Sunday, July 21, 2002
Offered by John A. Cairns, Dean, Academy for Faith and Life

God of all the ages, you have spoken through priests and prophets. Wisdom writers have shared your word, and poets have sung your praises. History has been witness to your abundant mercy. Your grandeur surpasses all that we can know.

We thank you that in love you sent Jesus to walk among us and to teach us who you would have us be. He stooped to hear the plight of strangers and bent down to embrace the children. He suffered indignity and death on our behalf, and now he lives as our mediator, guide, and friend.

In response to Christ’s friendship, we would be friends, O God, friends to those who are hurting today in physical and emotional ways. We pray for those awaiting tests and those whose tests proved positive. We pray for those who are undergoing treatment and those for whom no treatment can be offered. We pray for those who are helped by medication, for those who await a medication that will help, and for those who forget or refuse to take their medications. And we pray for all those who live with, worry about, care for, and cry over those who are sick. We earnestly ask for your healing presence in each of these lives, gracious God.

We pray as well for those who live in deprivation while we live with plenty. Especially today we lift up those who have lost their homes to warfare, who have lost their food supply to continued drought, who have lost their freedom to unjust imprisonment. Give us, O God, insight and political courage, so that we may stand with and for these brothers and sisters in ways that will make a difference for them and their world.

We would offer prayers for our world as well. Many of us are struggling because of the loss of investments and resources. Give us, we pray, eyes to see what truly matters. Many of us have lost faith in our corporate and political leaders. Give us, we pray, a clear sense of direction toward what is right. Many of us are saddened by the prejudice and innuendo that surrounds us and wounds others. Give us, we pray, the courage to stand with all of your children in the search for justice.

Take us by the hand, great God, and bring us to an awareness of your righteousness and a passion for your kingdom, that we—and all your children—may know ourselves to be one family. To that end—and in that hope—we are bold to pray as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church