May 9, 2010 - Prayers of the People

We pray, O God, today for mothers all around the world … giving thanks for faithfulness and love and devotion and hard work and all the things we cherish …

Especially, we pray for the mothers who have lost a child by war … or with drugs … or disease … may your consoling grace be upon them, and may your love bless their tears.

We pray for women, who without children of their own, have cared for and nurtured others … and we thank you for them.

We pray for women who haven’t been able to respond well to the needs of their families … for whatever reason, O God … may your kindly hand be upon them and bless their troubled hearts.

On this good day, O God, we all step back for a moment … and we say Thank You!
Thank you for those who love us, and those whom we love.
Thank you for making us a part of Christ, and Christ a part of us.
Thank you for Covenant on the Corner and all of our memories here.
Thank you for the future coming our way.
In this life, and in the life to come.

Thank you … in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, who taught us 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 …

May 2, 2010 - Prayers of the People

In this place, O God, uniquely devoted to you,

You meet us, with grace and peace and give us hope.

Here, we breath deeply.

The air is fresh.

The air is clean.

You are here!

We pray for our friends today.

We pray for our families.

We pray for the church of Jesus Christ all around the world.

We pray for Muslims and Jews.

For Hindus and Buddhists.

We pray for people of faith everywhere.

People of good will and mercy.

People who dream of a new day.

Who sacrifice to make life sacred.

Who see the best and reach for it.

We pray for our firefighters and police officers.

For mayors and council members.

Governors and legislators.

We pray for judges and for attorneys.

For engineers and scientists.

Artists and poets.

Musicians and dancers.

Movie-makers and actors.

We pray for Covenant on the Corner.

We pray for our Preschool.

We pray for Judi and Torrey and our teachers.

For Michelle and Edgar.

Colleen and Clare and George.

Mikal and Deondra.

O LORD our God, we thank you for these lives of ours.

To love and be loved.

To take a deep breath and smell the ocean.

To look about and see the mountains.

To live in a great city.

With so many great people.

And our faith, O God.

That we should know you.

That you should know us.

In this place right now … a glorious mystery.

We didn’t choose you; we know that.

You chose us.

You brought us into Christ, when we would have been in a thousand other places.

You’ve gathered us form the distant places.

You have brought us home.

To your heart.

To your Table.

You have washed us in Christ.

You have given us eyes to see the kingdom.

Ears to hear the gospel.

A heart to believe.

And a life to live.

All from you, O God.

All of it from you.

And we give it all right back to you.

As best we can.

For your glory.

And for your honor.

It is our final prayer, O God,

That we would serve you well.

That we would be the light of the world.

The salt of the earth.

Faithful to Christ.

And loving toward one another.

So keep us growing in Christ.

Keep us moving along.

Fill our hearts with his grace.

Enlighten our minds with your word.

To you, O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All honor and glory, now and forever more!

Amen and Amen!