PRAYERS

PRAYER REQUESTS

Scott, Lona, Cindy, Joe, Jayne, Doris Miller, Charlie Hughes, Charaman and Harvey, John Miller, Ellen, Eva Russell, Matthew, Todd Dawson, Harley, Robert, Shawn, Caitlin Russell, George and Pat Shepherd, Joe Scoco, Ryan Spickerman, Rhen Robinson, David Armstrong, Elizabeth Sundby, Faye, Garrett, Gilbert Herndon, Kieran Brown, Grace Roberts, Barry Breyer, Douglas Perry, Tom Horak, , Kim Wennerberg, Mr. Robinson (Lona’s Husband), Jan, Michele, Willie O’Neal, Richard Goodwin

For the Faithfully Departed, May their souls rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon them.

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ONGOING: Prayer for Revival -TEC; Prayer for victims of gun violence; Prayer for St. Agatha’s and its parishioners.

Prayers for all affected by the war in Israel and Palestine for use in your daily devotions are available in the Narthex.

Please pray for all those affected by the war in the Middle East and in Ukraine, and Taiwan.

Please submit personal prayer requests to Mary Wejroch, in writing or by email at stagathaepiscopal@gmail.com, or you may place them in the collection plate on Sundays.

 

Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast Cycle of Prayer:

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                                                     THE WAY OF LOVE
                                            PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Composed by the Reverend Allison English, Calvary Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
This set of Prayers of the People incorporates the seven movements/rhythms of the rule of life
set forth in Presiding Bishop Curry’s invitation to practice the Way of Love, in conversation with
Holy Scripture and the Book of Common Prayer. Each bidding calls upon God using scriptural names
for Jesus.
The form adapts the Book of Common Prayer Prayers of the People Form I, offering prayers with
intercession for:
• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission
• The Nation and all in authority
• The welfare of the world
• The concerns of the local community
• Those who suffer and those in any trouble
• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate)
Let us pray.
Creator God, by the mercies of your son, our Lord, Jesus, compel us to TURN our hearts to
his Way of Love. That we might follow Jesus together as your faithful people, we pause,
listen, and respond in prayer, saying: Jesus, guide us in your way.
Jesus, your life, death, resurrection, and ascension inspire the church to continue
in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship. Guide your people to LEARN your Word,
that we might see God’s story unfolding in our midst. We pray together,
Jesus, guide us in your way.
Son of God, you responded to your Father in PRAYER and pleaded that we might all
be one. Guide the leaders and faithful citizens of this nation to respond to God and to
one another in compassion — in thought and deed, with or without words — that
the people of [country name] might live in unity and peace. We pray together,
Jesus, guide us in your way.
Light of the World, you taught us to WORSHIP in spirit and in truth. Lead us to
join with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, that the whole world might
be united in the truth of your love. We pray together,
Jesus, guide us in your way.
Lord, you came not to be served but to serve. Empower us to BLESS one another
and our neighbors in [this city, this town, this village], that your spirit of generosity,
compassion, and selfless action transform us and the people in our midst.
We pray together,
Jesus, guide us in your way.
2
Savior, you came into our midst that we might know life. Embolden us to GO
among those who are weary, burdened, sick, or imprisoned, [especially those we
now name silently or aloud] that we might live like you, crossing the boundaries
that divide rich from poor, sick from well, and sinner from saint. We pray together,
Jesus, guide us in your way.
Lamb of God, in your death you destroyed death and taught us the way to eternal life.
Compel us to daily die to self and REST in your grace. May all who have died,
[especially N., N.], rest in peace and rise in glory. We pray together,
Jesus, guide us in your way.
The Celebrant offers this concluding collect:
Lord Jesus Christ, who gave your life for the life of all, we commit our lives to
following you. Continually guide us in your way and draw us into live
as your Beloved Community in this age and in age to come;
for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

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                                                     WORSHIP AND PRAYER RESOURCES
“Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger. Pray not for crutches but for wings.” —Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts (1835-1893)
A Litany for the Restoration of Peace in the Holy Land
God of peace, we pray for the people of Palestine and Israel in these perilous and dangerous times.
For all who are fearful for the safety of their loved ones and themselves, we pray that the assurance of unfailing love, even in the midst of danger, settles upon them. Shelter them from despair and protect them from harm.
For all who are wounded, we pray they find healing. 
For all who have died, we pray they find rest.
For all who grieve, we pray they find comfort.
For leaders on all sides, we pray for a renewed will to lay down arms, for the strength to put the grievances and wrongs suffered by their people to rest, and for the conviction to embrace a path of reconciliation and peace that preserves the rights and dignity of all of your children.
God of mercy, help us to remember there is no border that can separate us from your great love and protection, no stone that can sound the well of your deep mercy.
God of justice, we pray with hopeful hearts that your beloved children of the Holy Land will be spared a future of sustained violence and unrest and that a recognition of the humanity of all people will prevail. 
We ask all this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
– American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem
May 14, 2021
A PRAYER FOR PILGRIMS
Almighty God, you always show mercy toward those who love you and you are never far away for those who seek you. Remain with your servants on this holy pilgrimage and guide their way in accord with your will. Lead them on right and peaceful paths. Shelter them with your protection by day, give them the light of your grace by night, and, as their companion on the journey, bring them to their destination in safety. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
adapted from www.catholicculture.org
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PRAYER FOR THE OPPRESSED (BCP P. 826)
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions.  Have mercy upon us.  Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors.  Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all.  And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of your world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.            
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PRAYER FOR PEACE AND FORGIVENESS
Loving God of all the earth, we pray for those who perpetrate injustices in the Holy Land, regardless of their motives; we pray that you will change their hearts and fill them with the spirit of mercy.  Teach us all the pathways of peace and forgiveness.  Spirit of comfort whose glory covers the face of our earth, comfort the oppressed, give shelter to those who have lost their homes, and let your peace dwell in every heart.  With thankful hearts we pray in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.
from Contemporary Way of the Cross, p. 49
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PRAYER FOR THE DIOCESE OF JERUSALEM (BCP P. 817)
O God, by your grace you have called the Diocese of Jerusalem to a goodly fellowship of faith.  We ask you to bless Archbishop Hosam  Naoum, the clergy and leaders of diocesan institutions, and all the people of the diocese.  Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received.  By your Spirit, fashion all our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all whom we meet; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
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PRAYER FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
In the name of Elohim, the most merciful. May the Palestinian people receive the healing powers of our prayers. May they be granted safety, success, love, security, and hope. May they enjoy the fruits of freedom and equality that they—and all human beings—deserve.
As Jews, we pray for their well-being. We remember that the Holy Land is a shared space and pray to see the day when Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and all religions will live there together in peace.
We hope for the day when Palestinian refugees may return. We pray that together with their Jewish neighbors they can rehabilitate their history and rebuild what could be the best place on Earth. A place of many cultures and true equality.
We pray that Palestinians will be able to live lives free from violence and oppression. And we ask God to help us build bridges of peace with them.
May we be the light that brings peace and hope to our Palestinian friends and to all the world. Amen.
from Matt (Matah) Adler

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