Joining our voices with God’s people around the world, let us offer our prayers for those in need.
A brief silence.
For all servants of the gospel, for the church throughout the world, and for all who sing the praise and glory of God, that through the gift of faith, all declare the wonderful name of Christ, Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For the nations and their leaders, for aid workers, and for people in war-torn areas, that God raise up leaders and advocates to work for the equality of all, Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For the well-being of creation, for mountains and lakes, for fields and forests, and for plants and animals, that God lift up good stewards to care for the entire earth, Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For all who cry out in need: the hungry and poor, the downtrodden and outcast, the grieving and the sick Peter, Laura, Kathy, Susan, Tom S., Bob, Kara, Charlie, the family of Jane Scheff, Gerry, the people of Minneapolis and other cities around the country, and anyone we name silently in our hearts, aloud in our homes, or in the comments below. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For those in pursuit of recovery and perseverance in the midst of the Coronavirus. We pray for all essential workers in New York City and around the world who continue to work and put their own wellbeing on the line to help us face this crisis. We pray for doctors, nurses, first responders, researchers, law enforcement, caregivers, sanitation and maintenance workers, and all working to combat COVID-19. Be with those who work in service and restaurant professions, those keeping stores stocked and making at home deliveries, for teachers both at home and online working tirelessly to give our children an education in the midst of crisis. We pray for those who transport goods to the places that need them, provide them with what they need along the journey. Keep them safe, keep them healthy, and help us to find ways to provide them with the supplies that they need to do their jobs well. We ask that you continue to be with employers and employees who are struggling to figure out how to keep things going during this time. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God we fervently pray for all who experience racism as part of their daily realities, those who feel fear for their own safety and that of those whom they love. We pray for all who are not treated with the respect they deserve, for we are all your children, created in your image. We pray for protestors who are scared and angry that they’re fighting a seemingly endless battle for safety. We pray for the families and friends of those who have been lost. We pray for wisdom and safety for public officials and law enforcement. We pray that no more harm come to our communities by anyone for any reason. We pray for peace, and we long for a future where the dignity of all God’s children is respected and upheld. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For all baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, including those who have died, especially Mildred Martinetti. Confident that we belong to you in life and in death, Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Merciful God, you hear the prayers of your people even before they are spoken. We commend these and all our prayers to you, trusting in your abundant mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Blessing the Ordinary
“The whole earth is full of his glory.” —Isaiah 6:3
Let these words
lay themselves
like a blessing
upon your head,
your shoulders,
as if,
like hands,
they could pass on
to you
what you most need
for this day,
as if they could
anoint you
not merely for
the path ahead
but for this
ordinary moment
that opens itself
to you—
opens itself
like another hand
that unfurls itself,
that reaches out
to gather
these words
in the bowl
of its palm.
You may think
this blessing
lives within
these words,
but I tell you
it lives
in the opening
and in the reaching;
it lives
in the ache
where this blessing (begins;)
begins;
it lives
in the hollow
made by the place
where the hands
of this blessing
meet.
Richardson, Jan. Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons (pp. 179-180). Wanton Gospeller Press. Kindle Edition.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Bellerose 