Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.
We confess, O God,
that we pray to You to protect us from our enemies
but we do not find ways to love and pray for our enemies.
Teach us and all people to respect everyone
as Your children, created in Your image
as a dream come true.
Help us to honor the dignity of all people,
to work out differences,
to pursue paths toward reconciliation, forgiveness,
and the rebuilding of communities with hope.
O God, wherever your Church is corrupt, purify it;
where it is in error, direct it;
where in any thing it is incorrect, reform it.
Where it is right, strengthen it;
where it is in want, provide for it;
where it is divided, reunite it;
for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Savior.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father.
O God, as the tragedy of suicide
takes center stage in the news,
we pray for all who struggle
with depression, anxiety,
or feelings of hopelessness.
May we, as the People of God,
remind one another of our value
in knowing You and being known by You.
When we feel alone, You are with us.
When we feel invisible, You are the One who sees us.
You know us better than we know ourselves,
and You love us still.
Open our eyes to the needs
of our brothers and sisters,
and equip us to be people of empathy,
compassion, and hospitality.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling,
Abba Father.
O God, we pray for those being affected
by the volcanic eruptions in Hawaii and Guatemala;
for those in the paths of the wildfires burning in New Mexico;
for those in Puerto Rico
still suffering the after-effects of Hurricane Maria,
which devastated their island last September.
And even as we pray, O God,
grant us the vision to see
the ways in which we are responsible
for caring for this planet with integrity and love.
Hear our prayers,
that we may love you with our whole being,
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors.
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.