Collects and Prayers - October 11, 2009

Greeting
Leader: Brothers and sisters, how do we live into God's abundant gifts?
People: With all our hearts, we accept them.
Leader: What shall we do with our treasures, great and small?
People: We will transform them into tools for ministry in the world.
Leader: The action of the Living Spirit prospers everything we do
People: And increases every good we possess.

Collect
God of all creation, whose love is new every morning, whose goodness is limitless and timeless, who always supplies more than enough at the table of life, grant us hearts overflowing and hands eager to build your kingdom. We pray through Jesus Christ, your son, the good shepherd who calls us each by name, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen

Prayers of the People
Let us bring our prayers before God, the giver of all good gifts.

We pray for the world, with all its abundant resources that you so carefully crafted for our benefit. May we touch the earth lightly and use it gently, knowing that there is always more than enough to meet our needs and build your kingdom.
God, in your goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have enough and yet live beyond their means, who daily feel the conflicting burdens of debt and the desire for more things. Free them from want and worry, and turn their hearts so that they may commit their lives to your provident care.
God, in your goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who live in poverty, whose days are marked by concerns about how they will eat, what they will wear, and where they will sleep. Give them enough, and give us the spirit of your apostles, who shared what they had with the needy.
God, in your goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church universal, your agent of change in the world, which you have entrusted to your holy people. May the church wisely and justly use its monetary resources, our tithes and offerings, for the betterment of all and the upbuilding of your kingdom.
God, in your goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray for All Saints' and especially for the members of our finance team, who are charged with the task of allocating our resources in your name. May their vital work become more than merely crunching numbers and be transformed into a calling that celebrates abundance and spends according to an inspired plan for ministry.
God, in your goodness, hear our prayer.

We pray for our homes, our domestic churches, that they may truly be little examples of budget-free living, guided instead by ministry action plans. Open our minds to imagine the possibilities you have in store for us and our resources.
God, in your goodness, hear our prayer.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus, the gatekeeper and shepherd, who knows us each by name and promises life to the fullest. Amen.