God of grace, you have given us all things, and you have fed us with Christ’s presence through this sacrament. We commit ourselves to you now, and we give ourselves to the work of your kingdom, which is upon us in Jesus’ life. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
POP–hear us
Prayers of the People (based on Psalm 102)
O Lord, hear our prayers,
for we speak on behalf of all who are in trouble.
Incline your ear to us, and answer quickly, we pray.
We pray for all who are anxious about the future,
about endings and changes in their own lives,
and about turmoil or change in the world around us.
Be food and water for all who wander in the wilderness.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
We pray for those whose bodies suffer or waste away,
who are ill or unable to eat and drink,
or who anxiously await a diagnosis or treatment.
Surround your people with your steadfast presence.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
We pray for the nations of the world,
especially for those places in the grip of violence, famine, or disaster.
Look with favor on those who have no power or security.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
We pray for the future,
for families and communities we have not yet known,
but who are already dear to your eternal heart.
May every generation praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
We pray for ourselves,
for the needs we hold before you in silence,
and for the gift of your Holy Spirit
to inspire, lead, and empower us in your service.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
Hear us, O Lord, for we pray as your people,
joining in the prayer you taught us, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
POP: Hear us when we pray
Christ our Savior, Lord of all,
as we journey with you we are aware of the difficulty and suffering of the world you love so dearly.
There are those who suffer rejection, injustice, and violence for their commitment to your way or their differences from the religious majority in their land.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
There are many who seek power and status to fill a deeper need than the world can fill; there are many more who are oppressed or ignored on account of that pursuit of power.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
There are children who depend on others to speak for them, sinners who long to know that they are welcomed into your love, and misfits who struggle to know where they belong.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
There are those who face illness and death today, and there are those who grapple with broken and hurtful relationships; there are so many who cry out for mercy.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
And there are so many who seek to follow you, who are learning to serve their neighbors in love and treat their enemies with compassion.
Blessed Jesus, Hear us when we pray.
We are among those who would follow, and we place our lives at your disposal, joining together in the prayer you taught, saying: …The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
POP: we wait upon your love
O Lord, we come before you humbly, setting our sights on the needs and desires of this day.
We pray for those who struggle to meet their daily needs, and especially for those whom we might be able to help.
Gentle God, we wait upon your love.
We pray for those whose souls are restless. Let them find their deepest rest in your arms.
Gentle God, we wait upon your love.
We pray for those whose names and faces are with us today, whom we name silently before you…
Gentle God, we wait upon your love.
We wait upon your love, Holy One, and we speak as your beloved children, sharing the words Christ taught us:
…The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Installation Prayer
This was used as a prayer of installation for a Presbytery moderator, but could be easily adapted for congregations installing pastors or elders/deacons or other officers. The different “divisions” of the congregation were designed to ensure that a wide cross section of people lent their voices in different areas of the room and different areas of the Presbytery’s life.
One: Gracious God,
you have gifted your servants throughout the ages
with courage, grace, cheerfulness, vision, and hope.
Grant, we pray, this same spirit to your church in this place,
and to your servant ______ as she guides us to follow you.
women: We have seen your gift of vision in her,
opening our eyes to see your new thing.
men: We have seen your gift of compassion in her,
caring deeply for each one of us as your children.
younger: We have seen your gift of cheerfulness in her,
with a smile that comforts and encourages.
older: We have seen your gift of courage in her,
stepping in to hard places to be present with your grace.
One: Now give her, O God, a double measure of your Spirit,
for we know she will need it in the coming year.
Clothe her in compassion and kindness, love and forgiveness.
Give her a sure sense of your abiding presence and everlasting hope.
Keep her eyes and heart focused on you.
All: And give us the grace to respond to her leadership
with gratitude and peace, energy and love.
Give us the courage to look where she is looking
and to see what you are doing through her and through us.
One: Your creative spirit still flows free in the world, loving God,
and we pray this day that in days to come,
_____ will allow your imagination to be hers,
open to possibility, building on all you have done before.
ruling elders: We pray that she would fulfill her office with humility and grace,
always remembering that it is you who are the head of the body.
teaching elders: We pray for your guidance in her life,
that she may continue to be a leader in deed as well as word.
choir side: We pray for the Presbytery:
for courage to be honest and forgiving,
to speak for ourselves and with love,
to use the tools you have given us
for your work, not only our own.
pulpit side: We pray for the Presbytery:
for courage to listen deeply to one another,
to grow in love across divides,
to be re-made yet again as your body,
loving, serving, and caring for the world.
One: May the dawn of your tender mercy break forth from on high,
bringing light to those who walk in darkness,
guiding our feet, together with you, in the path of peace.
All: Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Palatine Presbyterian Church, Chicago Presbytery
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