Prayers of the People (10.6.24)

You, O Lord, are gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

You are good to all, and your compassion 

is over all you have made.

(Prayers for all of God’s creation to thrive and reflect God’s glory)

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

and all your faithful shall bless you.

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,

and tell of your power, 

to make known to all people 

your mighty deeds.

(Prayers for the Church to boldly share God’s faithfulness with all people—regardless of race, class, or culture)

You uphold all who are falling,

and you raise up all who are bowed down.

You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.

(Prayers for someone who is suffering—from loss, sickness, loneliness, poverty, or anxiety)

You are just in all your ways,

and you are kind in all your doings.

You are near to all who call on you,
to all who call on you in truth.

(Prayers for believers to be guided by God’s truth into the work of reconciliation)

One generation shall laud your works to another,

and shall declare your mighty acts.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout 

all generations.

(Prayers for someone in your family—a parent, sibling, spouse, or child) 

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,

and all flesh will bless his holy name 

forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the People (9.22.24)

Lover of mankind, 

bless all your people, the flocks of your fold.

Send the peace of heaven into our hearts,

and grant us also peace in this life.

(Prayers for God’s peace to transform our thoughts, relationships, families, and communities)

You lay bare our sins

when we cloak them with empty excuses;

In your compassionate wisdom

you remove all doubt from things uncertain,

and bring forth to light what was hidden.

(Prayers for God to expose sin and injustice on a personal and communal level)

When our evil has been brought home 

to our conscience, 

its depths exposed and its gravity felt,

Would you cause us to mourn,

and cover us in the dew of your mercy.

(Prayers for the courage to repent and embrace the forgiveness of God)

In your faithfulness,

would you amend our lives,

blot out our iniquities,

Give life to our souls,

and renew our hearts.

(Prayers for our freedom from sin and shame to reflect God’s love to the world)

By the indwelling of your Holy Spirit,

May we forever rejoice in our salvation,

and may we never cease to open our lips to declare your praise;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People (9.15.24)

O Merciful God,

you direct our lives.

Grant that we may ardently desire, carefully examine and truly know what is pleasing to you. 

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(Prayers asking God for a deep desire to know and be known by him)  

Grant to us, O God,

a vigilant heart that no subtle speculation may ever lead us away from you. 

May we trust your truth over our circumstances.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

(Prayers asking for endurance as we follow Jesus where he leads)

Grant to us, O God,

a noble heart that no unworthy affection may draw us away from you. Out of your love for us, help us become a blessing to our families, neighbors, coworkers, and community.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(Prayers for our church to be of united vision and affection for one another and our community)

Give us a way of life pleasing to you; 

perseverance to trust 

and await you in confidence 

that we shall embrace you at the last.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(Prayers of praise that God walks and waits with us in suffering and in successes)

And finally, grant to us, O Lord, 

A mind to know you, 

diligence to seek you, 

and wisdom to find you. Amen.

Prayers of the People (9.8.24)

from Psalm 68

O God, who makes the righteous glad, 

We pray for your Church,

that you would use us to bless our neighbors and glorify your name. 

Summon your power, O God;

Show us your strength. 

You bear our burdens daily. 

You are a God who saves. 

(Silent prayers for God’s church to follow him wherever he leads) 

We pray for your creation, that you would protect it and cause it to flourish, 

that it would reflect your majesty 

and your generosity. 

The earth trembles in your presence. 

Your rains refresh what is weary. 

Your creation’s abundance provides for the poor. 

(Silent prayers for God’s creation and all that is in it)

We pray for those who suffer in body or mind, 

for those who have been oppressed, 

and for those who are searching for belonging. 

You are Father of the fatherless 

and protector of widows.

You make homes for the lonely. 

You lead prisoners to prosperity.

You provide for the needy. 

(Silent prayers for someone who is suffering)

Almighty and eternal God, 

ruler of all things in heaven and earth, 

Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, 

and strengthen us to do your will

through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Prayers of the People (9.1.24)

O merciful God,
Fill our hearts with the graces of your Holy Spirit,
With love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

(Prayers for the Holy Spirit to shape you into a person who bears good fruit) 

We ask your kindness for all, but especially for the friends whom your love has given to us. 

Love them, O fountain of love, 

and move them to love you with all their hearts.

(Prayers for a friend or loved one)

Teach us also to love those who hate us.
You make your sun to shine 

on the evil and the good,
and send rain on the just and on the unjust. 

(Prayers for one you struggle to love or forgive)

In adversity, grant us grace to be patient.
In prosperity, keep us humble.
Help us guard the door of our lips,
to give little regard for the pleasures of this world.
(Prayers for an eternal perspective regardless of your current circumstances)

God of love, whose compassion never fails;
we bring you the griefs of peoples and nations;
the necessities of the homeless;
the helplessness of the aged and weak;
the pains of the sick and injured;
the sorrow of the bereaved.

Comfort and relieve them, O merciful Father.

(Prayers for those who suffer in your neighborhood, nation, and world)

We ask all these things with confidence in your power and your goodness, 

in the name of the Father, the Son, 

and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Prayer: An Explosion of Dissatisfaction

Every road trip starts with an explosion- gas hits the starter, and a little bomb goes off in your engine. But thats not the only kind of explosion; the energy to move anywhere is begun by an explosion (however small) of dissatisfaction about where you are.

The psalms of ascent follow the rules of the road trip. They begin with an explosion. But the destination of the journey is radically different. The journey ends in Jerusalem, at the presence of God. Listen to the sermon below: