Prayers of the People

God be with you,

And also with you.

Let us pray,

Holy One, dwelling in light inaccessible, your Essence outpaces all of our images and all of our ideas about you.  There is no name that we can give you, no description we can generate, no creed we can devise which encompasses the fullness of your divine Self.  Even so, we try here in this sacred place to offer you faithful praise with our fleeting, imperfect words and to listen faithfully for your eternal Word.  We come here, gathered as your people to bring our gifts and our needs to you, to lift up our hearts, to receive your Body and Blood, to seek your face.  We pray to you today, in a particular way, for this parish of St. Elisabeth’s and for your Church here in the Diocese of Chicago and the Evanston Deanery, especially for Bishop Clark and the people of St. Luke’s Church in Evanston and Kat their rector.  Reveal your glory to your whole Church, O God, as you revealed it to Moses and our forebears in faith - as a shining and a piercing Light.  Make us holy as you are holy.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on our warring, wounded world.  Your infinity reflects back to us our finitude.  Your ways are not our ways.  You are high above all peoples.  O Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity and executed justice and righteousness.  Shape the hearts and imaginations of those in leadership, those who hold public office in our village, county, state and nation that their actions might accord with your commandments.  Guide them - and us - to live with humility, justice, and kindness, to care for the widow and the orphan, the poor and destitute, to comfort those who mourn, to satisfy those who hunger and thirst, and to welcome those who are strangers in the land.  Remind all decision-makers that they will be held to account for their decisions by an authority well beyond their own.  Kindle the hearts of our leaders that they conduct their affairs and the affairs of state as people after your own sacred heart, O Lord.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Luminous Darkness, you surround and enfold our lives and enlighten and penetrate our hearts.  You know us each by name.  Send your divine Presence among those living in the shadow of warfare, poverty, disease, natural disaster and famine.  We pray to you for all who suffer or struggle around the world this day - for all those affected by the hurricanes in the United States and Mexico and for the people of Ethiopia, Iran, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Ukraine and Russia, Gaza and Israel, and for all those for whom we now pray, silently or aloud for Sally, Sherry, Isabelle, Norris, Donna, Leigh, Patricia & Richard, George, Pope Leo.

Are there others?

Silence

Restore them, strengthen them, and give them rest from all anxiety, sorrow and pain.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Alpha and Omega, beginning and ending of all, we pray to you for all those whom we love but see no longer.  We lift up to you all those who have died and all those who mourn, those we now name silently or aloud…

(Silence)

Enfold them in your neverending rest and peace until we are re-united with them in your Presence, upon another shore and in a greater light.

God in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.               -- Book of Common Prayer

Amen.