Dearest Lord, without whom nothing is strong, multiply upon us your mercy as we struggle to create a more just and loving world.  Help us to stay rooted in love, to learn the breadth and length and height and depth of love that surpasses human knowledge, so that we may be Christ’s person in the world.

We trust in your promise: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Dearest Lord, without whom nothing is strong, multiply upon us your mercy as we strive to create a church in Christ’s image.  Let his spirit of love be at work in us, so that in service to the world, we might accomplish abundantly far more than we can ask or imagine ourselves. We trust in your promise: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Dearest Lord, without whom nothing is strong, multiply upon us your mercy as we seek to create a more perfect union of American states. Help us to put aside our personal identities and particular allegiances to see the image of Christ in our brothers’ and sisters’ faces, no matter how di?erent from our own.

We trust in your promise: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Dearest Lord, without whom nothing is strong, multiply upon us your mercy as we strive to create a more just and generous social order.  Help us to recognize the injustice in our justice system, which punishes the poor and outsiders in disproportionate number.  Help us to create opportunity where there is oppression, love where there is hate,

understanding and redemption where there is accusation and punishment.

We trust in your promise: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Dearest Lord, without whom nothing is strong, multiply upon us your mercy as we seek to protect the natural world, the living creatures and water and air and earth on whose health we all depend.  We know we are not separate from nature; that it, too, is an expression of your abundant love.

We trust in your promise: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Dearest Lord, without whom nothing in strong, multiply upon us your mercy as we struggle with physical and emotional pain, su?ering, and loss.   Especially be with those who we now name:

We know that, with you as our guide, we will pass through things temporal without losing sight of the eternal.

We trust in your promise: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

Presider: Strengthen us with the power of his spirit, so that Christ might dwell in our hearts through faith.  Amen.