a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
Almighty God our refuge,
you provide all things for those who wait upon you.
We present these offerings to you as signs of our trust,
knowing that your angels guard all our ways.
Show us your salvation, today and forever,
we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Marion, IA
God of grace,
we confess that we are more eager to receive your mercy
than we are to extend your kindness to others.
We ask for what we need
without considering whether we have what someone else needs.
We seek your forgiveness
but hold grudges against others.
We want you to lead us,
but only if you will send us where we want to go.
By your grace, we want to turn this around.
We choose to give you more than we think we can spare;
to forgive even those who have yet to ask for forgiveness;
to follow you wherever you choose to lead us.
Receive our commitment to new life,
in Jesus’ matchless name.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Marion, IA
All: You walk among us, O Lord, hoping we will see your face in the crowd. We confess that most of the time, we are not looking. And when we do look, we are afraid of what we see. We close our ears and laugh it off when you call our names. When we are too wrapped up in our own concerns to recognize you, forgive us. When we are too certain, and there is no room for your mystery, forgive us. When we have locked our doors, our minds, and our hearts, forgive us. Show us your face again, living God. Teach us to see, and to welcome you in. Amen. ~silence~
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, The Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL
Prayers of the People (based on Psalm 144) – for Memorial Day weekend
Blessed are you, O Lord our rock!
You give skill to our hands and strengthen all who serve their neighbors.
You are our help and our fortress, and we put our trust in you.
On this Memorial Sunday,
we acknowledge the fragility of life
and commend to you those who have been gathered to you.
Bind us to one another beyond time and memory.
We pray on behalf of the world: Come, Holy Spirit!
We lift up especially those who endured fury that made the mountains smoke,
who laid down their lives in warfare,
who returned home living but not whole,
or who were caught up in violence they wanted no part of.
Let peace, at long last, prevail on earth.
We pray on behalf of the world: Come, Holy Spirit!
We pray for those who seek to be rescued from the deep waters,
whose lives are facing the dangers of famine, poverty, or disaster.
Grant refuge to all, and may we open our arms to all in need.
We pray on behalf of the world: Come, Holy Spirit!
We acknowledge those near to us
and those we have named aloud or silently today
who suffer from illness, injury, weariness, or brokenness.
In your tender compassion, nurture your beloved children.
We pray on behalf of the world: Come, Holy Spirit!
We call forth your abundant provision for all people,
that every need might be met
in your consoling and enlivening love.
We pray on behalf of the world: Come, Holy Spirit!
Come, Holy Spirit,
and make all your people whole again,
in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Marion IA
God, I appreciate the extra effort and energy we pour into our holy days. I love when the sanctuary is fuller than usual. I love the banners and flowers and special music. And, God, I love ordinary days like today. Days when we bring our best to worship you in the regular part of the church years. Days like today remind me how much of our life is spent in ordinary time. We go to work. We go to school. We wish it was the weekend or vacation or any day but today. God, give us the courage to live in the now. Help us to live into the ordinary days of our lives and of the church year. Remind us again that this day is a gift from you in all its ordinariness. For this day, we give you thanks, Gracious God, because you gave us another day to love you and to love each other. On this ordinary day in ordinary time, we will worship you, Loving God. Amen.
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