Prayers of the People

God be with you,

And also with you.

Let us pray.

O Lord, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, enable your children to hear your voice and follow your leading beyond our wants and fears, from death into life.  Fill the hearts and minds of the leaders of the nations with a willingness to follow the urgings of their consciences to act for the benefit of all, particularly the most vulnerable in their communities.   We implore your Holy Spirit to guide all parties to a just and lasting peace in Iran, Israel and Lebanon by pathways of righteousness and truth.  Counsel and accompany us in the Way of Life, not the Way of Death.   Direct us to the meadows of faithfulness and love, to the quiet waters of peace.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Gardener of the World’s Abundance, nurture our souls with your careful hand.  Plant our imaginations in the rich soil of your Word of grace.  Root our being in your divine self as deeply as the forests - your own cathedrals - are rooted in the earth.  Flow through our hearts like the running rivers.   Broaden our understanding like the wide, star-strewn night sky.   Lead us to continually deepen our faith and to dwell in your house all the days of our lives.   We pray to you today for your Church in the Evanston Deanery, particularly for the people of St. Augustine’s Church in Wilmette and Nadia their Rector.  Make your people to entrust our hearts and our lives to you that we may be true disciples living daily for your righteousness.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Good Shepherd, you make us to lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters.   Revive our weary souls today.   Defend all those in danger.  Comfort all those who weep or mourn.   Anoint with your healing goodness and restorative mercy all those who are sick, who suffer, or are in any sort of trouble, praying particularly for Sally, Sherrry Aidan, Isabelle, Heather, Norris, Vicki, Donna, James, Lexi, and Christine.

Are there others?

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Gate of Everlasting Life, open wide to receive the lives of all those who have died.  Lead them into the bright pastures of your eternity.  Embrace them with your grace and never-failing love.  

God in your mercy, 

hear our prayer.

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  the Book of Common Prayer

Amen.