Readings: Genesis 12:1-8; Psalm 33:12-22; Romans 4:1-17; John 3:1-17
In faith, let us pray to the Lord, saying….
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Lord of all the earth, enthroned in everlasting glory, what can we say in your presence? How can we offer you the honor due your name? We add our voices to the unending chorus of all creation’s praise. For you are our God. You are our help. You are our deliverer. You are the one who calls things that do not exist into existence, the one who gives life to the dead. We wait in silence for God alone.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world! Through you, Lord Christ, all the families on earth are blessed. Through you the kingdom of God has come among us, in the midst of unrest and war, corruption and violence, brutality and human suffering. Come now Lord, and be lifted up among all the peoples of the earth, that many would believe in you and be saved.
I invite you to pray for the world, remembering especially the people of Kenya, the Congo, Rwanda, Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Korea.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for your church throughout the world. How we long to be people of faith, Lord, people who believe the promise! Come Holy Spirit, and give us an abiding awareness that our wages are only death and sin. Help us to believe your word, as Abraham did, and, so believing, to receive your forgiveness. We delight in your blessing, O Lord, and we receive with gratitude and faith the gift of Jesus, our savior. We join our brothers and sisters around the world as we praise your glorious name, Jesus Christ, you who save your people from their sins.
I invite you to pray for the church throughout the world, remembering especially our brothers and sisters in Rwamagana Parish, Rwanda and Boma, Dominican Republic.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We ask that your will be done in our lives and in the world. We humble ourselves before you, praying for all that weighs heavily on our hearts as we remember our own cares and the needs of others. We believe that you, the creator and sustainer of all things, care for all people and are mindful of their needs. We remember those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. We pray for the poor, the sick, the afflicted, the lonely, the forgotten, the oppressed and the desperate. The groaning of the world is too much for us to bear. Come quickly to us, Lord Jesus, you who understand all our pain. May your presence be our peace.
I invite you to pray for your own requests and for the needs of others.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We ask that you would sustain us this week, trusting that you are present with us every day. Give us a hunger for your word, and help us to make space to listen to you. We confess our need for you – for your wisdom and guidance, for your protection and provision, for your help and comfort. In every area of our lives we need you, Lord, and we ask that you would be our daily portion.
I invite your prayers for the upcoming week.
Silence
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We thank you for your church—for all who have been given your grace in Christ Jesus. How beautiful is the bride of Christ, stretching back throughout the ages and across the world, crossing boundaries of time and place! We remember now those who have gone before us, those who have died in the faith, trusting that they are in your care.
I invite your thanksgivings to God for those who have died in the faith.
Silence
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Our hearts are full of gratitude for your nearness, holy God who dwells among his people. Who is like you, O Lord? Your majesty astounds us, your holiness overwhelms us, and yet, in your mercy you draw near to us. Our souls wait for you alone, Lord God; you are our help and our shield. Indeed, our hearts rejoice in you, for in your holy Name we put our trust. Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Oratio Contemplativa 