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