THE PRAYERS,
18th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 23, Cycle C (October 13, 2019)
Let us pray in the name of Jesus to our heavenly Father for the Church, the world, and one another.
A brief silence
Dear Lord, give us faith and courage, steadfast love and heartfelt gratitude for every good gift that comes from you! We are so blessed. Tune our hearts to sing your praise. Make our feet lovely with the eagerness to run to others with tokens of your mercy and goodness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give to your Church the faithful love for you and for one another that Ruth had for Naomi. Stir up in it the thankful worship of the Samaritan leper. Grant it the bold, diligent and truthful witness of your servants Paul and Timothy. Raise up righteous pastors, bishops, deacons, elders, theologians and other leaders. And use your Church to show your graciousness and generosity toward those who fear you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for this congregation – its people, its ministries, and its mission. In all things, shape us into vessels of your generous goodness and holy healing, so that many people may receive life and salvation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Help us to remember, defend, assist, and walk with those Christians who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Grant that their faith, hope and love may be a shining witness in places of spiritual darkness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for our world, broken by evil and bruised by violence. Give us teachable hearts that rejoice in your precepts – and strive to obey them. Give wisdom, fairness, and common sense to leaders in our communities, states, and nation – and to those throughout the world who take counsel for the affairs of government, commerce, education, and whatever else affects your people in their everyday lives.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Be gracious and merciful to widows and widowers and to all whose hearts are embittered by loss and grief. Help others to not abandon or ignore them, but rather to walk with them in their sorrow, and to show them kindness, friendship, and understanding.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Our Lord Jesus, in his infinite compassion, healed ten lepers. We plead that he may show that compassionate healing to all whose bodies, minds, or spirits are afflicted by the powers of sin, evil, suffering, or the shadow of death. Most especially we life before you the needs of: {List}. Grant them healing, hope, and grateful hearts; and reunite them with all who love them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Most Holy and blessed Father, bring your ultimate and eternal healing – your endless life – to everyone who has died trusting in your promises. Comfort all whose grief still runs deep. Give all of us persistent faith; devoted friendship; diligent service; and hearts overflowing with gratitude for the great love you have shown us through the death and resurrection of your dear Son. By his merits, heal all of us from whatever the powers of sin, death and the devil have afflicted us with. Grant us the eternal joy of adoring and praising your goodness, and of seeing you face to face.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the power of the Holy Spirit, we entrust our prayers and petitions into your hands, gracious Father, for the sake of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.