Sunday’s Prayers of the People: waiting for God

Truly you are God, and there is no other—
and so we come to you this day,
giving thanks for your many blessings,
for family, friends, and too much food,
for a day set aside to practice gratitude.
We pray that gratitude may carry through as we enter a new season,
a season of waiting, of hope, of expectation.
It is for You that we wait, God.
Sometimes it seems as though you are hidden,
or far away, or silent.
Help us to wait in that darkness, looking for your glimmer of light,
rather than rushing in to fill the void.
You will never leave us nor forsake us—
we believe your promise, but help our unbelief!
In this season we focus all our attention on you,
waiting for you to reveal yourself, your purpose, your will, your call.
In the waiting, we pray for this, your church.
Make yourself known here, O God, that we may be your faithful people,
transformed by your grace into your likeness,
loving, serving, caring, dreaming with you.
In the waiting, we pray for your people in need—
for those who hunger and thirst,
for those who live daily with violence or fear,
for those who despair of ever knowing love or grace.
May your peace that passes all understanding surround us,
may your hope fill our world,
may your light shine in the darkness.
In the waiting, we listen for you in silence.

 

We pray these and all things in the name of Christ, the One who taught us to pray: Our Father…

Sunday’s Prayers of the People

Gracious God,
we give you thanks for this day that you have made.
For the sun that rises and sets,
for the seasons that change in your time,
for all the ways you care for us and for your creation,
we give you thanks.
God, we are so grateful.
In this season of thanks-giving,
we ask that you would form us in gratitude,
help us to be thankful in all times and places,
not only when all our families are gathered around a feast.
And as we give thanks, remind us of those who are in need.
For your people around the world who are hungry,
for bread or for justice,
who thirst for clean water or for love,
who live in fear,
who suffer from violence,
we pray to you, O God.
Rain down your peace, your grace, your comfort, your word
on all the world.
Send help to those who need it,
and open our ears to hear if we are the help you will send.
Open our eyes to see, and open our hands to serve.
We pray all these things in the name of Jesus,
who taught us to pray together, Our Father…

a prayer at the table

Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, Ruler of the Universe,
for you have kept your promises.
In the beginning, you called for yourself a people and you promised them a home.
Though it took many generations,
and though they were separated from their home by water and a desert,
you brought your people to a good land.
When your people turned away from you,
you promised us you would come among us.
In your Son Jesus we see you and your love,
living and real and for us.
He showed us how to follow you,
eating with sinners, touching the outcast,
loving all.
After his resurrection,
he told us to wait for your calling and your power.
He promised us that you would go with us as we proclaim the good news
that you have triumphed over death,
that love has the last word.
And now we wait to feel again the movement of your Holy Spirit,
giving gifts and expecting us to use them.
We give you thanks for your unending love for us,
and for this table,
where you have prepared a feast.
As we come to this meal, may we be made one with each other and with you.
Pour out your Spirit again on us and on these gifts of bread and wine,
show us a glimpse of your heavenly banquet.
Make this table the meeting place of earth and heaven,
that together we might be strengthened to go out
to be your witnesses in this place and even to the ends of the earth.
We pray in the name of our Risen Lord Christ, who taught us to pray together…