Sunday, August 21, 2016
Offered by Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor

Gracious God, we are grateful for this opportunity to worship you and to be renewed by your Living Word and presence. We are grateful, too, for your prophets through the ages who expose how far short our world is from your vision and hope. Open our ears to hear your truth spoken through them, and keep their voices from being silenced. We confess that we too easily listen only to the like-minded or those who console us but do not confront us. Give us courage to pay attention to your messengers and to also be your messengers, that we may embrace your way and pursue your mission.

You have long heard the cries of the oppressed and liberated your people. We pray for those burdened and enslaved in our day: people ensnared by human trafficking, those restricted by tyrannical governments, people whose gender or race or income level keeps them from opportunities available to others. We pray for their freedom and justice.

We pray for peace in countries and neighborhoods of violence, especially Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, and the city of Chicago. We also lift up to you all who have been affected by flooding in Louisiana and by forest fires in California. Unleash resources to help people restore stability in their communities.

Strengthen all those who are giving assistance, and comfort families who have lost their homes. Give public servants and military personnel your guidance, strength, and protection. Make safe the paths of all our young people this summer, and help us advocate for all who are most vulnerable.

We also pray for our own loved ones who are ill, declining in health, or grieving the loss of friends and family. May they know your healing and comforting presence. All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together saying, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church