Sunday, April 18, 2010
Offered by Jocelyn C. Cadwallader, Pastoral Resident

Scripture tells us, “Dismiss all anxiety from your minds; instead, present your needs to God through prayer and petition, giving thanks for all circumstances. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds in Christ.” Friends, as we are grateful for God’s gifts and mindful of the communion of saints, we offer our prayers to God. Let us pray.

Creating God, you made all things in your wisdom, and in your love you hold us. You have promised to hear when we pray, so with confidence and trust, we pray for the world around us. We pray that you might lead us and every people into ways of justice and peace, that we may respect one another in freedom and in honesty. Awaken in us, O God, a sense of wonder for the earth and all that is in it, and teach us to creatively care for its resources, including one another, for, as the poet says, “It’s simple, and [we] too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” This morning, O God, we pray that we may seek your rest. Comfort and relieve all who dwell with restless minds and hearts. Deal with spirits that darken our minds and set us against ourselves, and tame the unruly forces within and around us that keep us from your abiding truth and love. Tend to us graciously, O God, those of us who mourn loss of every kind, that we might cast all our sorrow on you and, in doing so, we may know the consolation of your love. Comfort us in our sorrow, strengthen us with hope, and breathe peace into our troubled hearts.

Gracious God, you have called us to be the church of Jesus Christ. Keep us in one faith and service, breaking bread together and telling the stories of your love to the world, that all may feel the love that you are. Lead us, O God, by the power of your Spirit to live as the Lord requires: to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with you, our God. Breathe fresh life into your people, enliven us, so that we may be salt of the earth and light to the world. And keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ until this mortal life is ended, that we might serve Christ in one another and love as you love us.

God of hope, we pray that, with your sustaining Word, the hungry may be fed, the homeless sheltered, the war-torn at peace, the brokenhearted reassured, and the lonely surrounded so that your children may freely enjoy the earth you have made and cheerfully sing your praises.

Holy God, in your creation you declared all, each and every one, each and every thing, to be good. May we listen well and attend to what you declare to be good this day, at this time. In this world of so many names, faces, places, and spaces, may we remember that there is room enough, there is love enough, for all, each and every one, each and every thing.

God of mercy, accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church