Unity

God our Father, your Son Jesus prayed hat his followers might be one. Make all Christians one with him as he is one with you, so that in peace and concord we may carry to the world the message of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Read: Psalm 133, Isaiah 2: 2-4, Ephesians 4: 1-6, John 17: 15-23

Harvest

O Lord, maker of all things, you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living creature. We praise you for crowning the fields with your blessings and enabling us once more to gather in the fruits of the earth. Teach us to use your gifts carefully, that our land may continue to yield her increase; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Read: Psalm 65, Deuteronomy 26: 1-11, 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15, Matthew 13: 24-30 (36-43)

Day of Penitence

Lord God, accept our humble confession of the wrongs we have done, the injustice to which we have been party, and the countless denials of your mercy we have expressed. Turn us toward the love offered in your Son, and cleanse us by your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
OR Almighty God, in penitence we come before you, acknowledging the sin that is within us. We share the guilt of all those who, bearing the name Christian, slay their fellow human beings because of race or faith or nation. Whether killing or standing silent that your Word of hope may be heard clearly throughout the world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Peace

Almighty God, all thoughts of truth and peace come from you. Kindle in the hearts of all your children the love of peace, and guide with your wisdom the leaders of the nations, so that your kingdom will go forward in peace and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Read: Psalm 85, Micah 4: 1-5, Ephesians 2; 13-18, John 15: 9-12,
OR O God, it is your will to hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our wraths and sorrows, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Peace Among the Nations

Almighty God, heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into ways of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Social Justice

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may move every human heart, that the barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease, and that, with our divisions healed, we might live in justice and peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thanksgiving

Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Read: Psalm 65, Deuteronomy 8: 1-10, Philippians 4: 6-20, or I Timothy 2: 1-4, Luke 17: 11-19

Our Enemies

O God, the Lord of all, your Son commanded us to love our enemies and to pray for them. Lead us from prejudice to truth; deliver us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and enable us to stand before you, reconciled through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The Poor and the Neglected Almighty and most merciful God, we call to mind before you all those whom it would be easy to forget: the homeless, the destitute, the sick, the aged, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Oppressed

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the abundance of this land; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Proper Use of Wealth

Almighty God, all that we possess is from your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor you with all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus Christ our Lord.

Schools

O Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities [and especially ____________], that they may be lively places for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Church

Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic Church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son our Savior.

Renewal

Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, you turn us from the old life of sin. Grant that we who are reborn to new life in him may live in righteousness and holiness all our days, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
OR Almighty God, grant that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, my be renewed in your Holy Spirit to live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Trustfulness

O most loving Father, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay all our cares on you, knowing that you care for us. Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of your immortal love shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Self-dedication

Almighty God, draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, so that we may be wholly yours. Use us as you will, always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Answer to Prayer

Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask: Help us to ask only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare not or, in our blindness, cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Guidance

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor and further us with your continual help, that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Protection Through Life

O Lord, mercifully assist us in our supplications and prayers. Direct the lives of your servants toward the goal of everlasting salvation, that, surrounded by all the changes and uncertainties of life, we may be defended by your gracious and ready help in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Those in Affliction

Almighty and everlasting God, comfort to the sad and strength to those who suffer: Let the prayers of your children who are in any trouble rise to you. To everyone in distress grant mercy, grant relief, grant refreshment; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Those in Mental Distress

Heavenly Father, have mercy on all your children who live in mental distress. Restore them to strength of mind and cheerfulness of spirit, and give them health and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Those in Trouble or Bereavement

O merciful Father, you teach us in your holy Word that you do not willingly afflict or grieve your children. Look with pity on the sorrows of ____________, your servant, for whom we pray. Remember him/her, O Lord, in mercy. Strengthen him/her in patience, comfort him/her with the memory of your goodness, let your presence shine on him/her, and give him/her peace through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Recovery from Sickness

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully hear our prayers and grant to your servant, ____________, the help of your power, that his/her sickness may be turned into health and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ.

Those Suffering From Addiction

O blessed Jesus, you ministered to all who came to you. Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove the fears that attack them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love; for your mercy's sake.

Restoration of Health

Almighty and gracious God, we give thanks that you have restored the health of your servant, ___________, on whose behalf we bless and praise your name. Grant that he/she may continue the mission you have given him/her in this world also share in eternal glory at the appearing of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Families

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you set the solitary in families. We comment to your care all the homes where your people live. Keep them, we pray, free from bitterness, from the thirst for personal victory, and from pride in self. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, moderations, patience, and godliness. Knit together in enduring affection those who have become one in marriage. Let children and parents have full respect for one another; and light the fire of kindliness among us all, that we may show affection for each other; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Care of Children

Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children. As we bring them up, give us calm strength and patient wisdom, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Young Persons

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an uncertain and confusing world. Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but us an opportunity for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you and to keep alive their joy in your creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Those Who Live Alone

Almighty God, grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors as they follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Remembrance of the Faithful Departed

With reverence and affection we remember before you, O everlasting God, all our departed friends and relatives. Keep us in union with them here through faith and love toward you, that hereafter we may enter into your presence and be numbered with those who serve you and look upon your face in glory everlasting, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.