Collects and Prayers - June 26, 2011 - Second Sunday After Pentecost

Collect
God of the Resurrection, you have constantly revealed your very Self to your people: Grant that we might be joined together in the unity of your Spirit, that we may be a people who carry your great revelation into your world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayers of the People
Most loving God, through our baptisms we are dead to sin and alive in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, and we are called to be a people who live such that the world might see your glory. Give us this day the strength to tell your story from beginning to end, and let us offer prayers for new life among all peoples, responding after each petition with, “Lord of truth, hear our prayer.”

We pray for this holy gathering of your saints, and for all such gatherings across time and space where your word is read and proclaimed.

Lord of truth, hear our prayer.

We pray for our communities, our neighborhoods and all of the places we call home that you might always be present there.

Lord of truth, hear our prayer.
We pray for our nation and all of the others in the world, that they may come to see your peace.

Lord of truth, hear our prayer.

We pray for the hope of your revelation upon those who are broken, hungry, homeless and sick, that they too might know your peace.

Lord of truth, hear our prayer.

We pray for all of those who have gone before us, the communion of saints gathered around your throne, casting down their golden crowns as they await the fulfillment of your promises.

Lord of truth, hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves, for our families and for those we love, that you might keep us and watch over us each day.

Lord of truth, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, you have commanded us to keep your ways as we work for the glory of your kingdom; hear our prayers today and every day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Lamb of God for whom we wait, Amen.

Collects and Prayers - June 19, 2011 - Trinity Sunday

Collect

Oh Lord - how majestic is your name in all the earth! Your very word spoke into being the beauty and majesty that surrounds us. On this week after Pentecost, we give all honor and praise to you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who resides in your baptised creation. Open our hearts so that we may receive the words that you have for us today. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Lord, speak into your people words of rebirth as our hearts, minds, and voices join together in the prayers of the people.

Almighty and everlasting God we pause now to say THANK YOU. (Pause) Thank you for the sun to lighten our day,
the water which hydrates us,
the plants and their sustenance,
the animals who bring us joy,
and your people who show us your face.
We sit in awe of your wondrous creation. Reveal to us your bounty.

Father, we know you created the heavens and the earth, yet like the disciples, we admit that we often doubt - doubt our calling, doubt our abilities, and we doubt that we matter. Meet us in our doubt. May we build each other up as we learn to cast these doubts and anxieties upon you. Walk with us so we can come together with the rest of your saints to fulfill the great commission here on earth.

Lord, the Methodist Annual Conference met this week, and more disciples were commissioned and sent forth into the world. We pray that your church builds its newest leaders and continues to be a reflection of your grace. We pray especially for Laura Fine Ledford as she was commissioned as an Elder in your church. We pray for her gifts to be used mightily in her new role as Minister to Young Clergy for the conference.

Lord, there may be someone who needs to feel your tangible presence this week. He or she may be sitting right beside us in church this morning. Come Holy Spirit and give us the courage and the wisdom to follow through on those nudges from you to be your hands for a world in need.

Collects and Prayers - June 12, 2011 - Pentecost Sunday

Prayers of the People

Lord, you have given us the most powerful gift of the Holy Spirit; help us to use this power to transform the world and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, Your Son. Let us be the wind of change and the fire of convictions as we profess and live our Faith on earth. As Pentecost began a new era in transforming lives with the power of the Holy Spirit, let All Saints also begin a new era as we engage in sacred work of being Christ’s representatives in the world.

After each prayer, please respond with “Holy Spirit, enable us.”

Gracious God, the work of world leaders is immense and full of strife. Let these men and women see beyond current conflicts; help them to find and embrace their Pentecost so that they may be agents of transformation in their war-torn countries.

“Holy Spirit, enable us.”

Almighty Lord, as you poured out the Holy Spirit to everyone, so let your saints pour out the loving and sacred work of our heads, hearts and hands to ALL people. Help us spread the message of salvation across all racial, cultural and economic divisions as we encounter them.

“Holy Spirit, enable us.”

Loving Father, let us recall our own spiritual gifts that we have identified to build your church and to serve those who are seeking, hurting, forgotten or bitter. May we see and feel the Holy Spirit move in our midst to share the bounties of our community with those in true need.

“Holy Spirit, enable us.”

As a community, on this Pentecost Sunday, we recommit our lives to Christ and promise to spread his word through both fellowship and action. God of creation, energize us to engage the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may transform our relationships through the teachings of Jesus Christ, your Son, through whom we have eternal life. Amen.

Collects and Prayers - May 29, 2011 - 6th Sunday of Easter

Collect

Blessed God, you raised Israel from Egypt and you raised Jesus from the tomb: pour out your Spirit of truth among us, sending us the One your Son promised to us as our Advocate, that we might more perfectly love you and more deeply abide in you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People

As we continue to listen to God’s story, told in his words from Saint John, and as we find ourselves a part of that story, let us respond with prayers of thanksgiving and petition. In response to the words, “Lord, in your mercy,” let us reply, “send us your Spirit.”

We pray for the brokenness of a world which often finds itself unable to respond to its great tragedies. Give your church the voice to continue to proclaim hope to the suffering, relief to the stricken, and deliverance to the downtrodden.

Lord, in your mercy, send us your Spirit.

We pray for those still reeling from the recent disasters across the globe, from the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti to the tsunami in Southeast Asia. We pray for the families of those lost in the horrible tornadoes in the Midwest, that they may find some comfort in you.

Lord, in your mercy, send us your Spirit.

We pray for those in our communities who are faced each day with the struggles of illnesses and disease. We pray for those who are coping with cancer or depression. We seek comfort for those in situations which find them crying out to you in despair and frustration.

Lord, in your mercy, send us your Spirit.

We pray for this, your church, that it may be a place where your comforting grace and love are poured out into a world in need of your presence. May those to whom joy and relief are strangers find in us reflections of your overwhelming desire for life. We ask all of these things in the name of your Son, who sent us your Spirit to be with us until the end of the age. Amen.

Collects and Prayers - May 22, 2011 - 5th Sunday of Easter

Collect

O God of abundant life: Help us continually see in Jesus your perfect Self, knowing that as we look upon him, we look upon you. Keep us ever mindful that in him is the way to a life of extravagant abundance, so that we might bear witness to your truth in our lives each day. We lift our lives in prayer as we echo your praises through worship. In the name of the living Christ, who sits at your right hand and send us his Spirit, Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us now pray to God as his church, the people called to be a part of his works of salvation and for whom he prepares places in his kingdom. Following each petition, I will say, “Lord, show us your will,” and you respond, “and we will be satisfied.”

The Lord be with you,
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Gracious God, in the midst of this Easter season of life and resurrection, we pray for our world which is often led away from your truth and grace. Lift up your church, both here in this place and throughout the world, that it might be a representation of your new kingdom spilling forth on earth.

Lord, show us your will,
and we will be satisfied.

Redeeming God, rescue us from the hell of the places we find ourselves when we turn away from you and enthrone ourselves. Pour out your wonderful gift of love upon us and remind us of your promises to us, to renew all of creation in the fullness of heaven and earth. Thank you for calling us to be a part of that work. Forgive us for following others instead of you, and let us instead become lights along your greater way.

Lord, show us your will,
and we will be satisfied.

Sustaining God, we pray for the healing and restoration of all who are poor, broken and downtrodden. Lift them up in your loving embrace and remind us again that you are a God who rejoices in resurrecting the dead. Show us how to care for those who are sick and weary so they might be strengthened and renewed. Feed us, your flock, with the daily bread we so desperately need.

Lord, show us your will,
and we will be satisfied.

We pray in the full confidence of your children: redeemed in the life, death and resurrection of your Son, and called by you in our baptisms. We give thanks in knowing that when we see the Son, we also see the Father, and that this gift of sight comes through your Spirit. All of these prayers we pray in the name of Christ, Amen.

Collects and Prayers - May 15, 2011 - 4th Sunday of Easter

Collect
Almighty God, whose love and faithfulness is limitless: Grant us your saints the ability to hear the familiar and calming voice of your son Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Let us share in this abundant sacred life, and with the Holy Spirit, draw more people into the fold, to honor You, through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Prayers of the People
Lord, through the life, death and resurrection of your Son Jesus, You have shown us your dedication to your flock. Help us to continue to honor you and the Holy Spirit as we pray for the world and your individual saints.

When we hear the petition, “Loving God,” let us respond, “Grant our prayer.”

Almighty Father, during this Easter season, let us spread the Good News of abundant life through the gift of salvation. As your apostles built the church, let All Saints continue to build your church, physically and spiritually, always to honor You, Your message and Your Son.
Loving God, grant our prayer.

Remind us Lord, that we are sheep in need of a shepherd. Through fellowship and worship as a community, we can, and do, encounter you as the Living God in our midst. Grant us opportunities to step out of our routines, and into radical and living witnesses of your abundant grace.
Loving God, grant our prayer.

Help us to discern false shepherds. Protect us from thieves and robbers who do not enter our lives in a way that is sanctified by you. With Your loving arms, embrace us all, especially those who struggle with personal crises of unemployment, illness and abandonment.
Loving God, grant our prayer.

We pray for Pastor Greg and for all other pastors who are leading Christian faith communities throughout the world. Through the Holy Spirit, continue to sanctify their words and actions, and draw all of their congregations closer to you.
Loving God, grant our prayer.

O God, you know us, your faithful servants, so personally. We ask you to hear our prayers and let your will be done for each of these petitions. And, along with the Holy Spirit, Lord, please open our hearts and hands to the needs of others, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Collects and Prayers - May 8, 2011 - 3rd Sunday of Easter

Prayers of the People
Let us pray in the name of the risen Lord, Jesus Christ who bought us salvation through the giving of His own life and dwells in us by the power of the Holy Spirit as one in the Trinity and the living God.
For every petition, I will say. "Thy Kingdom Come"
Your response is. "Thy will be done"
　
We pray to you, God who teaches us through your holy words written in the Old and New Testaments, that we your disciples will study those sacred words daily and incorporate them into our lives as we do the rules of our nations and cultures.

Lay Liturgist: "Thy Kingdom Come"
All: "Thy will be done"

We pray that as we receive your Body and Blood today in remembrance of your life given for us that we will have the courage to live each day with you in our hearts.

Lay Liturgist: "Thy Kingdom Come"
All: "Thy will be done"

We pray as the visible church of Christ - The United Methodist Church of faithful men and women to whom the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments duly administered according to Christ's ordinance, that we may be saved unto you and be encouraged by your Spirit to help others understand your loving words in this ever fearful world.

Lay Liturgist: "Thy Kingdom Come"
All: "Thy will be done"

We pray for all peoples of this world: the sick, the maimed, the poor in means, heart, and spirit; that they may come to know and love you and may receive your blessings of health and happiness so they may spend eternal life with You.

Lay Liturgist: "Thy Kingdom Come"
All: "Thy will be done"

We pray as members of your church and citizens of this great nation that we may inspire other peoples in our community to work and live in your grace.

Lay Liturgist: "Thy Kingdom Come"
All: "Thy will be done"

With appreciation for the opportunity to enter your kingdom through our Baptism, we lift our prayer to you, dear Lord - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Collects and Prayers - May 1, 2011 - 2nd Sunday of Easter

Prayers of the People

Our Lord, Easter just came and we are still in awe of its mysteries. We ask that you meet us here in the tensions of doubt and faith, fear and hope and hear our prayers of petition.

Father, creator of Heaven and Earth. We pray for those who struggle to say your prayers, your creed and to accept your divine grace because of past fears, abuse, losses or anger. Grant them your spirit of peace so that because of your faithfulness to them, they may experience your everlasting love:

Father, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, we thank you for giving us the church to share in saying your prayers. Although these prayers sometimes confuse us and are hard to say , we are grateful for a way to enter into conversation with you and we thank you for the intersession you offer to us:

Jesus, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Lord, we praise you for the open arms you offer us in prayer. We offer our prayers for those who are struggling to believe in anything right now, especially themselves. We name those on our hearts to you now, silently or aloud:

Holy Spirit, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.