Loving God, please hold our world of humans in your tender hands.  Help us to be of the mind and heart of Jesus; help us to humble ourselves in obedience to your teachings, that we might love you and one another with all our hearts and minds and  soul and strength. 

Dearest Lord, we pray.

Loving God, we pray similarly for our worldwide church, that especially on this Palm Sunday, our ears are awakened to your call.  Like Isaiah, let us not be rebellious or turn backward, but grow in love for you and your creation.

Dearest Lord, we pray.

Loving God, we pray for our great nation, that whatever our beliefs, they are centered in  love, generously embracing all peoples, as was your example in Christ.

Dearest Lord, we pray.

Loving God, we pray for the social order, that we might develop empathy for those different from ourselves, reaching out to them with love and understanding rather than judgment and fear.

Dearest Lord, we pray.

Loving God, we pray for the natural world, for sky and sea and earth, and for all who fly and swim and walk upon our beautiful and fragile planet.  Help us not to exploit the earth for our own desires, but rather to care for it as the precious gift it is.

Dearest Lord, we pray.

Loving God, we pray for all those who suffer sadness and shame, illness and death, war and violence, want and need — any sort of turmoil that troubles their hearts, turns their minds, or tears at their bodies.  We pray that you will be with every person in need and guide us to them in your name, so that we may empty ourselves into their suffering and healing.

Dearest Lord, we pray.