Walk in Love Annual Giving Campaign 2016

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Walk in Love Annual Giving Campaign 2016

Leader: Let us pray for the church and the world.

Leader: Almighty God, we pray for your church universal and its place in the world. Make us a city on a hill, not to loom over, but to be a beacon of your light and love. Make us a leaven in the world, not to puff ourselves up, but to break through and transform all creation to your honor and glory. Encourage and strengthen all your ministers, ordained and lay, to guide your Church in the Way of your Son. May your Kingdom grow and may we spread your grace as we walk in love. Gracious Lord...

People: Hear our prayer.

Leader: For our nation, Lord, we pray for our leaders, both national and local, and for ourselves, as we visually and vocally let your name be known in our actions and words. In days of turmoil, help us not to dwell in darkness, but to reflect your light and share your love. Help us strive for the best for all, and may we ever be mindful of the needs of all your children, especially those so often hidden from our view. Gracious Lord...

Leader: For all your children around this fragile world, oh Lord, we pray. We lift up the hungry, the sick, the needy, the forgotten. Open our hearts to see with your eyes. Open our minds to reimagine how things could be. And open our storehouses of blessings to share with all those without. Call us to lives of abundance and drive out the fear of want that holds us back. We thank you for the blessings already given, and show us how to be more like your Son. Gracious Lord...

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia | 110 West Franklin Street | Richmond, Virginia 23220 800-DIOCESE | www.thediocese.net Leader: For the needs of this parish, Lord, we pray. For our work in this community, and those in need, we entrust them to you. Show us the way to love all the more, as we see the needs around us. This week we especially remember: ______. Gracious Lord...

Leader: Lord, for those unseen by us, those suffering in silence, we pray. For the broken heart, the shattered spirit, the fleeing feet, the unworked hands, the lonely, the oppressed, and the burdened to the breaking point, we especially pray today. Free us from our ignorance and let loose your Spirit to answer their needs and heal our blindness to these ills in our midst. Embolden us to be at work in your world in the name of your Son, to your honor and glory, and in the power of your Holy Spirit, we pray. Gracious Lord...

Leader: For those saints of yours who have led the way, for our loved ones departed, for the cloud of witnesses who have put their trust in you, we entrust them to your loving hands [especially:______]. Gracious Lord...

Priest: Loving and gracious God, in your abundance we abide, and with your generosity let us give. Make us like your Christ, and help us to walk in love as he did. Change us daily into the fragrant offering and sacrifice acceptable to you. Receive our gifts and prayers, in Jesus’ precious and holy name. Amen.