Prayers of the People, Lent 3B

​Source of Love and original Organizer of Community,

In your mercy, come near to your people.
Draw near to those whose worship is directed at gods
which cannot save
or serve
or love us into being.
Our misdirected loyalty leaves us lonely and in despair.

In your mercy, come near to your people.
Draw near to those abused by power wielded
in your name,
betrayed by the church
and by your servants
who have forgotten the call
to love as they have been loved.
The pain inflicted by those who claim to be working
according to your directives
is debilitating.
Help us see your will more benevolently
and to be healed.

In your mercy, come near to your people.
Draw near to those who carry the burden
of running the world ...
who cannot take even a moment for Sabbath
for fear of the world spinning off its axis.
Good people with good intentions are overwhelmed
seeking to be saviors.
Our co-dependent living fails to recognize
and to appreciate the interdependence
you have called us to in the community of faith
or to recognize the image of you
in which we were created
which offers life abundant
and a spirit of joy.

In your mercy, come near to your people.
Draw near to those whose brokenness
is inherited
and for whom honor is difficult to find
in their ancestry.
Place your healing hand upon the histories
of your people,
that hope might be restored.

In your mercy, come near to your people.
Draw near to those who grieve the loss
of everything sacred .
of life and of covenant,
of possession and of reputation,
of gratitude and joy.
Inspire in us a desire to love one another
as fully as we have been loved,
and in loving, to generously share
blessing after blessing
received from your hand.

In your mercy, Lord, hear our prayers.

Amen.