Collects and Prayers - September 6, 2009

Greeting
Leader: The Lord gives food to the hungry.
People: We are fed by feeding others.
Leader: The Lord gives comfort to the afflicted.
People: We are comforted by showing our love.
Leader: The Lord frees us from sin.
People: We are freed by serving our neighbor.

Collect
Heavenly Father, you gave us hearts of flesh because faith alone is dry. Grant that we may use our hearts to direct our hands: to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to console the suffering. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Let us pray for the Church and for a world in need of hands to serve.

Grant, almighty God, that all who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world, not only through words but through daily Christ-like actions.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide the people of All Saints' United Methodist Church, that they may serve one another and their neighbors, seeking always to honor one another and work towards the common good.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless our ministries that bear witness to a faith of action. Bless especially our congregational care and community partnership teams, whose arms comfort with an embrace, whose hands prepare meals for the sick, homebound, and needy. We pray that this congregation will follow their faithful example in feeding the hungry.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Touch those, O God, who feel the weight of stagnation, who feel bogged down and unable to be Christians of action. Let their feet be your feet; let their hands be your hands. Guide them to hear your call and take action.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give us, O Lord, an awareness in our daily living of the Christ-like actions happening all around us. Open our eyes to good deeds, help us see the good in your creation and in each saint you have placed on earth. We commend to you all who have died; and look to them as examples of life in Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We ask all these prayers in the name of your son, Jesus, whose life is our ultimate example of service to others.
Amen.