10.15.23 Prayers of Church & Community, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA

 Prayers of Church & Community, October 15, 2023

Westminster Presbyterian Church

For this place, O God, this day of worship, the love of Christ, and the work of your Holy Spirit, we give you our thanks … 

Even as the world swirls around us, dear God … in the madness of hate … Cain killing Abel again and again …  

We pray for the people of Palestine and the State of Israel … we pray for the children in harm’s way … we pray for those in power, who can pull the trigger, or reach for peace … 

We pray for our President and Vice-President, we pray for our Secretary of State - we pray for world leaders.

May the bright light of Democracy shine all the brighter in times such as these, O God - and for the voices of Democracy, we give you our thanks … we pray, all the more, for those who open the doorways of opportunity, those who build the bridges of peace … those who look beyond themselves, and call our attention to the best and brightest things of life. 

We pray for our families and friends … our parents, our children … those with whom we work … community leaders, school teachers, and the folks who pick up our garbage … 

So many people, O God, good and decent, faithful and kind, doing the hard work of life, making the best of it, helping us all along the way. 

Give us eyes to see them, dear God, and a heart to celebrate their life, their work, their worth, even as we give thanks for the life you’ve given to us … the hopes and dreams that inspire and console, the visions of peace that guide and guard … and the great love of Christ, from his cradle to his cross, his descent into hell, and his rising again from the dead - to make all things new.

That we should be here this morning, O God, is a gift from your heart … you draw us into your love, you bring us close to one another … you shape our souls and and replenish our spirits … your kindness is without measure … your grace - always amazing, your love - is forever.

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; 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.