Prayerful Concerns of Our Parish Community
We offer these Prayers of the Faithful from the 5th Sunday of Lent (March 25-26, 2023) with the fervent hope that they are helpful to you in your own reflections and prayers this week.
God, through Jesus, you brought Lazarus back from the dead. But Lazarus would die again. In Jesus, you promise us more. Not a reprieve from death but the end of death in eternal life. Take away our fear of death. Let us know the strength of your love and give us the faith to trust you. We pray:
That our faith may be a practical faith, deeply connected to the struggles and fears we experience, a faith that gives us a real hope, we pray to the Lord.
Jesus says we are meant to be his body in the world, his hands and feet and heart. Help us as individuals and as a parish and church to carry God’s love, forgiveness and tender care to all, and especially to comfort the dying, we pray to the Lord.
Jesus did not unbind Lazarus. He told the others there to free Lazarus from the burial cloths. Death comes in many forms. Help us to see where Jesus is inviting us to free people from fears they carry, from the pain done to them by other people or institutions, wounds that can paralyze and kill the spirit. We pray to the Lord.
For Michael, Tyler, Matthew and Jon preparing for the rebirth of Baptism, for Owen preparing for Confirmation and for our young people who will be confirmed and receive Eucharist at Pentecost. May the love of God take root in them through these sacraments, drive out all that limits them or causes them to doubt their own belovedness. May we continue to support them in their journey with Jesus, We pray to the Lord.
The United Nations experts tell us that our planet is in serious danger. Free us from the evil spirit which says,” there is nothing really you can do”. Let us find ways in which we can all make a difference and together, and put pressure on the powers and authorities, companies and governments that can make change happen. We pray to the Lord.
We commend to you our loved ones who have died. You promise not just a short reprieve from death but a life beyond death. At this liturgy we especially remember:
4:30 PM Kerry Festus Joyce
7:30 AM Donald Ingalls
9:30 AM William & Michael Jennings
5:00 PM The People of the Parish both Living & Deceased
We pray to the Lord
God of life and love. Many years ago a great preacher said: “the priority of the Church today is not liturgy…the priority of the Church today is not structure. The top priority for many in the Church is to decide where they really stand.” Help us to stand firmly with you, against all the forces of death and evil, strengthened in our belief and experience that goodness is stronger than evil and life is stronger than death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.