Lector:  Dearest Holy God, Lord of All Heaven and Earth, 

We pray to you with hearts longing to know your peace.

We surrender our longing into your hands Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. I will follow you, Lord.

We pray for your churches throughout the world, that your Spirit shall inspire and lead them to speak out for human rights and equality, with open hearts and open minds, with love and compassion for your world family. May all priests be leaders in following you, Lord.

Lord, we thank you for Emmanuel Church as a vessel of your love, sharing openly with all who enter our church, our music concerts, our Labyrinth, and our outreach programs.

Bless our Bishop, Greg, our priests, Father Berto and Father Hugh, and their leadership in the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, patience, kindness, and generosity. Bless our vestry, office administrators, the Garden Gang, the Dinner Kitchen volunteers, our musicians, and all those who serve in ways both seen and unseen, in our mission to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Bless this community, may we be a beacon of caring and love, as taught by your son, Jesus Christ.

We pray for the United States, our President Donald, and those elected officials who have asked for our trust in making decisions for the welfare of our nation and the world. We seek the power of your will to be done. You are the one God of all.

We surrender our longing hearts into your hands, Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. I will follow you, Lord.

Bless this earth home and your gifts of clean air, water, forests, rich soil, the animals and all of your creation. Lead us to the wisdom of urgently protecting the balance of your resources which sustain life. We are deeply concerned, and seek the power of your will to be done. You are the one God of all.

We surrender our longing hearts into your hands Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. I will follow you, Lord.

We pray silently or aloud for those in need of food, shelter, health care, and kindness, for those in danger, fear, or any kind of suffering. (Pause.) 

Bless those especially on our prayer list:

We surrender our longing hearts into your hands Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. I will follow you, Lord.

We pray for all who have died, that they are in your joyous company of angels and archangels. Bless those who carry love and remembrance in their hearts.

We surrender our longing hearts into your hands Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ. I will follow you, Lord.

Presider:Thank you, dear Lord, for your bountiful blessings, both in our daily life, and in Jesus’ lesson to follow you for our strength and peace. May the Holy Spirit lead us through our days with gratitude and delight in your love, as we share the ministry of your compassion, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.