Prayerful Concerns of Our Parish Community – First Sunday in Lent

As we begin our Lenten Journey together, we hope these Prayers of the Faithful from the First Sunday of Lent (Feb 25-26, 2023) might be helpful in your own prayer lives and reflections this week.

In the spirit of Jesus who offered heartfelt prayers to his Father in the desert, let us call upon the God of mercy.

It’s Lent. Old habits. Fish on Friday. No dessert. Maybe no drink. Lord, this year help Lent be more than that. In these six weeks help us to hear your words of love and hope for us. Help us see where we do not recognize you in our lives or world. We pray to the Lord.

Our world seems bent on pursuing war, on arguing away the need to change the way we treat our earth. Lord, keep us from despairing that change is possible. Help to seek and find ways we CAN make a difference locally and beyond. We pray to the Lord.

In our parish, Jon, Tyler, Matthew, and Michael are preparing to be baptized. Bless them, encourage them to embrace Jesus’ vision and way of living. Many of us have grown familiar with Jesus’ words. This year, help us to hear them anew with all their freshness, promise and challenge. We pray to the Lord

Some of us will fast this year, will voluntarily eat less or consume less. Let us remember those who always eat less or have less because they have no choice. Help us choose to live more simply that others may simply live. We pray to the Lord.

For all the sick and especially those living in communities where covid cases still mean shut-downs and isolation. We pray to the Lord.

For those who hunger for justice, who document inequalities, demonstrate against tyranny, distinguish between need and greed, and are sometimes misrepresented or persecuted in the process. We pray to the Lord.

That the death of our loved ones be turned into everlasting joy by God’s gift. At this liturgy we especially remember

4:30 PM Kerry Festus Joyce by Nancy Wallace & Patter Wallace
7:30 AM Jimmy & Kay Nappi by Robert & Linda
9:30 AM The People of the Parish both Living & Deceased
5:00 PM Gregory Oliver by Father & Family
We pray to the Lord.

We entrust these people and intentions to you, God of love and life. Help this to be a time of turning round and beginning again. Help us to follow you and to find you: in the discipline of praying and in the drudgery of caring – in whatever we deny ourselves, and whatever we set ourselves to learn or do. Help us to perceive new growth amid the ashes of the old. Help us in carrying your cross, to be signs of your Kingdom. Amen.