Prayers of the People

God be with you,

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Holy One of Blessing, you adorn the poor with victory, you promise fullness to those who hunger, you comfort those who weep.  You decree judgement upon those who oppress your blessed ones.  And you entrust to our hopes a future where all tears are dried and pain and death are no more.  We pray to you today for those who live in the midst of war, poverty, disease and natural disaster - for the people of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Sudan, and Ukraine.  Through the working of your grace, empower us and our leaders to make real your eternal Kingdom in this kingdom of violence and hatred, want and grief.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Holy One of Blessing, you yourself were poor, you hungered, you wept, you were hated and cast out - and you sanctified all of this life, even suffering and death, by entering into its heart.  You call us to follow in your blessed footsteps, to walk in your sacred Way.  Strengthen our hearts and the hearts of all in your Church that we may bless those whom you bless with our solidarity and our care.  In the Evanston Deanery, this week, we pray to you for the people of the Church of the Holy Comforter in Kenilworth and Heath, their rector.   Let us rejoice in you, O Lord, and praise your Name. 

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Holy One of Blessing, your Spirit illumines all of your saints - soldiers and shepherdesses, priests, doctors and queens - Elisabeth and John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph, Ignatius of Loyola and Joan of Arc, Dorothy Day and Thomas Aquinas, Cecilia and Patrick, Bernard Mizeki and Absalom Jones, Julian of Norwich and Teresa of Avila, and all those saints, known and unknown, who we now name… (Silence is kept as the congregation is invited to name the saints in their lives and inspiring to their faith)  The world is bright with your joyous saints, O God.  Make us saints too - shining with your heavenly light here on earth.

And we lift into that kindly light today all who are sick, all who suffer, or who are in any kind of trouble, particularly those we now name, Sally, Sherry, Ben, Cheryl, Griffin, Doug, and Sam. Are there others?

Be with them in their troubles and bless them that they might find in you refreshment, wholeness and peace.

We commend to your mercy all who have died especially Arjun and those we now name silently or aloud. (Silence)  Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon them.  

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.           The Book of Common Prayer

Amen.