Prayers for the Week of April 9, 2023

Please feel free to join in the prayers prayed I worship Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023:

Holy, Loving God,

in the beginning was the Word,

your Word, by which you spoke all things into being,

and your Word became flesh

and dwelt in us –

your Word dwells in us –

full of grace and truth.

For your love by which you birthed all things,

for your love that heals our broken places,

for your love that breathes life into us and all creation

every moment of every day,

we give you thanks and praise.

In this Resurrection morning, we come in hope.

We come with the concerns that weigh heavy on our hearts,

trusting that you are always bringing us into life,

We come seeking your help, and

seeking the work that is ours to do

to help you heal the world.

In a world of war and violence, we pray for peace.

We pray for the people of Ukraine,

for all refugees and dislocated peoples.

In a world we have sent spinning into climate crisis,

we pray for radical healing,

for the courage and sense to end our wasting ways,

for the wisdom to live sustainably,

for the tender mercy to tread gently on this Earth.

We pray for an end to every system of oppression,

and particularly for an end to American systemic racism.

Help us to see the ways we participate in those systems,

help us to stop,

help us listen to those who have been harmed,

as they lead us into the work of dismantling, repair, and rebuilding.

We pray for the deep needs of the world.

For those who are unhoused, we pray for shelter.

For those who are hungry, food enough and more.

For those who are lonely, companionship.

For those who are grieving, comfort.

For those who are sick and hurting, healing.

Loving Christ,

in the power of your Resurrection and ours,

help us find our way to life.

We celebrate Resurrection this morning,

with those in every time and place who have ever called your name,

we join our our Alleluias, with theirs,

and our voices with theirs, praying the prayer that Jesus taught, saying:

Our Father/Mother, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.