Prayers We Say Together As We Come To God
Friday July 10, 2020
COMMON PRAYERS
It’s been a gift, during the time when we haven’t been able to meet together on Sundays for worship with others, to join in a variety of services online. One of the services I’ve been watching these weeks is the English service with our friends at SMSL church in Vancouver with Rev Chris Ley.
We know that across the Christian church there are many varieties of formats and structures and liturgies and while I love to be able to simply open my heart and tell God, in my own way and words, whatever needs telling, I also enjoy the common prayers that congregations say when they gather together.
For a change today I thought we would borrow some of those prayers from the 2019 prayer book of the Anglican Network In Canada and use them together. I’ll put full screen words up and invite you to pray these out loud with me.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER
O Almighty God, you pour out on all who desire it the spirit
of grace and of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to
you, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind, that with
steadfast thoughts and kindled affections we may worship you in
spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR JOY IN GOD’S CREATION
O heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open
our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that,
rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with
gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were
made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
FOR STEWARDSHIP OF CREATION
O merciful Creator, your loving hand is open wide to satisfy the
needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your
loving providence, and give us grace to honor you with all that
you have entrusted to us; that we, remembering the account we
must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
FOR THE HUMAN FAMILY
O God, you made us in your own image, and you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTER
Almighty God, by your Word you laid the foundations of the
earth, set the bounds of the sea, and still the wind and waves.
Surround us with your grace and peace, and preserve us through
this time of pandemic. By your Spirit, lift up those who have
fallen, strengthen those who work to rescue or rebuild, and fill
us with the hope of your new creation; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
IN TIMES OF SOCIAL CONFLICT OR DISTRESS
Increase, O God, the spirit of neighborliness among us, that
in peril we may uphold one another, in suffering tend to one
another, and in homelessness, loneliness, or exile befriend
one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may
strengthen one another, until the disciplines and testing of these
days are ended, and you again give peace in our time; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FOR THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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