|
PRAYERS
OF THE PEOPLE
Dear Lord, we offer you our thanksgiving; we praise you in the Spirit
and in the presence of Jesus. The
fascinating news that we receive from you fills us with your kind of joy
that surpasses all our understanding.
We seek at this very moment, to share in the oneness that Christ
prays for in us; so that we may offer the passionate and heartfelt
prayers that we have for others.
Help us all to be embraced by the faith in Christ that you have given to
us. Sometimes our feelings are painful, our thoughts are not always as
they should be; our understanding falls short of true vision.
But, our feelings and our thoughts are not our faith.
Our faith is the ultimate trust that we have in you because of
what you have spoken to us in our souls.
For the faith you have gracefully given us, we thank you and
praise you.
For our friends, our sisters and brothers sitting, singing, and
worshiping with us this morning, for our family members who are in our
thoughts, we lift them to you in prayer.
For those who are suffering emotional and physical issues in their
lives, we lift them to you in prayer, praying for your healings
according to your will, your guidance according to you love.
(Let us take both a time of silent prayer for those on our
hearts, and please feel free, as you are led by the Spirit, to pray out
loud for those whom you want us to share in.)
We pray to you for all who rule and hold authority throughout the whole
world: for those who are good, that you would preserve them; for those
who are evil, that you would convert their hearts or bring their power
to an end. Comfort all
those who grieve and suffer, and lead the church of Jesus Christ to
share your truth properly in every situation.
Eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, accept the prayers
of your people, and strengthen us to know and do your will; through
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen
|