Come, let us unite in prayer for the church throughout the world.

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

Gracious God, many voices cry out to you, and you hear us all. Grant us the grace and wisdom to honor and celebrate all who gather at your table.

O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let us pray for the United Church of Christ, here and elsewhere. (Modify accordingly for your denomination.)

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

God of amazing grace, let us not forget that your name is spoken by many. You do not distinguish between Republican and Democrat, and call leaders from our midst without regard to human politics. Open our eyes and our minds to the diversity of thought, experience, and theology that make up the United Church of Christ. Let us grow in our appreciation for all our brothers and sisters who worship you. We thank you for all those called to lead the United Church of Christ, especially for Geoffrey Black our minister and president (modify accordingly for your denomination), clergy, lay leaders, and all those gathered here. Stir your spirit in us and among us that we may not labor in vain.

O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let us pray for all the peoples of the world.

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

Forgiving God, draw us away from our narrow views of the world. While we have lost ourselves in the political fray, war has raged on and on in Syria and other places. The people of Mexico and Guatemala suffered through a devastating earthquake and its aftermath. People in this country are still picking up the pieces of their lives after the super storm. Grant us the faith and generosity of the widow in Zarephath that we, too, might freely offer assistance to those in need.

 O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let us pray for our nation and those who lead it.

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

God of new life, let your Spirit flow through this nation. Lead us to places of justice and equity for every person living within our borders. Teach us to see as you see. Enable us to move beyond the divisions of political parties, the ignorance of racism, and the foolishness of all the other “isms.” We thank you for the privileges and freedoms we have in this country. Setting aside our political differences, we lift up to you all those who have been elected or re-elected, especially Barak Obama. Fill him with wisdom and courage for the days ahead.

O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let us pray for all those who are in need of healing.

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

God of all possibilities, be present with all who are in need of healing. You created us to be amazingly strong and startlingly fragile. Make us ever mindful that you are the God who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. You are the One who sets the prisoners free and opens the eyes of the blinded, and lifts up all who struggle under the weight of living. You are the One who watches over the strangers and upholds the orphan and the widow and all the others who are overlooked and forgotten. Use us to bring healing. 

O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let us pray for all those who grieve.

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

God of life who conquered death, we lift up to you all those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. On this Veterans’ Day, we pray especially for the families of our service men and women who have died in this war and any war. And those who have returned home weighed down with grief, and loss, and the nightmares of war. May we be your hands, reaching out in compassion and comfort.

O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Let us give thanks to God for all the blessings we have received.

(silence or a time for people to quietly give voice to their concerns)

Even in the midst of darkness, there is light. Even when there is seemingly nothing, a widow shows us how to give everything. Even the least among us shares in the abundance you offer us. Gratitude is on our lips and in our hearts. We are yours. Hear the prayers of your people. We pray in Christ’s name.

O give thanks to God,

For God’s steadfast love endures forever.

Amen.

RCL – Year B – Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – November 11, 2012

Series 1:Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Psalm 127Series 2:
1 Kings 17:8-16
Psalm 146
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

(I took this photo at the Widening the Welcome Conference in Columbus, OH, 2012)