Almighty and Ancient One, the God who is, was and is yet to come, We gather as your expectant people this Lord’s Day.  Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory and majesty; You are Lord over all that is seen and unseen. It is at your feet way place our prayers and petitions.

Holy Spirit, we pray for our nation. As Israel and Judah forsook their love for You, so too have we and we are reaping the consequences of violence, plots against our leaders, illness, mistrust, distrust, inequitable justice practiced among the people, and spiritual blindness that inhibit us from “seeing” that reality. We are at point when our country needs the mighty velvet Hand of Providence to guide her people in the way we should go together as unified and diverse country. Help each one of us to do our part in toning down vitriolic and degrading rhetoric of others who think different from us, and through your Spirit, let us speak as humble sisters and brothers outdoing one another in showing love to those with whom we disagree.

Jesus, we pray for our leaders in government like our President, the Court, the Senate, and the House. We pray for their health, their ethics, and their commitment to equal justice for all. 

We lift to you our local and civic leaders from our governor to our local mayors and county and city commissions. 

We ask you, dear Father, to hold our women and men in blue in the palm of your heart and keep them and their family safe as they seek to bring our communities safety.

We pray for leaders in business and commerce who shape the livelihoods of so many in our community and affect what our community becomes.

And we pray for our Church leaders – Elders and Deacons all – inspiring these ordinary men and women with holy wisdom to lead your Church in such chaotic, unholy times.

Direct your blessing upon those who are worshipping from their homes and are not able to worship in person with us. Some are ill, some are staying safe, some feel grossly alone, and some are yearning for the contact of their blood or church family.

In your power, O God, remove the glorified cape of violence so many in our world have put on. Prick our spirits and conscience that we would stand up and say enough to drive-by shootings like that of a young 31-year-old father in Lauderhill and to extremists on the left and the right who do not reflect who we are as your people.[1]

Lord, there is so much to pray for. Those suffering from the lack of emotional surge capacity and depression. Those struggling to find work and pay their bills.  Those whose bodies are healing from surgery or illness.  Those whose hearts are shattered with grief because of the death of someone they love.  Oh, Lord, God, you know are hearts…deeply search them even now…

…And now we come and pray the prayer Jesus taught his beloved to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Give us this day, our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory forever. Amen!

[1] See the article on Trabis Ward. Trabis is the nephew of an FPC member and was a father of three. Suspects are still at large. See https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-ne-football-trabis-ward-fatally-shot-20201011-xhsjgbya25djzpimkofvlrxoo4-story.html