Prayers of the People

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

God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

O Holy Spirit, Celestial Fire, you give to us the gift of fire in hearth and heart.  You answered the prayers of Elijah with fire from heaven and anointed the early Church with tongues of flame.  We pray to you today for your Church here in the Diocese of Chicago and the Evanston Deanery, especially for Bishop Paula Clark and the people of St. Andrew’s Pentecost Church in Evanston and Emeka their vicar.  Ignite the wills of all of your people that we should live your life faithfully and walk in your Way boldly, aflame with your presence and your power.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Word beyond all words, Being beyond all being, you spoke your eternity to Moses from within the Burning Bush. You called him to obey you and spend his life in service of your passionate work of liberation.  Burn with fervent intensity within us and within our leaders that we might urgently follow in the way of Moses, the way of your prophets, the Way of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ever seeking your life and wholeness for all who are oppressed in our day, particularly working for the freedom and well-being of those who live in fear and in poverty, and for victims of human trafficking and political repression.  Immolate our selfish, sinful desires and devices.  Melt down our stony hearts and replace them with hearts of flesh and blood, ever afire like your Sacred Heart with the quest for incarnate mercy in your world.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Secret Fire, you burn at the heart of All.  You set the stars alight.  The heat of your Sun brightens our days and bestows rays of life upon the leaves of all green and growing things.  As lightning strikes the earth, so do we kindle fire in our cities and our homes, making of that fire fuel and warmth and light in darkness.  Be our light in the dark places of our lives and our world, O God, and warm all that is touched by the chill of suffering, despair and death.  We pray that you surround with your mighty power and merciful presence all those who are sick or in distress, all those for whom we now pray, silently or aloud, Sally, Sherry, Isabelle, Norris, Donna, Leigh, Patricia & Richard, George.

Are there others? (Silence)

Breathe upon the embers of all in our life that threatens to grow cold, enkindle by your compassion all that cries out for your warmth, your fire, your love.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you are the lamp of the heavenly city.   We ask your mercy this day for all who have died and for all who mourn, that you will lead them - as a blazing beacon in the night - to their eternal home.

God in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

                                          -- Book of Common Prayer

Amen.