Holy God, who called creation into being,
Who calls us into Christ’s church;
We thank you for the church
For the mission of the church
For the ministry of the church.
Today, we thank you for the ministry of this church,
For pastors and people who have named your name and lived your life.
We thank you for cleansing us and making us alive through the waters of baptism. We give you thanks for new life you offer us through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Thank you also for the ministry of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada – our brothers and sisters in faith:
For steadfastness over time,
For faithful witness in the struggle
For justice and peace,
Christ of love, hear our prayers for those in need of healing, hope, and wholeness and those whose needs we carry deep in our hearts.
We pray for all awaiting appointments or test results.
We pray for caregivers including those supporting loved ones in long term care including Aldaview residents.
We pray for all who are suffering due to covid pandemic: the lonely, the sick, the over-whelmed. We pray for the grieving. May your comfort and peace abound.
We also pray for our households of faith:
Christ of love, hear our deep lament, our deep sorrow
in response to the tragic discovery of 215 First Nation’s children’s bodies at a Residential School in Kamloops.
Hear our deep lament and sorrow due to act of terrorism and tragic loss of life of our Muslim neighbours in London.
Where hate resides may love overcome.
Where bitterness takes root, we pray for cleansing and deep healing.
Where oppression rages, we pray for peace, the blessed peace that comes from doing justice. Lord, hear our prayer.. and show us how to respond as peacemakers…
Spirit of guiding, continue to guide our congregation in our shared life of faith. We strive to be your faithful people.
Guide us to listen deeply and love one another generously.
Guide us with clarity as we take next steps
Guide us as we live within the tension of holding multiple understandings,
bind us together as one body, your body, bearing witness to your love
always.
Spirit of guiding, move among us
Receive our prayers those spoken and those held deep within our hearts, in Jesus’ name. Amen.