Month: April 2022

We praise you O God whose ways are just and good.

Whose resurrecting power sets the prisoners free – breaking the chains that keep your people bound from living fully alive.

We praise you O God, whose healing grace opens our blind eyes revealing our biases; prejudice, and life-denying ways; who opens our eyes to identify your presence and activity in the world .

You are the God who desires that all are fed: sustenance for body, nourishment for spirit.

And you are the God whose desire for all people is community, healthy relationships where all can flourish, where all belong, where all are transformed as we walk together in your ways.

Strengthen us we pray to serve until all are fed, free; healed; embraced, housed, loved.

We pray too for those in our own community today. For those living with illness, pain, grief, change, struggles – we pray. And for those in our community of faith, especially our households of faith for this week. We are grateful for one another.

For the church, your body, your people, here in this world. We are listening; we are open to your leading as you guide us into your future. Tune our hearts and ears and breathe your spirit of life into your people and into your beloved world.

Walk with us. Strengthen us for the journey.

We pray in the strong name of Jesus our Risen Lord. Amen.

These past weeks we have seen a significant increase of covid infections. May we continue to take appropriate precautions at this difficult time. We pray for all who are ill, recovering, and caregivers who are weary.

We pray for measures of patience and compassion for all caring for aging parents and loved ones.

Surround and keep safe our loved ones in long-term care.

We pray for our Households of Faith. Surround and hold each in the embrace of your love and grace. May each experience fulfillment and purpose with each new day. May these households experience good health, supportive relationships and peace. Amen

Generous and surprising God, when we thought that death
had claimed your only Son, you amazed us with the resurrection.
Surprise us again. Free us from certainty that we may live with a radical openness to your ways that bring new life, new beginnings, re-birth.

On this Easter morning we welcome your resurrection for it is
life changing, life giving and life sustaining.
We welcome the hope it brings to our world.
We welcome the joy it brings to our darkness and pain.
We welcome the empty tomb for we know your risen presence is among us.

In the joy and hope of this Easter morning’s alleluia’s

we know there are those who are hurting or sad.

We pray for those that have no hope,

those struggling with mental illness, loneliness, or fear.

We pray for those places and peoples in our world

where death and domination rule,

where imperial powers ignore the poor,

where war rages,

where children are hungry,

where parents grieve because they cannot provide,

In the joy and hope of this Easter morning,

we realize the depth and breadth of what it means

to be your Easter people.

For we are the ones who are called

to go into the places in our lives and world

to work for justice and life for all in your Creation.

It is up to us to bear witness to the promise of resurrection,

to hold those in despair, and believe for them,

that Love is stronger than death.

So give us the courage to bear your living Love

in every corner of our lives,

so that your peaceable realm will be so, here on earth, as it is in heaven. We pray

In the name of the Risen Christ, we pray, Alleluia! Amen.

These past weeks we have seen a significant increase of covid infections. May we continue to take appropriate precautions at this difficult time. We pray for all who are ill, recovering, and caregivers including health care professionals who are weary.

We pray for measures of patience and compassion for all caring for aging parents and loved ones.

We pray for all who are grieving and missing a loved one at the family dinner table this Easter. May warm memories and the love of family and friends be a source of deep comfort.

We pray for our Households of Faith. Whether at work, enjoying recreation or rest, pour out your bright blessing. May each experience fulfillment and purpose with each new day. May these households of faith experience good health, supportive relationships and peace. Amen

Today’s prayer, written by Carol Penner has been adapted.

Thank you God for your triumphal entry into our world each and every day.
The slow motion explosion of buds on the trees proclaim “Hosanna!”
Rushing water, falling from heaven, gurgling to the sea, proclaims “Hosanna!”
The fragrance of spring in the morning air proclaims, “Hosanna!”

We long to join this chorus, giving you thanks and praise for who you are, for all you have created, all you are creating.

Thank you for sending Jesus, who showed us your love for all creation, your love for us.
He opened our eyes to see your kingdom come here on earth

He came to show us that power is revealed through humble service.
Forgive us for the times where we have gone about our own business, concerned with many things, oblivious to the needs of those around us, oblivious to the call of your love in our heart.

God of grace, equip us to be your servants, listening, eager, ready.

Thank you for your presence in our world, even in war-filled places.
We hear of bombs dropped in the Ukraine, children killed, the needy betrayed.
We are tempted to despair, and to think that you have forsaken us.
We are tempted to think that you are powerless.
Give us a vision of your entry into our world as the Prince of peace,
changing hearts, changing our hearts, one by one,
creating communities of peacemakers who say no to violence.
God of great deeds, open our hearts to be your hearts,
our hands to be your hands,
our arms, to be your loving arms
for all who need your presence.

You know the people in our congregation with pressing needs:
those with new diagnoses, those in recovery, those waiting for tests, those coping with chronic pain whether physical, emotional, or relational.
We grieve with those here who are grieving, and we ask you for comfort and healing.
We pray for relationships that are strained, walk with us, and show us the way.
We ask all these things, in the name of Christ, Amen.

We pray for abundant measures of care and compassion for all who are caring for aging parents and loved ones. May families work well together in caring and supportive ways.

May comfort and peace surround the grieving.

Surround and keep safe our loved ones in long-term care.

We pray for our Households of Faith. May joy fill their hearts, peace and love flow within and through them, and may they experience fulfilling and loving relationships. May each heart turn to you as they seek to follow your ways. Amen

Great God:
Thank you for the constant call we hear from you every day.
The wind whispering around our ears,
the birds singing to us from the trees,
rain pinging on the window,
the good earth inviting our steps.

We hear that call again and again,
through kind hands and warm hearts around us.
Open our ears to your call,
which is as expansive as the world,
and as particular as a poor man walking a dusty road
to a cross on Calvary.

Like him, help us to love, not just in word, but in deed:
love for our neighbours who are hard to love,
love for newcomers in our community,
love for people who are cast out by others.

Forgive us for the times we have failed to share your love,
choosing to hoard what is freely given,
fearful that we have limited resources, limited time…we’re too tired.

Thank you that even then, your consoling voice calls us.
Help us to respond with cheerful hearts as we do your work.
Strengthen those among us who face heavy burdens,
who live with pain; physical, emotional, spiritual.

Holy Spirit, bind us together as a community
to sing your chorus of love faithfully, heartily.

We ask you to pour life & love into our households of faith, those who grieve, those with health concerns and those who are healing. We seek your presence and your peace. ultiply your call in and through all of us.

In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Surround and keep safe our loved ones in long-term care.

We pray for our Households of Faith. May joy fill their hearts, peace and love flow within and through them, and may they experience fulfilling and loving relationships.