category: Bidding Prayer, Liturgy, Prayer

Bidding Prayer for Justice

By Rachael Keefe

Come, let us pray for the church throughout the world. People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently. Steadfast God of all times and places, hear our prayers for your church in all its varied forms. We give thanks for the guidance of your Spirit and the ways …

Bidding Prayer for Justice

Come, let us pray for the church throughout the world.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
Steadfast God of all times and places, hear our prayers for your church in all its varied forms. We give thanks for the guidance of your Spirit and the ways in which people throughout the world serve you and work for justice and peace. We know that there is much work to do even when we, like Joshua’s Israelites, are often tempted by the gods of the lands. Continue to have mercy on us and give all your people strength and courage as they seek to serve you and embody your forgiveness, grace, and love.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Let us pray for the United Church of Christ here and elsewhere.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
God of the wilderness and the margins, we turn to you in these unsettling times. You have gathered us to be your body here and now, calling us to work for peace and justice for all people. Give us oil in our lamps that we may never fall asleep and miss out on the ministries you desire of us. Be especially with Geoffrey Black, our Minister and President, as he balances his ministry with preparations for retirement, and with all conference staff and clergy in these times of challenge and changes. Gather us anew that we may be united and continue uniting with others in our service to you.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Let us pray for all the people of the world.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
Wondrous God of many names, we lift up to you our brothers and sisters around the world. You created humanity with an amazing diversity to reflect your light. Set us on a path that will lead us away from our fearful, self-protective ways toward a future filled with joyful welcome and radical inclusion. You did not create us for war, violence, and distrust. Rather, you would have us live in peace, trusting in your ways. May we walk in the way of peace, proclaiming all the wonders that you have done.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Let us pray for the whole of creation.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
Creator and creating God, hear our gratitude of the gifts of the earth. Too often we take for granted this incredible world you have given to us. We tend to consume without thinking too much about where things come from. It is not too late for us to be good stewards of this planet. We can learn to live more gently, more kindly on the earth. The beauty all around us is more fragile than we want to admit and needs us to change our ways. Teach us to heed your call to be caretakers of the earth.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Let us pray for our nation.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
God of all generations, we recognize that our country is one among many. While we focus on our needs here in this country, we know that people everywhere are calling on you for your wisdom, guidance, and grace. Even as we pray for peace and justice within our borders so, too, do we lift up to you countries with greater need than our own. Be with the leaders of this nation, especially President Obama, granting them the wisdom and courage to be advocates for those without power and privilege. May we all learn to work together to honor the vision liberty and justice for all.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 

Let us pray for those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
Compassionate God who knows our every weakness, shine your light in our deepest darkness. Sickness frightens us and reminds us that there are limits to our knowledge, our abilities, and even our lives. Sometimes it is hard for us to be gracious in the face of suffering, our own or our neighbor’s. Yet, you call us to love one another as you love us. Free us from our anxious ways that we may share our resources with those who suffer that all may find hope, comfort, and healing.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Let us pray for all those who are grieving.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
God whose light no darkness can overcome, be with all those who mourn. Loss touches all of us sooner or later and it seems to come to some more than others. We pray for those whose hearts are broken and those who cannot imagine a future for themselves. Especially, we pray for those whose loved ones died suddenly by murder, suicide, accident or illness. May your church be a place of shelter until hope and life can be found again.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

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Let us give thanks to God for all the blessings of our lives.
People are invited to share their prayers quietly or silently.
God of the famine times and the feast times, we give you thanks for all the ways you shower us with your grace. Our lives are full of busyness and distractions and we might fail to notice the small miracles of your creation. Yet in our quiet moments, we see your handiwork everywhere. We are grateful that you claim us as your beloved and we strive to live to honor you. May our lives be reflections of your abundance.
Hear our prayers, O Lord.
May justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.                Photo used with permission
Amen.                                                                                         pdphoto.org

RCL – Year A – Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost – November 9, 2014
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 with Psalm 78:1-7  or
Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 or Amos 5:18-24 or
Wisdom of Solomon 6:17-20 or Psalm 70
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13

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About Rachael Keefe

Rachael is an author, a pastor, a teacher, and a poet. Her latest book (The Lifesaving Church - Chalice Press) is on faith and suicide prevention. She is currently the pastor of Living Table UCC in Minneapolis, and has launched a spiritual direction practice.

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