Prayers of the People:
Merciful God,
we take seriously your word
to bless those who persecute us…
so we pray for those who for whatever reason
desire us ill, and have acted on this to cause us grief…
grant them your peace
and what is necessary for their well-being.
Lord hear us LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER
Compassionate God,
we take seriously your word
to not counter evil with evil
but to overcome evil with good…
so we pray for wisdom
to discern that the good,
which may overcome the evil
which is evident in so many ways around us,
inevitably flows out of sincere love for all.
Lord hear us LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER
Holy God,
we take seriously your word
to care for our enemies
in meeting their need…
So we pray for a strengthening of our resolve
to avoid vengeance against those at enmity with us,
enable us to see ways to act graciously towards them.
Lord hear us LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER
God of the nations,
through your Spirit guide the leaders of the nations
to work towards reconciliation and hope
that your purpose for creation and humanity
might be made visible…
Lord hear us LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
we are conscious of those for whom
being patient in suffering is a real challenge,
we name here…
grant them the hope and the perseverance
which will encourage and sustain them…
Lord hear us LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER
These spoken prayers
as well as the unspoken groaning within us
we offer in the name of Jesus, AMEN