Prayer Celebration Directions

GATHERING SONG
GATHERING PRAYER
Leader		We pray for a world in need of God’s justice and peace. All people throughout the world are united with us as God’s children. We are all members of the One Body of Christ. When any of our members are hurting and in need, then we all are hurting and in need. We gather to pray for others, but also for ourselves. We ask God to make us a holy people, a people of compassion and peace.
All		Amen.
Side 1		God is our strength and our refuge.
Side 2		We are not afraid, even when the earth shakes and the mountains quake.
Side 1		God is in our midst.
Side 2		Though nations rage and kingdoms sway.
Side 1		Come and see the works of the Lord.
Side 2		Who stops wars to the ends of the earth.
Side 1		God says, "Be still and know that I am God."
Side 2		God is with us. Our strength is the God of Jacob. (based on Psalm 46:2–3, 6–7, 9–12)
All		Amen.
MEDITATION (Play meditation music softly.)
READING
Leader		A reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. (Read Ephesians 4:31–5:2.) The word of the Lord.
All		Thanks be to God.
PETITIONS
Leader		We come to God with special needs for our families, our parish, and our nation.
Reader		For our leaders—both our church and government leaders, that they may serve as models of compassion as we struggle with adversity, we pray to the Lord.
All		Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader		For people filled with hatred that they may realize violence creates not justice, but greater injustice, we pray to the Lord.
All		Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader		For those people who are hurt because of our country’s desire for wealth, we pray to the Lord.
All		Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader		For those holy people who have modeled Jesus’ peace for us, that we may follow their example, we pray to the Lord.
All		Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader		For all Americans, that we may recognize how our differences reflect the many faces of God which can unite and not divide us, we pray to the Lord.
All		Lord, hear our prayer.
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader		Loving and compassionate God, hear our prayers. Give us caring hearts to help others. Put us to work for justice and peace in our world. Make us proclaimers of your word in our community so that this world may become a better place for all. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your son.
All		Amen.
CLOSING SONG