Great Mystery:This Lenten Journey is accompanied by great shifts on every level. Yet we have much to be grateful for—our priests, our community, our blessed island, the Salish Sea, and those who have gone before us whose inspiration demonstrates the path of love and compassion for all sentient beings. Help us all to discern the best way going forward.  Help us to live as you would have us live. Open our eyes to our true purpose and give us the strength and wisdom to pursue it without stumbling.
Mercy embraces all who trust in You.

Great Mystery: We pray for the church, for spiritual leaders who speak for kindness, for inclusion, regardless of race, religion, creed, or gender identity. With all our hearts we seek to forgive the transgressors, and we pray that they may find their way to truth and compassion.
Mercy embraces all who trust in You.

Great Mystery: We pray for Peacemakers, including those who do not yet know you. We think just now of the struggles in Yemen, and pray that the abuses of women and children may cease, and that they may be brought comfort and hope. May those who have lost their homes and are starving in Gaza find shelter and food. We celebrate and pray fervently for relief workers who work day and night at many borders to help those in need, including the many refugees from Ukraine.
Mercy embraces all who trust in You.

Great Mystery: Teach us to forgive, as we are forgiven. Let us water the faltering fig for yet another year.  Let us celebrate whenever the lost return to the fold. Help us to better live the love that you have generated through the ages. Shore us up in our despair and sorrow. Keep us humble, truthful, and generous—giving our best at every turn.
Mercy embraces all who trust in You.

Great Mystery: Protect our system of education. Let our full histories be known, to the best of our ability. Let us celebrate the achievements of all people. Bestow wisdom upon our teachers, whose charges are the heart and soul of the world’s destiny. May today’s students—our future world leaders— learn from the mistakes of past generations and forge effective pathways to  solving world problems. 
Mercy embraces all who trust in You.  

We pray now for all those suffering from loneliness, illness and disability, addictions, abuse, confusion, housing and employment difficulties. We ask now for blessings and guidance for those on our Parish Prayer List: … as well as those other intentions we may have, and those for whom no one prays [a time to say, silently or aloud, any concerns not mentioned]. We join in common prayer for all these intentions.
Mercy embraces all who trust in You.

We hold in our hearts people we have loved and lost. May our hearts know that love for one another—both living and dead—is enduring and forever.  Amen.