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prayers of the people: risen Lord, hear our cry

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Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Risen Lord, hear our cry for help –
for those surrounded by the shroud of death
for those covered by the mantle of dying
for those hemmed-in by illness, visible or veiled
hear our cry for help…
for those weighed down with worries
for those carrying the burden of distress
for those overwhelmed by isolation
hear our cry for help…
for those who are weary
for those who are tattered and worn
for those who collapse from exhaustion
hear our cry for help…
Risen Lord, hear our cry of thanksgiving –
for the graciousness with which you hear
for the patience with which you listen
for the grace with which you care
hear our cry of thanksgiving…
for the ways you accompany us through deep valleys
for the ways you lead us to still meadows
for the ways you provide all we need
hear our cry of thanksgiving…
for transforming death in resurrection life
for blessing and breaking ordinary bread
for opening our eyes to recognize you
hear our cry of thanksgiving…
Risen Lord, hear our cry for communities of faith –
that we retain memory of being together
that we embrace unity in the reality of distance
that we foresee a future side-by-side, hand-in-hand
hear our cry for communities of faith…
that we sense purpose beyond ourselves
that we perceive the needs of creation
that we stretch ourselves to respond
hear our cry for communities of faith…
that our ways be formed by Your Way
that our lives be shaped by Your Life
that our love be Your Love
hear our cry for communities our faith…
And hear us as we pray together….
inspired by Psalm 116 & Luke 24:13-31a
submitted by Katherine Kussmaul, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, NC

prayers of the people: come to us

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Word of God, come to us as you came to Lazarus.

Come to the caves of our lives –
caves we have created,
and caves we have sought;
Caves to which we have been sent,
caves in which we now reside.

Come to the caves of our world –
caves of containment,
and caves of protection;
Caves of solace and anxiety,
caves that quickly become tombs.

Word of God, come to us as you came to Lazarus.

Call us back to life –
life created by you,
and life sustained by you;
Life in relationship with you,
life in service to others.

Call us back to life –
life that is hope in despair,
and peace in unsettled times.
Life that is joy in sorrow,
love beyond understanding.

Word of God, come to us as you came to Lazarus.

Unbind us and set us free –
liberate shackles of sadness,
and burdens too heavy to bear.
Release us from fear that inhibits
deliver us in your grace.

Unbind us and set us free –
call us to community,
and fuel us for connection.
Show us your way,
inspire us to walk with you.

Through the renewing power of your Spirit,
and grounded in the words you teach us to pray….

submitted by Katherine Kussmaul, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

prayer for COVID-19: in the midst

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Holy One,
Bridger of Distance,
Connector of Beings,
hear our prayer….

In the midst
of non-stop news stories
about illness and scarcity,
press conferences and cancellations…
grant us quiet in our minds.

In the midst
of heightened anxiety
about caregivers and caregiving,
about health and hygiene,
grant us calm in our hearts.

In the midst
of opposing views:
close doors or stay open,
reach out or hunker down…
grant us peace in our spirits.

In the midst
of distance
in our families, our faith communities,
in all our relationships with others…
grant us connection in our separation.

In the midst
of our lives:
our gratitude and concerns,
our hopes and longings…
grant us an abiding sense of Your Comfort.

 

submitted by Katherine L. Kussmaul, Pastor, Saint Giles Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

prayer of dedication: you proclaimed aloud

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Lord God,
in the baptism of Jesus,
you proclaimed aloud to all who would hear
that He is Your beloved Son.
In our baptism, we are adopted into that same family!
Through our gifts, and through our service,
may we be coworkers with Christ,
our brother, our friend, our Lord and King,
who laid down his life for ours;
whose sacrifice bought our redemption,
and who taught us to pray together:
Our Father…

submitted by Thomas Morgan