God, we are thankful for the gift of your calling on our lives, for the gift of faith that urges us to keep hoping, keep striving, toward your kingdom.
There’s so much to lament in this world, to get upset about, to worry us. Will there be enough hospital beds? Will the vaccines arrive for us? What about others? How are businesses doing? What about the kids and the teens and the young adults – we’re tired of the disruption of learning, and life! We can only imagine what it’s like in places where life is insecure to start with. God hear our prayers for healing, for provision, for wise leadership, for daily struggles, and for the time ahead. We pray for patience, and we pray for energy.
Our hearts reach out to hold those who are suffering, and those who are grieving.
We pray for those whose needs we carry in our hearts.
Amidst many challenges, open our eyes to see as you see, God. Fill us with compassion and wrap us in your care. Open our lives to serve your kingdom, even as we are receiving your love and care as your children, ourselves. May the love that flows into us, flow out as well.
We also hold our Households of Faith in prayer.
Continue to be with all our loved ones in long-term care as well as their caregivers. Grant them strength and patience for the living of these days.
May we believe in your kingdom ways, God, to the extent that we have the courage to actually implement them in our lives. May our hearts and our hands, our words and our actions, line up, as we strive to live lives of integrity and purpose.
All this, and the unspoken prayers on our hearts we pray in the name of Jesus, who taught his disciples to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. Forever and ever. Amen. (thanks to Jane Kuepfer for offering today’s prayer)