10.22.23 Prayers of Church and Community, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Pasadena, CA

 Prayers of Church & Community, 10.22.23

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Eternal God,

LORD of light, life, and love … 

all things bright and beautiful … 

We turn from the turbulent and trying stories of our world … we turn from them, not in ignorance or selfish desire, O God, but to find refreshment in your grace, mercy, peace … 

Refreshment for our souls, that we might see something of your glory, your purpose at work in the world, 

That we might see:

your love for each one of us, 

your love upon us and within us … 

That we might:

face the world with confidence, trust, and hope,

bear our burdens with dignity,

weep with those who weep,

rejoice with those who rejoice.

LORD, have mercy, we pray … 

transform our souls again and again,

that Westminster might be as the Tower on Lake Avenue:

a beacon of hope,

a sign of love,

and a promise of peace.

For those in need, O God, we pray.

For those who struggle with ill health and emotional distress.

For those on the streets, O God, - for whatever reason …

For the children of the world … too many who are hungry, too many who will never see the light of a better day …

We remember the dead, O God … they now live in your bright presence … they rejoice in your glory … their hope is pure and loving; they recall their life with joy … they have neither pain nor anxiety … yet they journey on into your infinite glory, wonder, and joy, dear God, and pray for us constantly. We pray for them, too, holy God - send them our love and gratitude, dear God; assure them of our resolve to live well, to care for the earth, to promote the gospel, to honor their deeds with our deeds of love and justice.

We pray with heart and mind, body and soul, dear God … with all that we are, and all that we hope to be … to be joined with you in the goodness of creation, in the work of Christ, in the hope of eternal life.

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.