Eternal God, you are our God and we are your people.
You have claimed us as your own and have placed a seal on our hearts.
You nurture and sustain us in the garden of life.
Living God, we thank you for your gift of life eternal
and for all those who, having served you well,
now rest from their labours.
Today we give thanks for those who during the last twelve months
have died and entered into glory
including those whom we hold in our hearts.
We thank you for their life and love,
and rejoice for them “all is well,
and all manner of things will be well.”
Be near to those who are grieving. Hold them.
Fill them with your comfort and peace.
Compassionate God, you attend to the wounded places of our hearts and lives,
You grieve with us in our losses and our fears.
You journey with us in our celebrations and our sorrows
You are close even in the mundane routines of our days.
You delight in us, and you love us.
We pray for our loved ones in need of healing grace ….. we name them before you in the silence of our hearts.
We pray for this world,
for the places and precious people
who are striving to recover from hurricanes,
snow storms, and floods.
We pray for peace among nations.
Make us instruments of that peace.
Eternal God, you are our God and we are your people.
Continue to write your law of love on our hearts.
Give us an unwavering passion for justice,
and a tenacious faith that will not rest
until the hungry are fed,
until the oppressed find relief,
until the outsider finds welcome.
Hear us now as pray as you have taught us:
We pray for our loved ones who are experiencing limitations due to aging bodies including loved ones in long-term care. Support each family and grant deep measures of compassion and patience.
As Covid and significant cold/flu viruses circulate in our communities and families, we pray for healing, grace and protection over all.
We pray for our Households of Faith.
We offer all our prayers in Jesus’ name.