Prayers of the People
Prepared by members of the SsAM Youth Group — Cameron Easton, Kori Mobley, and Eric Polk — for Sunday, April 3, 2011, the 4th Sunday in Lent.
1. We pray for our families, friends, and neighbors: that our loved ones stay safe, happy, and healthy. We pray that all parents try to understand and communicate with their children and that teachers be inspired to motivate and encourage their students.
We pray for the families of victims of bullying. We pray for God to comfort and soften the hearts of bullies and help them through their issues.
Please help us with the classes we struggle with and give us success in all our activities, especially dance, soccer, football and cheerleading.
May God open our eyes to the less fortunate.
Lord, hear our prayer.
2. We pray for the church, the nation and the world. We pray for Katherine, our Presiding Bishop, Wayne, our Bishop, David, our Rector, Lloyd our Rector Emeritus, Rod and Jeanne our Associate Priests, and The Cathedral Church of St. John. May God save the children whose lives have been undermined by society through lack of finances, food, housing, or education. Please help the government and the world take their lives into consideration. We pray for Barack our President, Jack our Governor, and James our Mayor. We pray that one day all lives will be equal and that God will see us as better people.
We pray for world peace, especially for the people of Libya. We pray for people in economic difficulties, especially those who have been laid off or who have lost their houses. We pray for a safe and healthy living environment for all.
May God open our eyes to the less fortunate.
Lord, hear our prayer.
3. We pray for the Earth, that our planet will provide us with new energy and that God will make it re-usable. We pray that our planet will continue to provide us with the things needed for life so that we can survive to make it a better place.
May the Lord be with those who have been affected by nature, especially in Japan, Haiti, New Orleans, and Chile. We pray especially for the people in Japan who were shaken to the core with the devastating earthquake and tsunami. God, please give them the willpower to go forward and rebuild.
May, God open our eyes to the less fortunate.
Lord, hear our prayer.
4. We pray for the sick and troubled, whether in the hospital or going through any physical or emotional troubles, especially: Max Bell, Melanie Brown, Christof Dorsey, Jeane Downs, Harry Haon, Jeanne Linderman, Willio Mentor, Pattie Richmond, Louise Spaulding, James Thomas, Karen Edwards, Lionel Hampton, Herb Harvey, Charlene Simmons, and Anne Gibson. You are invited to offer names. (Keep silence for a brief space).
May, God open our eyes to the less fortunate.
Lord, hear our prayer.
5. We pray for the departed, that they are in a better place with God, especially: Rachel Royal, Susan H. Graham, and Silvio Lopez. You are invited to offer names. (Keep silence for a brief space).
May, God open our eyes to the less fortunate.
Lord, hear our prayer.
6. We pray for the special needs and blessings of the congregation (Please add your petitions aloud, here.)
May, God open our eyes to the less fortunate.
Lord, hear our prayer.