Faith is something that grows,
from a nearly invisible beginning,
through the nurture that is prayer.
Whether you feel you believe today or not,
let the faith of this congregation uphold you
as we share our joys and concerns with each other…
Invite joys and concerns
O Lord, we put our trust in you,
for you have provided every good thing for your people.
We are confident despite our own brokenness
and the brokenness of this world,
because we know that you are redeeming all things
and bringing your reign to completion in us.
We confess our sin and welcome your forgiveness now…
silence
We take delight in you, because you have answered our prayers.
We praise you for new beginnings,
for restored health and new life,
and for your steadfast promises every day.
We name our joys and hopes now…
silence
We commit our way to you,
and we trust in you to complete what you have begun in our lives.
Make your church righteous and holy in Jesus’ name,
and let our shared life bear witness
to the light of your love.
We offer ourselves to you now…
silence
O Lord, we have stilled ourselves before you,
and we wait patiently for your work.
We pray for those who suffer from oppression or violence,
especially for those in lands far from our own,
and most of all for those whose suffering benefits us…
We pray for those who are our enemies,
and we declare our intent to forgive and reconcile…
We pray for those who wait upon your healing,
and those who long to know your salvation.
We pray for your people in every kind of need…
silence
We await the fullness of your reign, O God,
and we choose to participate in your will.
We pray in the name of the one who taught us to pray, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
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