PRAYERS ON THIS DAY

Hello Church! Turns out I skipped our prayers for the community. I could have fixed it, but I didn't realize my mistake until I had already sent us. So, I invite us to pray these prayers on our own.

Let us come in prayer before the triune God, Creator, Savior and Spirit.
 
Holy God, you gather your people from east and west, north and south. We pray for the mission of the church throughout the world, that your steadfast love may be made known to all peoples.
 
You laid the foundations of the earth and the waters are the womb of creation. The morning stars sing your name and all creation shouts for joy. We pray for your blessed creation, that it may continue to flourish and magnify your glory.
 
You keep watch over all nations. We pray for countries experiencing violence, hunger, pandemic and unrest. We pray especially for these nations: Afghanistan, Mexico, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Myanmar, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, Somalia, Kenya, Congo, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Niger, Tunisia, Iraq, India, Nigeria, Cameroon, Syria, South Sudan, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania, United States, Pakistan, Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Columbia, Venezuela, Philippines, Turkey, Bangladesh, Central African Republic, Egypt, Ukraine, North and South Koreas, Morocco, Saharawi Republic, Angola, Laos, Peru, Senegal and Paraguay. Guide worldwide and local community organizations in their efforts to establish safety and justice.
 
You are close to the brokenhearted and near to those in distress. We pray for those who are experiencing oppression. Liberate us from the systems and chains that bind us. Remove the barriers that separate us from one another. If it your will, please heal those who are sick, dance with those who have blessings to celebrate, and even care for those who have hurt us in the past. [We especially pray for safe travel for Bill S.’s children as they travel, and anyone we now name out loud or in the silence of our hearts.
 
You dwell with us in this faith community. We pray for our leaders and elders, especially our committee teams. Grant them knowledge, patience, and kindness, that through their leadership you may be exalted in this assembly.
 
Your love endures in all situations. On this Father’s Day, we pray for those who are fathers or wish to be fathers, for those with broken or strained relationships, for those who are missing their fathers, those who lacked a true parent in their lives, and for fathers who have lost children. Bless and strengthen them.
 
You have made a place for all of your children to be close to you as an infant feeding from the breast of its mother. Console those wh0 grieve. We are grateful for the saints that have come before us and remind us of your gospel-promise of resurrection and new life, today and forever. We especially pray for the friends and family of Steve Krejchik who went on to live with the Lord this week.
 
We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace.
Amen.