In fear and hopelessness, we bow before you, Lord,
devastated by the ways in which our unexplained grief
is wreaking havoc on our lives.
We can neither comprehend nor communicate
the depths or our inadequacy.
Our questions far exceed our answers
both in quantity and in substance.
We lift our prayers to you, O God, and seek your mercy.
Your people are counting their losses, Lord,
and finding the weight of them too heavy to bear.
Violence, division, and addiction destroy families.
Greed and abuse of power oppresses the poor.
Illness rips our loved ones from our arms.
We lift our prayers to you, O God, and seek your healing.
We call to you from our places of isolation,
our separation from community,
our blindness and fear
and faith,
and we continue to call
persistently,
hoping you will hear us
and call us to follow.
Hear our prayers as we seek to listen for your wisdom
and your guidance.
Open our hearts to a new perspective.
Teach us humility for ourselves
and compassion for the other.
Make of your people agents of hope
and recommission us to share the Good News
with all who will hear it. 
We lift our prayers to you, O God, and await your Spirit's anointing.

Teacher of teachers,
hear our prayers 
for those who teach your Word faithfully,
with wise discernment 
and careful attention
to details.
Continue to grant them 
the wisdom of Solomon
and the patience of Job,
the courage of Esther
and the creativity of Lydia,
the fire of the Spirit
and the eternal hope that comes
from abiding in the Vine.

Master,
may all who seek to follow you
be strengthened for the journey
that the cup we drink
and the baptism we endure
for your sake
will refine us for the day
when we stand before you 
and answer for our actions.

Lord of all,
teach us humility
and compassion
and show us how to love
as you love.
Send us out to serve
as you alone have taught us to do,
welcoming the stranger,
feeding the hungry,
loving the unloved,
visiting the lonely,
and encouraging the hopeless,
so that we may bear your likeness
and be recognized as 
​siblings of Christ.

Come, you disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ,
come in humility and grace.
Leave your quest for power at the door.
Prepare to serve your neighbor
and to serve your God.
Come, and be transformed
by the One who became a servant
​for your sake.

Welcome, children of God!
The kin-dom of Heaven belongs to you!
Come, and do not be afraid.
Come, and do not be silent.
Come, and receive God's blessing,
you spiritual guides,
you truth-seekers,
you hope of all our tomorrows.
Welcome!

Come, you healers,
doing deeds of power in the name of God.
Come, and do not be deterred,
for all who do the work of healing in God's name
​are welcome.
Come and worship.

Come, you in need of healing,
of wholeness,
of balance,
of restoration.
Come and find healing in the presence of God,
and worship.

Come, you seasoned ones,
who have been tried by fire
and refined.
Come and bring the peace of Christ
with you,
bringing hope to all who are hurting.
Come, you peacemakers,
and worship the God of peace.