People of God, as we come to prayer
let us remember that we do not
have to twist the arm of a reluctant God
to seek good things for this world,
nor find ways to persuade a distant God
to come near and listen to us.
Let us remember that as we pray
we kneel alongside Jesus Christ,
in the presence of God,
with the help of the Spirit.
Let us pray.
You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father
Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you
with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation
and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
and receive these petitions
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.
O God, we may not be able to confront queens,
or challenge presidents;
We may not have the capacity to divert resources,
or uplift entire communities;
We may not have the voice to silence the noise of war,
or the words to negotiate peace between armies;
But, as we follow you, O Christ, we are able to do something.
You hear us calling
You hear us calling
Abba Father
So, we pray that you would inspire us
to commit to and act on
the small difference we can make:
May we bring peace
through small acts of gentleness
and reconciliation;
May we bring wealth
through small contributions
and collaborations;
May we bring safety
through small acts of consideration
and acceptance;
May we bring wholeness
through small acts of care
and service.
And in the small ways, O God,
may our small difference make a big contribution
to your saving work in our world.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
O God, we pray for the pastors and churches in our city
That continue to address issues of racial division.
Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the imagination to conceive
The dreams you have for our neighborhoods,
Our communities, and the broader city of Tulsa
Continue to plant the seeds of justice
Both in us and among us,
Help us to knead the yeast of mercy,
That it might spread into every area of our lives
And give us endurance to seek out
The places and the ways in which
Your Spirit is moving
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Loving God,
open our ears to hear your word
and draw us closer to you,
that the whole world may be one with you
as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy