these troubles are but the birth pangs
Of your coming Kingdom of Peace.

We pray especially for the families and friends
In Parkland, Florida
For those grieving the loss of seventeen of their loved ones
Who were murdered while at school.
May your Church have the grace to weep with those who weep.
May we all remember that our ultimate struggle
Is not against enemies of flesh and blood,
But against principalities and powers.

Heal the deep brokenness that breeds violence
In the souls of your creation
Put your laws in the hearts of our nation,
Write them on our minds,
That we may live together in your peace.
Give our leaders wisdom,
And grant to each of us a longing for your rescue.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, bring your divine power and hope
To all in our community, to those who live
In the wilderness of violence, poverty, oppression, and injustice,
That your angels may deliver them from their distress
And comfort them with your everlasting love.

You established your covenant with Noah
And gave us the rainbow as a sign of your protective care.
Let your Spirit descend now upon us, so that we can bring hope
To those who are overwhelmed
By loneliness, lack, or self.
May our changed lives and testimonies of your deliverance
Clearly reveal your unfailing love and everlasting compassion
To all those we meet.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Transfiguration Sunday | Year B

O God, as your Son drew apart
to be in prayer with you,
we offer our prayers
for the transformation of the world and the church.

Gracious God, at times you seek to take us to the mountaintop
Where we can hear your voice and be given your direction, 
But we seem to get lost in the fog. 
We want to see your light, but it blinds us. 
We want to listen to you, but the brokenness of the world drowns you out. 
We want to choose your story of hope and transformation, 
But sometimes we forget or doubt and turn away. 
Forgive us and call us back to you.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

We lift up to you those among us in need. 
Comfort those who have experienced
Deep disappointments and loss. 
Relieve those who are suffering.
Liberate those caught in the bondage of poverty and violence. 
We pray for those who are hospitalized, 
Confined to homes, or undergoing tests. 

We pray for people whose jobs bring them stress and conflict. 
We pray for those in search of good, fair, and dignified employment.
We pray for young people who are searching for the right values to live by. 
We pray for troops, journalists, and workers assigned to duty
in many places of the world and pray for their safety
as well as the welfare of residents and refugees of those countries

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we pray for families and for those who live alone, 
that they may be nurtured by our community. 
We pray for all those who are in need of your hope, 
your guidance and strength, your peace of heart. 
Help us have patience and trust in the working out of your plan
for your creation and for the triumph of righteousness.

O God, you reveal your glory and presence
in your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
In receiving our prayers,
reveal the glory and presence of your Spirit
alive in the world today,
free us from all doubts,
and empower us to act as a transfigured people. Amen.

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

Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany | Year B

To God who welcomes all in love,
let us pray for the good of the church
and the concerns of those in need.

O God, we look to you as Healer
And ask that you would heal us in our day. 

We look to the message of Christ for our hope:
We proclaim the Kingdom, the Way of God is near.
You give power to the faint,
And strengthen the powerless.
You heal the brokenhearted
And bind up their wounds.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Heal us, O God:
From our physical infirmities
From our spiritual blindness,
From our emotional woundedness,
From our weakness and corruption.

Heal us, O God.
From our brokenness and trauma,
From our carelessness and apathy,
From our generational burdens,
From our hatred and violence

O God, we pray for all affected by the flu
Including the 53 children whose lives were lost,
And the hundreds of thousands infected.
We pray for doctors, nurses, 
and all who care for the sick and dying. 
We give thanks for their ministry of mercy, 
and pray that you will bless them with the gifts of wisdom, strength, and compassion
that they may be a blessing to all in their care. 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we hold you at your word;
That those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Lord have mercy,
    Christhave mercy.
    Lord have mercy,
    Christhave mercy.

Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany | Year B

Sisters and brothers,
let us lift our hearts in faith
to the one who hears all prayers
to the God who welcomes all in love,
and holds close all those in need.
Let us pray for the good of the church
and the concerns of those in need.

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Church. 
Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. 
Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; 
where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. 
Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; 
where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

God we know that you have given us power and authority
To deal with unclean spirits decisively.
We know that you have given us freedom
To be our truest selves,
To face our shadow side,
To live in victory.

Help us to deal with unclean spirits, as we encounter them:
Racism
Prejudice
Inequality
Hatred
Addiction
Violence.

Whether the unclean spirits reside in others
Or in our own selves,
May we become aware,
May we exercise power in love.
May we commit ourselves
To being people who walk in the footsteps of Christ
To being people who tell the truth,
To being people who create peace,
To being people who root out injustice.

Help us to know Christ so well
And reflect your image so clearly
That the world is different and better
When we have passed through it.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we pray for the residents of Marshall County, Kentucky
In the wake of yet another school shooting.
We pray for the families of Bailey Holt and Preston Cope - 
The two 15-year-old students killed by their classmate - 
And the 16 others who were injured in the attack.

Most of us can’t imagine the pain of losing a child to gun violence,
Even so, help us to weep with those who weep,
To be agents of peace in a culture of violence,
And to becoming a community that is committed
To seeking justice, mercy, and forgiveness.

Holy God, you gather the whole universe
into your radiant presence
and continually reveal your Son as our Savior.
Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness,
that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.

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

Third Sunday After the Epiphany | Year B

To God who welcomes all in love,
let us pray for the good of the church
and the concerns of those in need.

As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”;
empower your Church, O God,
to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus,
which pierces even the deepest darkness.

As a star rose high into the nighttime sky
to draw the nations to the Christ-child;
send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation,
and draw the whole world to your peace and truth.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
    
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father.

As John the Baptist guided throngs of people to the edge of the wilderness
and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan,
we pray that you would guide our country and our leaders
to the ways of justice and righteousness.

Like the Magi who traveled from afar
to bring gifts and celebrate the Savior’s birth;
we pray for this community,
and for those who are celebrating the birth of new babies, 
Birthdays, and anniversaries.

As Jesus climbed the mountaintop,
and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world;
we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
    
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father.

As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him;
we pray for those we love and who have answered your call
to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. Give them your peace.

Lord Jesus, Light of the World,
hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light,
that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light,
and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy.

God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
    
Lord have mercy,
Christhave mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christhave mercy.

Second Sunday After the Epiphany | Year B

To God who welcomes all in love,
let us pray for the good of the church
and the concerns of those in need.

O God, you called ordinary people to be disciples
And revealed to them extraordinary things.
We ask that by hearing your word today
That we may see you more clearly
And follow you more passionately.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Gracious God, we remember today the life and legacy
Of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Who you ordained to be a witness today your Word,
And to proclaim justice and righteousness for all.
May his voice give us courage in every generation,
That righteousness and justice may continually roll as a mighty stream.

O God, we pray for those whose lives were affected
By the mudslides in California;
For the eighteen men, women, and, children
Whose lives were lost. 
As rivers of mud swept them away,
We ask for rivers of peace to come following.
We pray for the church - that they would become the hands and feet of Christ,
Help them to be a light in dark places.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, in this season of Epiphany
We continue to look for you “out there”
In the leading of a star,
In the new waters of baptism,
And in the transformative power of celebration.
Help us not only to seek you, but to find you
Even in the places we least expect.

God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of all those who pray to you,
and we ask that as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
    
    Lord have mercy,
    Christ have mercy.
    Lord have mercy,
    Christ have mercy.

Baptism of the Lord | Year B

Sisters and brothers, 
our baptismal vows call us to compassion and mercy
on behalf of those in need. 
We offer our prayers for the church and the world. 

O God,
As we enter into a new year
We pray that we as your church
Would be given new eyes to see and new ears to hear.
Help us to rightly see one another,
Help us to rightly see our neighbors,
That by seeing them, we might care for them.

Grant us the grace of attentiveness;
That we, as a community, would have the humility
To both know and be known
To see and be seen,
To care and be cared for.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

O God, you have made us to be one body and of one Spirit.
Remove from us all fear that would divide us.
Help us to serve you faithfully with a heart and commitment to unity.
Help us to see and celebrate those things which make us one,
Rather than focusing on those things which try to fracture us by fear.

This Epiphany season we are reminded to follow the light,
To remember our baptism which brings us into the community of faith,
And to reflect on the reality of God’s self-revelation in Christ Jesus.
May this season capture our hearts.
Help us to cultivate a desperation for you, O God.
And in the searching of epiphany, be surprised by your presence in our lives.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Almighty and everlasting God, 
by your great mercy in Jesus Christ, your Son, 
you have given us forgiveness of sin, 
and all things pertaining to life and godliness. 
Grant that your Holy Spirit may so rule in our hearts
that we may put to death all fleshly and worldly desires, 
may serve you in holiness and purity, 
and may give you continual thanks for all your goodness.

O God, 
you revealed your Son in the waters of the Jordan
and anointed him with the power of the Holy Spirit
to proclaim good news to all people. 
Sanctify us by the same Spirit, 
that we may proclaim the healing power of the gospel
by acts of love in your name. Amen.

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

First Sunday After Christmas | Year B

Nurturing God, 
remembering the exile of the holy family
and Herod's slaughter of the children, 
we remember all who need our sustaining love. 
Hear our prayers for the church and the community in the world. 

Living God
We meet at the end of this year
And would not move ahead without remembering
Those situations which have concerned us during the year that is almost complete
There are still nations wracked by war
Notably in Syria and Yemen

There is still a human tide of misery
Who have become the stateless citizens of our world
Condemned to risk their lives at sea or overland
Destined for an indeterminate stay in overcrowded refugee camps
There are still exploited people groups within nations
Who are victimised because they are different

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

O God, there are still those who believe in the power
Of the knife or bullet or vehicle or bomb
To cripple, maim or destroy
For some cause or other

There are still those who have been devastated by flooding
Hurricane or earthquake or other natural disaster
Lord have mercy on our world

Thank You for every person, agency or organisation
That seeks to make a difference
For every kindness shown
For every help given
And for those who work tirelessly and often thanklessly
To make peace, 
To establish justice
To right wrongs
Behind the headlines

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

We are all too aware of the needs of ordinary people
Who live ordinary lives
We pray for those who have been bereaved in this past year
And for whom that loss colors every day

For those who have undergone or are undergoing treatment
That has changed their lives, at least for a time
For those whose jobs have been lost or are under threat
For those without work or whose work demeans them
For those who have got into debt or addiction in one of many forms

Grant that all people may hear together the song of joy, 
and find their homes in the garden of justice and hope, 
that we may experience the fullness of life, 
which is your will for all, 
in the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Fourth Sunday in Advent | Year B

Good and gracious Lord, as we meet together to worship you, we pray that you will grant us a glimpse of your glory so that we may rejoice in your presence and abide in your peace.
Lord Jesus, we remember at this time that you came to disturb the world, and to turn the lives of humankind to God.

You brought
   love to those who were unloved
   hope to those who had nothing to look forward to
   peace to those who were full of anxious daily cares.
 
But you also brought judgment
   to those who thought they were good
   to those who were content with their own lives:
   to those who looked down on other people and who were sure that they knew everything about God.
 
We pray that you will come into our lives at this time to turn us all again to you: to help to see ourselves as we really are and to remove from each one of us all that is unworthy so that we may truly share in your kingdom and know the joy of your loving presence.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

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

Lord Jesus, we pray that you will prepare us for your coming into the world:
that in these times you will drive away despair from our politics
that you will revive our dreams of justice
and restore our passion for what is right, good, and true. 

May your love motivate our care for our neighbors
and for the wider Tulsa community
and help us all to play a part in helping to overcome the social ills
that drag so many into despair.

We pray that your love will inspire our citizenship so that it rises above the mediocre.

Too often we have been silent
and missed opportunities to share with others the message of love
which you brought into the world
and we ask that you will give us all the faith to say, “yes” - 
the deep faith of Mary - 
and show us a new way to live, 
so that, with your forgiveness and with an awareness of your presence, 
we can truly claim to follow you in thought and word and deed.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

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

O God, just as you were birthed into the arms of Mary
we pray that you would also be birthed into our lives.
This season as we celebrate the life of and incarnation of your Son,
We pray Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of us,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of us,
Christ in every eye that sees us,
Christ in every ear that hears us.
May that be true of us and your body gathered around the world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Third Sunday in Advent | Year B

Brothers and sisters, 
as we joyfully await the glorious coming of the Christ, 
let us pray for the needs of the church, our community, and the world. 

Lord as John the Baptist came proclaiming your message of justice, 
may we, the church, be prophets for our own time. 
Help us to work to make governments more aware of their responsibilities
to those under their authority, 
whether they are rich or poor, 
black or white, 
male or female, 
and whatever their political or religious persuasion.

We ask that by our words, prayers and actions, 
we may be forerunners for your kingdom of love, justice, and peace.

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

Lord, as John the Baptist came to prepare the way for your coming, 
may we, the church, seek to prepare the way for you
to come into the lives of others. 
Help us so to follow Christ
that in all our relationships with other people
something of his love may be seen, 
something of his nature understood.

We ask that by our words, prayers and actions, 
we may be forerunners for Christ to enter the lives of others.

Lord, as John the Baptist came to call the people to repentance, 
may we, the church, offer to others by our witness and example, 
an alternative way of life, 
a way of life based on love and truth, 
rather than selfishness and complacency. 
Help us to keep a clear view of your goodness, 
so that our values may reflect our faith
and not the values of the society around us.

We ask that by our words, prayers and actions, 
we may be forerunners for the salvation of humankind.

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

Lord, as John the Baptist came to challenge the religious people of his day, 
may we, the church, always be ready
to challenge our own attitudes and traditions in the name of love. 
Help our church to become a place of healing
where the anxious and depressed, 
the sick and the bereaved
and those who believe they are of little worth, 
may find acceptance and love.

We ask that by our words, prayers and actions, 
we may be forerunners for the joy of life in Christ.

God of joy and exultation, 
you strengthen what is weak; 
you enrich the poor
and give hope to those who live in fear. 
Look upon our needs this day. 
Make us grateful for the good news of salvation
and keep us faithful in your service
until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who lives forever and ever. Amen.

    Lord have mercy,
    Christhave mercy.
    Lord have mercy,
    Christhave mercy.

Second Sunday in Advent | Year B

God of hope, 
you raised up John the baptizer
as a herald who calls us to conversion. 
As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Christ, 
we pray to you for the needs of the church and the world.

Gracious God, help us to meet you as you come to us. 
Help us to prepare your way in our lives,
and to announce your coming in love to others.
Take, O God, what we give and transform it, to your glory.
Take, O God, what we do and transform it to your acting.
Take, O God, what we say and transform it to your singing.
Take, O God, what we live and transform it to your creating.
Lord, hear our prayer....

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Lord, hear too our prayer for those rough places in our lives
and in the lives of others that we name before you.
Fill the valleys with your light,
level the uneven paths with your grace,
and grant that your Spirit might so move us and others,
that your saving presence might be visible to all.

Lord, on this Sunday of preparation,
this Sunday which celebrates your peace,
help there to be peace in our lives
Peace in our churches,
and peace in our world. 

Where we have sinned, move us to repentance,
and help us confess to those we have grieved and seek their forgiveness;
where others have sinned against us
help us to trust in your vindication
and grant that those who have hurt us
might see your light and be made new in Christ. 
Lord hear our prayer....

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O God, grant us grace
To create spaces of peace and hope in a world full of discord and despair;
That as we await the return of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
We will cultivate places where is he already welcome.

Hear our humble prayer
that we may serve you in holiness and faith
and give voice to your presence among us
until the day of the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, 
who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

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

First Sunday in Advent | Year B

We seek the mighty God
in the most unlikely places
as a child in a stable, 
and in an empty tomb. 
May God hear these prayers, 
which come from the unlikely corners of our lives. 

God of justice and peace, 
from the heavens you rain down mercy and kindness, 
that all on earth may stand in awe and wonder
before your marvelous deeds. 
Raise our heads in expectation, 
that we may yearn for the coming day of the Lord
and stand without blame before your Son, Jesus Christ, 
who lives and reigns forever and ever.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Come, Lord Jesus;
Into our troubles and weaknesses,
Into the barren places of our souls
Into the war-torn and the refugee,
Into those who live in conflict
Come among us and make us whole.

Come, Lord Jesus;
Into the homeless and the unemployed,
Into those who feel abandoned, 
Into the sick and the disabled,
Into those with cancer and terminal illnesses
Come among us and make us whole.

Come, Lord Jesus;
Into the poor and the starving,
Into those who are oppressed or abused,
Into the lives of loved ones,
Into those from whom we are estranged
Come among us and make us whole.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

O Christ, we long for your coming. 
We wait for that day when those who seek you
in every nation will come from the east and the west, 
from the north and the south and sit at table in Your Kingdom. 

We long for the day when your Kingdom will come in all its glory
and suffering and pain and sickness
and oppression and death
will be overcome forever. 

Give us ears to hear, O God, 
and eyes to watch, 
that we may know your presence in our midst
during this holy season of joy
as we anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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

Proper 29 | Year A

As the shepherd who cares for the flock, O God,
you guide all things through Jesus
whom you have exalted over all creation as King.
Hear the prayers we offer in his name
for the creation he cherished
and that you entrust to us.

The Kingdom of God is at hand;
You proclaimed it, Lord Jesus;
   But it often feels like it’s a million miles away.
You demonstrated its grace and showed its power,
   but the signs often appear faded or absent in our world.

We need Your Kingdom to come, O God,
   in all its fullness, in all its glory;
This waiting, this “already and not yet” experience of Your reign
   is hard and frustrating.
Even so, Lord hear our prayer.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

We pray for Your Kingdom to be revealed in our lives,
   turning our sickness and sin, our brokenness and fear
   into friendship and compassion, wholeness and joy.

We pray for Your Kingdom to be revealed in our neighborhoods,
   turning our division and suspicion, our judgment and our competition
   into fellowship and care, compassion, and service.

We pray for Your Kingdom to be revealed in our world,
   turning our war and our disparities, our consumption, and our self-interest
   into peace and collaboration, stewardship, and reverence.

You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father

Your Kingdom is here, and it is coming, O God.
Make us faithful heralds of its message
   and tireless practitioners of its ways.

Look upon your people who rejoice in your justice and mercy,
and grant that the prayers we make
may reveal Christ's reign in our time. Amen.

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

Proper 28 | 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.

Your love, O God,
is seen in what you do, not just in what you say:
in the blessing of children,
in the meals with outcasts,
in the touching of the untouchable,
in your presence,
and your self-giving,
in your opening of the way to life
to all who will come;

And your love, O God,
is expressed through people like us:
as we share our wealth in simplicity and generosity;
as we share wholeness in care and healing
of the sick and broken;
as we share hospitality by being truly present
to the lonely, the imprisoned and the marginalised;
as we share peace in kindness, listening and acceptance
with those who challenge us, confront us and threaten us.

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

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: 
Look with compassion on the whole human family; 
take away the arrogance and hatred
which infect our hearts; 
break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; 
and work through our struggle and confusion
to accomplish your purposes on earth; 
that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you
in harmony around your heavenly throne.

O God, give us grace to take seriously
The great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions;
Take away all hatred and prejudice,
And whatever else may hinder us from godly union concord.
We know there is but one Body and one Spirit,
One hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
One Baptism, one God and Father to us all.
So make us of one heart, one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace,
Of faith and charity,
And that we may be of one mind.
Lord, hear our prayer.

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

O God, we pray for mercy on the people of Iran and Iraq
For the cities and villages that endured a 7.3 magnitude earthquake.
Sustain them as they dig frantically through the rubble.
Be with the families and medical teams grieving and caring
For the thousands injured, and the hundreds killed.

We pray for your church in these places that have been shaken.
May the spring to action and become for the people of Iraq and Iran
The hands and feet of Jesus.
May their actions be strengthened by our prayers,
And may your light and your love be known by their actions.

Hear our prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son
free us from the grip of the tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

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

Proper 27 | Year A

God of life, we praise you for your abiding presence
from generation to generation,
blessing your people,
strengthening us to lives of service,
empowering us to witness.
Hear the prayers we offer on behalf of your creation.

Heavenly Father,
You have called us into the body of Christ:
Help us to live as one in Him.
You have given us one faith:
Keep us in the one true faith.
You have equipped us for the unity of faith:
Help us to attain that unity by way of forgiveness.
You have given us your love, in Christ:
Enable us to speak your truth in love.

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

O God, you made humankind in your own likeness,
and you love what you have made.
Give to those that have been placed in
seats of authority a sense of awe and
humility before you as their
Creator and Lord.

Help them to see the unity of
the human family and promote it.
Enable them to feel the suffering of
humankind and alleviate it.

Make conference tables instruments of peace.
Help our counselors to resolve their differences
always in the interest of justice among the people they serve, 
and keep them from national or racial pride that would
jeopardize the safety of any nation. 
Make them your servants to serve your will.

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

O God, again we gather in the wake of another mass shooting.
We pray for the town of Sutherland Springs.
Help us to resist the temptation to grow numb,
Help us to not accept the pandemic of gun violence as normal, 
And form us into a people committed to peace.

As we celebrate Veterans Day we are grateful for the selfless sacrifice given by so many.
We pray for those who served,
For those who love them,
And those whose lives are upended by conflicts.
We pray for those displaced, damaged, and devastated.
May we never forget their bravery and sacrifice, 
But may we be ever aware of the suffering, grief, and cost. 

Heavenly Father, grant that as we serve you now on earth,
so we may one day rejoice with all the saints
in your kingdom of light and peace,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Proper 26 | Year A

We praise your abiding guidance, O God,
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.

O God, we pray for Christ’s Church.
Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. 
Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; 
where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. 
Where it is right, strengthen it; 
where it is in want, provide for it; 
where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake
of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior.

Lord hear our prayer.

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

O God, we pray for those who teach, tutor and provide care of our children, 
For those who clean and repair our homes and offices
For those who prepare and serve our meals

May they find dignity and solidarity in you, O Christ
Who, having all power, did not come to be served but to serve

May we who benefit from such service, receive it gratefully, 
employ it justly and hold their work in highest esteem…

Lord hear our prayer.

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

O God, again we lift up our prayers for New York City.
We pray for the lives lost in this senseless act of terror.
We pray for communities of faith, particularly Trinity Grace Church in Tribeca,
That you would use them to bring comfort, peace, and grace
Into the lives and fears of those in their midst.

O God, your perfect love casts out all fear
Surround us all with your perfect love
So that as we live our lives we may do so in perfect peace, humility, and service of your Kingdom.

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