Prayers of the People February 25, 2024
These are the Prayers of the People that will be used during church this week. We encourage you to use them as part of your personal prayers this week.
Please join in the Prayers of the People and the congregational response is “May we follow you there”. This is a different format, may it speak to the questions in all our hearts:
Time! There’s not enough of it. Who has the energy to care about homelessness, asylum seekers, or the stranger? Everyone should have a home, but…(Pause)…
God forgive us when we turn away from the homeless and the work of finding a home for everyone.
You are with the homeless; may we follow you there.
It’s too hard to face. Who doesn’t feel helpless in the face of illness? We want to fill up the uncomfortable silence, yet we cannot find a useful word. Everyone should be visited but…(Pause)…
God forgive us when we allow our discomfort to distance us from others. We lift to you all who are sick or in need of healing especially, (Please read the first names from the prayer list).
You are invited to add the names of those who are in need of healing or comfort.
We remember all who have died or are grieving especially, (Please read the first names from the prayer list).
You are invited to add the names of those who have died or are grieving.
You are with the sick and dying; may we follow you there.
War is someone else’s business – politicians, activists, soldiers – someone else, anyone else. Who understands what’s going on anyway? Even if we did, what could we do about it? We know war only leads to destruction, but… (Pause)…
God forgive us when we keep silent when you want us to speak peace.
You are with those who make peace; may we follow you there.
Hunger and poverty are very real in our world and we know your heart grieves. But who can make a difference anyway? Who knows if the resources get to the right people? We know compassion is central to who we are as people, but…(Pause)…
God forgive us when our ears become deaf to the needs around us.
You stand with those in need; may we follow you there.
Every day we see the effects of climate change and our neglect of the earth. It is easy to point our fingers at the big industries and other countries who are not doing enough to care for the environment. We know you have called us to be good stewards of your creation, but… (Pause)…
God forgive us when we call on others to change and forget about our own responsibilities.
You are at home in the heart of creation; may we follow you there.