Prayers of the Faithful

Prayers of the Faithful for February 20 & 21, 2021

Presider:

On our journey during Lent let us be aware of our needs and the needs of the world. Let us pray for ourselves and for each other.

Reader:

1. For the Church: that the Spirit may lead us during this Lenten season to a fuller living of the Gospel, steadfast faithfulness to our baptismal commitment, and generous service to those in need, we pray:  

2. For grace to resist temptation: that God will help us recognize the hollowness of the fruits of temptation and help us to live faithfully as the daughters and sons whom God has made us to be, we pray:  

3. For all who are facing “wild beasts”: that we may know God’s presence and strength as we face selfishness, bullying, addictions, and all the actions which destroy life, we pray:  

4. For true repentance: that we will allow God’s grace to turn our hearts toward God

and enable us to put on the mind of Christ in making all our decisions, we pray:  

5. For a renewal of prayer: that God will guide us to quiet places where we can

listen to God’s words and respond with sincerity, we pray:  

6. For those impacted by the polar vortex that is gripping our nation; that God will grant them shelter in the storm and strengthen and guide communities as they struggle to restore shelter, warmth and water.  We pray:  :

7. For the sick and suffering in our community, including Tom Diger, Angela Bitzenhoffer, and Cristine De La Rosa;

for all who suffer, we pray:  

8. For those who have died, especially Mary Jones, daughter of Rosemary Jones and sister of Mike Jones;

And for all who mourn their passing, we pray:  

Presider:

Faithful God, you never abandon those who need you. Help us to recognize your love in our daily lives and follow your holy path. We pray through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayers of the Faithful                             February 13 & 14, 2021

Presider:

Let us pray with compassionate hearts for all who are in need in the world, in our communities and in our families.

Reader:

• For the Church: that we may reach out to all who have been excluded or marginalized by our society and offer acceptance and inclusion in our community, we pray:

• For transformation: that we may present ourselves before Christ and confidently surrender to his touch all that is sinful, selfish, or alienating in our life, we pray:

• For all who feel socially isolated: that those who have been ridiculed, laughed at, or bullied, may have their dignity as persons recognized and be welcomed into this faith community, we pray:

• For all who are physically isolated: that God will guide us in reaching out to them, assisting with their needs, and sharing faith with them, we pray:

• For openness to the Spirit: that we may be attentive to the invitations of God to grow and change during the coming Lenten season, we pray:

• For all who are ill: especially Angela Bitzenhofer, that God will touch all the sick and return them to wholeness, free the human family from the coronavirus, and speed the distribution of the vaccines, we pray:

• For those who have died and for all who mourn their passing, we pray:

Presider:

Compassionate God, we turn to you in time of trouble. Help us with our own needs, and grant us the generosity and courage to reach out to others in need. Hear us, we pray, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Presider:

We often suffer and are in need of healing and consolation. Let us pray for ourselves, our neighbors and all members of the human community, for we are all burdened.

Reader:

• For the Church: that we may be instruments of healing, relieving the suffering of those who are burdened with illness or frailty, and offering support and hope, we pray:
• For all the preach the Good News: that God will inspire their words to draw people closer to Christ and empower them to live the Gospel each day, pray:
• For all who echo Job’s cry: those struggling to survive, fleeing violence, or searching for food: that the Spirit will give them strength and that open our hearts to assist them, we pray:
• For all in health care ministry: that God will work through them to bring healing and strength to all who seek their assistance, we pray:
• For effective and rapid distribution of the Covid vaccines: that God will inspire and guide those who are distributing and administering the vaccines and bring an end to the pandemic, we pray:
• For those who are ill: that the Spirit of Christ may renew the gift of life within them and bring healing to their mind, body, and spirit, we pray:
• For those who have died especially Patrick Haggerty, brother of Kelly Keegan, and Harriet Ficek, sister of Ginny Helfrich. For all who have died and for all who mourn their passing, we pray:

Presider:

Compassionate God: You call us each by name and bind up our wounds. Listen to the deepest concerns of our hearts and heal all that is broken within or between us. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the Faithful                           January 23 & 24, 2021

Presider:

With confidence in our God, let us present our prayers with faith and hope.

Reader:

• For the Church: that we may faithfully announce the Good News by our lives and draw others to Christ through our deeds of love and compassionate words, we pray:

• For those who govern the nations:  may they heed the voice of Jesus and find remedies for injustice, we pray:

• For the poor and the needy: may they feel God’s loving hand in their lives, through the love of God’s people, we pray:

• For greater respect for human life: that God will bring forth a greater appreciation of the gift of human life within all hearts and give wisdom to those who are faced with difficult decisions, we pray:

• For the grace of courage: that we may persevere in following Christ day by day and be guided by the awareness that the reign of God is happening now, we pray:

• For those who are ill and have asked for our prayers, including, Mark Juenemann, May all who suffer be healed by God’s loving touch and by the prayers of this community, we pray:

• Today we pray for our Beloved Dead, including John Finken, Marjorie Marthaler, Mary McVicker, Helen Neudecker, Beverly Mayer, Val Anthony Gaseor (Gay-zur), John & Charline McDermott, Lazina Ball, Cayden Andrews. We also pray for those who have recently died, including, Dwayne Tieman , brother-in-law of Betz Ulrich. May they be gathered to the Lord and experience the fullness of light and salvation in Christ, we pray:

Presider:

Gracious Lord, listen to the prayers we present you. Change our hearts by the power of your Spirit. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Prayers of the Faithful                           January 16 & 17, 2021

Presider:

We entrust the Father with our lives and needs in the same hope as Samuel and the first apostles.

Reader:

• For the Church: that we may introduce others to Christ through virtuous lives, loving deeds, and truthful words, we pray:

• For all who are discerning their life’s calling: that they, like Samuel, may say: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” and offer their gifts and talents for the glory of God and the service of others, we pray:

• For peace in our nation: that God will turns hearts from violence and terrorism and heal all who have been wounded, we pray:

• For Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris: that as they assume their offices, God will guide them in leading the nation and in promoting the values of freedom, justice, and human dignity, we pray:

• For a successful vaccination program: that God will make effective the available vaccines, guide those distributing and administering them, open pathways for their distribution in poor communities and nations, we pray:

• For those who are ill and have asked for our prayers, including, Mark Juenemann,
  May all who suffer be healed by God’s loving touch and by the prayers of this community, we pray:

• We remember those who have died. For all who have died and for all who mourn their passing, we pray:

Presider:

Faithful God, you know our weaknesses, yet you never tire of calling us to walk at your side. Graciously answer the prayers we make through Christ Jesus our Lord.