Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people according to their needs.

El Shaddai, Almighty God, you created us for a purpose. We are to restore wholeness to creation by acting in your name. Help us to accept this calling with a firm belief that you will accomplish your purpose through us. Lead us to include all nations in our thoughts and prayers for restoration through you. Bless your creation through our loving words and actions and unite us, your children, in your grace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Gen 17:1-7, 15-16)

God of Jacob and Rebekah, God of Joseph and Mary, God of our ancestors and our descendants, you hold all people in your hand. Your mercy surrounds us in our grief, fills our hunger, and stills our fears. We ask your presence in lands torn by war, where natural disasters threaten to take away hope, where corrupt rulers place their own desires above their citizens’ needs. Creator of us all, bind up our wounds and restore wholeness to creation. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Psalm 22)

Faithful, loving Lord, in your mercy you provided a way for us to come to you, to fulfill the requirements of the Law passed on through generations. While we are still unworthy, you come to us offering us salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ. As you raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, restore our wholeness through his sacrifice. Forgive us when we break our relationships and surround us with your loving grace. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Romans 4:13-25)

Glorious God, it is within your power to renew lives torn apart by sin, by illness, by tragedy and by grief. Strengthen all who struggle from day to day to hope in you. Today we lift in prayer...

Are there others we should include in our prayers?

Because we know you have borne the cross to restore wholeness to all creation, we trust you to embrace all those we have named and to bring us to joy in you. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Mark 8:31-38)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.)

Linda Kraft, Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Trumbull, CT