Prayers of the People

God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

God of Moses, Miriam and Aaron, you spoke to our ancestors in faith and you speak to your people today calling us as you called them to walk in your ways.  Help your beloved Church on our pilgrimage to strive to see your presence in our lives, hallowing all we find there with our attention, that we might understand your summons to us and be faithful to what you would have us see and do and become.  We pray to you today, in a particular way, for your Church here in the Diocese of Chicago and the Evanston Deanery, especially for Bishop Paula Clark and the people of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth and Heath their rector.  Help us this and every day to live nearer to you that we might become the people you would have us be.  Make us to trust in your enduring grace amidst the burdens and uncertainties of our quest.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Liberating Lord of the Hebrews, you seek to free us from all that hinders us from living the lives you call us to inhabit.  You ever take up the cause of the oppressed and bid us do likewise.  As we find our nation locked in political and economic controversy with our neighbors in Canada and around the world, keep the hearts and minds of all decision makers on those most vulnerable, those who are being asked to bear the costs of policy, those whose sufferings are all too easily overlooked in the councils of the powerful.  Have compassion for our human weakness, our selfishness and narrowness of perspective and give unto us and our leaders that true freedom, that enduring wisdom, that is only found by dwelling within your compassionate love.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Love Divine, beyond all mortal measure, your mercies are new every morning. You come to us in the course of our days offering us healing, wholeness, and grace for that which afflicts us.  Surround those in need of mercy today with your love and with our love in word and in deed.  We pray to you for all who suffer or struggle around the world - for the people of Gary, Indiana, of Ukraine and Russia, of Gaza and Israel, of Indonesia, and for all those for whom we now pray, silently or aloud for Sally, Sherry, Isabelle, Norris, Andre, Adele & Rick, Donna, Leigh, Quinn, Griffin & Cheryl, and Patricia.

Are there others? (Silence)

Bring comfort to the souls of the anxious and lift up all who are bowed down with care.  

We pray also to you today for all those who are dying and who have died and we lift up into your light those we now name silently or aloud… (Silence)

Lead all souls to their everlasting home in your eternal rest.

Guide those in hardship over the paths they struggle upon, day by day.  Assist them with loving care from the hands of their neighbors.  And make of us such neighbors.  Restore and strengthen us all by your enduring grace.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

ook of Common Prayer

Amen.