Prayers of the People, OT23B

​Your people hide behind generosity, Lord,
afraid to let insecurities,
failures
and weaknesses
be known.
We are sure our friends and family members
wouldn't love us
if they knew.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Help us to be authentic.
Help us to be real.

Day after day,
week after week,
month after month,
year after year, Lord,
you have children who are struggling
to make ends meet:
children who are working tirelessly
for less than a living wage,
children who are at a disadvantage
because they come from schools
improperly funded,
if they come from school at all,
children who have fallen
into difficult circiumstances
beyond their control ....
illness
and injury
and tragedy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Help us to lift one another up
from the depths of despair,
to support and to encourage,
to listen,
and to be voices for justice
in a world where the poor
and marginalized
are too often unheard.

Stir us from our comfort seats,
O God.
Open our hearts to your Word.
Grant us wisdom
and compassion.
Lord, in your mercy,
grant us compassion,
and boldness,
and teach us to love our neighbor
as much as --
or more than --
we love ourselves.