Prayers of the People

God be with you,

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Eternal ruler of the ceaseless round, of circling planets on their way - you faithfully, persistently seek to guide the nations from the depths of their profound night of selfishness, violence and fear into the dawning light of your kingdom of mercy, peace and joy.  Shape us and our leaders into a people who hate wrongdoing and injustice and who love all things sweet and fair.  Fill with your heavenly inspiration the hearts of those who take counsel for the nations of the world - the leaders of the United States and Iran, Israel and Lebanon, Russia and Ukraine, China and Taiwan,  Clothe us not with the enshrouding cloak of pride but with your heavenly armor, equip us not with the armaments of suspicion and rivalry but with the sword of love divine.  Gather us, O Prince of Peace, not around the banners of warring nations but beneath the standard of your ascended Commonwealth that we together may seek with vigor those victories that are yours and no other.  Rule in our hearts that we may be ever guided, strengthened, and upheld by you.

God in your mercy, 

hear our prayer.

Christ the holy Vine, Christ the living Tree, we praise you this day for the blessed mystery of your Church gathered together.  Where your loving people meet, you are there, and there your heavenly splendors shine.  You nourish us with your grace in this sacred meal of Word and Sacrament and you enjoin us to become life-giving branches ourselves.  Move daily in the lives of your people, O Christ, and open our eyes to perceive and our hearts to welcome your many gifts of beauty, wisdom, and love in our midst.  We pray to you today, for your Church in the Evanston Deanery, particularly for the people of the Church of St Andrew Pentecost in Evanston and Emeka their vicar.  Come to us this day and gather us up, mold us by your gentle power into a people freed from sin and uplifted to follow truth and thus to ever more generously follow you.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Jesus, our Lord and our Friend, you know our pain, our joy, our struggle, our grief.  God-with-us, you came among us and knew our life by living it and then, beyond death, you raised that mortal life into the very heart of divine eternity.  Send your Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen and heal all those in this world who are sick, who suffer, or who are in any kind of trouble, praying particularly for the people of the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, for all those affected by the military and economic consequences of war in Iran and for Sally, Sherry, Aidan, Isabelle, Norris, Andre, Donna, Gerry & Liz, James, and Tyler & Anna. Are there others?

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Lord of interstellar space and conqueror of time, your heaven knows neither beginning nor ending, neither near nor far, an altar candle sheds its light as surely as the burning suns, the gleaming stars.  Come down, O Love divine, to accompany and illumine the dying and to be warmth to those who grieve, here and around the world.   Embrace them in their fear and loss.  And grant eternal life to all the departed.  Make light perpetual to shine upon them.  Lead them into your holy habitations, join them to your Tree of Life.

God in your mercy, 

hear our prayer.

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.            he Book of Common Prayer

Amen.