As we prepare for the Pentecost Offering, which supports our young people as they build a life of faith, we ask you to join us in this prayer written by the youth of First Presbyterian Church in San Bernardino, CA. This prayer was originally used as a Prayers of the People during worship on November 18, 2018.
Let us pray,
God who is not sleeping, who knows the things that bring us joy, we give you thanks for food, water, homes, families, church family, the loving people around us. We give you thanks for freedom in our lives. We give you thanks for people who are working to make the world a better place. People who every day risk their lives to save others. Oh loving God, thank you.
God who is not sleeping, who knows the things that trouble us, we pray for our world. Equality for women all over the world. We pray for environmental issues all over the world. Global warming. Natural disasters. Animal endangerment. We pray for an end to world violence and for those who are suffering the effects of violence.
Lord in your mercy… you hear our prayer.
God who is not sleeping, who sees our nation. We pray for our leaders to think about others and make wise decisions. We pray for people who live in fear. We pray for families being split up due to border issues.
Lord in your mercy… you hear our prayer.
God who is not sleeping, who sees our state, we pray for all the people displaced by fires, for those unaccounted for, for those who’ve lost their homes. We pray for the firefighters and other helpers, for the areas that have been destroyed, for the officials who are working to provide leadership and help.
Lord in your mercy… you hear our prayer.
God who is not sleeping, who sees our city, we pray for community leaders, for teachers, for public safety officers. We pray for those who do not have adequate food or shelter. We pray for those who are working to make things better.
Lord in your mercy… you hear our prayer.
God who is not sleeping, who sees us, we pray for our congregation. We thank you for the new members who joined today. We pray for those we named this morning and for those we cannot name. Heal the sick, comfort the grieving, be near to those who suffer.
Lord in your mercy… you hear our prayer.
We pray all of this in the name of Jesus who taught his friends to pray, saying,
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.