Prayers of the People

Based on “Honoring God in Creation – Form 3 – (on the theme of water)

God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Spirit of God, in the Beginning you hovered over the turbulent Chaos.  As you Created, the waters that you called into being have been situated at the heart of all that lives - in oceans, streams, lakes, in rain clouds, dew and mist, in our bodies, in our blood.  We drink and bathe in these waters and swim in their depths. Mindful of the many ways water affects our lives, we thank you and we pray to you for our lives and for the life of the world around us.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Out of the depths you call to us, O God, and we respond with our prayers, our songs, our lives.  We thank you for all people of faith, particularly for our Jewish and Christian neighbors, and for the many transformations in our sacred stories and liturgies that are marked by the presence of water: at the Red Sea, in the Jordan River, in ritual baths, in marking ourselves with a watery cross, in the washing of feet, and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.  Surround your covenant people with your grace and mercy as the waters cover the earth.  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 St. Augustine’s Church in Wilmette and Nadia their rector.  Refresh us, restore us, renew us as you cleanse us and satisfy us with your Presence, Holy One.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Keeper of the Ocean Depths, grant your guidance to the leaders of nations, corporations, and communities around the world.  Make them exercise wise stewardship over your earth, so that all people may have clean water to drink and may live free from waterborne diseases.  Lead them to shape creative solutions to conflicts over water in the dry places of our planet, and to seek justice and peace in desert lands.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Fount of Every Blessing, we beg you shed your grace upon all the earth: praying to you for the health of oceans and seas, of rivers and streams, of ponds and lakes, particularly Lake Michigan.  We pray to you for watersheds, marshes, and swamps, for the waters beneath the ground; and for all creatures that live in and depend upon the waters of the earth.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Jesus, Master of the Waves, as you calmed the storms of Galilee, protect those in peril today.  Shelter all who travel or work at sea or on inland waterways.  Safeguard all afflicted by flood or tsunami, storm or ice; and those people and creatures who suffer as glaciers and ice floes melt and shrink.   We ask that you surround with your mighty power and merciful presence all those who are sick or suffering, all those for whom we now pray, silently or aloud: Sally, Sherry, Isabelle, Norris, Andre, Adele & Rick, Donna, Leigh, Quinn, Griffin & Cheryl, Patricia.

Are there others? (Silence)

Jesus, you turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana.  Work loving wonders for all those in our prayers today.  Quench their thirst, wash their wounds, bring their roots rain.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

In your everlasting Kingdom, O God, the River of Life flows through the Eternal City.  We ask your mercy this day for all who have died and for all who mourn, that their tears of grief may be turned to wellsprings of joy.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. --Book of Common Prayer         

Amen.