Prayers of the People June 2, 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 which will be offered in two parts this morning.
Lector: Listen! Too many sounds, too many voices, too many people shouting in our ears.
People: To whom do we listen?
Lector: We listen to the television pundits, thinking they will tell us what we need to know.
People: But do we listen to God?
Lector: We listen to advertisements, thinking they will give what we need.
People: But do we listen to God?
Lector: We listen to others’ judgments, thinking they will show us the way.
People: But do we listen to God?
Lector: Listen! To the One who made us, the One who gives us life, the One who will show us the way. Listen, for God is speaking, here in this time and place.
***
God who speaks, we want to hear you. We yearn to listen to you above all the noises of our lives. Guide us in this time of worship to hear your voice. Speak to us in the songs, in the Word, in the laughter of the children, and in the chatting with a friend.
Speak to us, God, your children are listening.
God, we can be distracted by instantaneous communication: the messages that are pouring in, the calls that keep coming, the social networks that never shut down. Help is to draw closer to you and away from the noises of life.
Speak to us, God, your children are listening.
But God, we seek to focus on you. We want to communicate with you. We want to know more about you. Forgive us for the times when we allow ourselves to be distracted from living in your way, for the times when we want more than we need, and for desiring the secular instead of your way.
Speak to us, God, your children are listening.
God who listens, and who challenges us to listen, we yearn to listen together to the sounds of truth, peace, justice, and righteousness in our world. Teach us to listen through the distractions and noises of our world, and to create harmonious sounds as a community. Weave our voices together into a song of justice and bind us together so that we may listen, truly listen, to each other, and sing songs of praise together, that you may joyfully listen to us.
Speak to us, God, your children are listening.
God, when we hear joyous news from a friend in the community, we celebrate together. God, when we hear about sickness and disease among your people, we lament together. We lift to you those in need of healing or comfort especially, (please read the first names of those on the prayer list)
At this time please offer the names of any who need healing or comfort.
And we remember all who have died or are grieving (please read the first names of any on the prayer list)
At this time please offer the names of any who have died or are grieving.
Speak to us, God, your children are listening.
God, when we hear about injustice in your creation, we work together through our Little Fork Master Plan and our mission work with Feed My Sheep. Listen and hear the word of God, this day, in this place, and in all the places of the world. Remember that when we neglect to listen to each other, God will still listen to us.
Speak to us, God, your children are listening.
Tags: Prayers of the People