Please feel free to join us in the prayers prayed Sunday, August 27, 2023:
Loving, Creating God,
the heavens and all creation
declare your goodness and glory –
the moon and stars and sun,
the earth and seas –
day by day, they pour forth speech,
night after night, they display your love and power.
In the morning, we rise and join their song,
at night, we rest in your presence,
a part of – and connected –
with all you have made. (Psalms 19, 8, 4, 5)
With all creation, we give you thanks and praise.
In your steadfast love, you accompany all you create
with love and tender mercy,
moving us always toward justice, healing, and peace.
And so we pray for the deep need of the world.
For peace in Ukraine, and in every part of the world
where there is violence.
For an end to every form and method of oppression,
particularly American systemic racism.
For transformation of our wasting ways
into life lived – globally and locally—
to nurture and sustain the planet
and every living thing that dwells here and calls this home.
We bring the concerns of our hearts,
along with those known only to you,
and we pray for all who are ailing,
in body or in spirit – for healing.
For those who face surgery, for those in the care of hospitals,
we pray that your healing touch might be
in the hands of nurses and doctors and all who give them care.
For those who are unhoused, for those living as refugees,
safe shelter.
For those who mourn, comfort.
For those who are lonely, companionship.
Loving God, you are our faithful companion in every bit of life –
when we cry out from the depths of the pit,
when we walk beside still waters,
when our mouths are filled with laughter
our tongues with songs of joy,
when we rise on the wings of the dawn,
when we settle on the far side of the sea,
you are there, you are here. (Psalms 23, 126, 139, and psalms of lament)
Like trees planted by streams of water,
may we sink our roots deep
and drink deeply,
and abide with you,
and live. (Psalm 1)
Joining creation’s song of praise,
joining our voices with the voices of everyone who has ever called your name,
we pray 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.
Photo credit: Niko Photos, used with permission via Unsplash h
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