God of all wisdom, we come today gathered as your people to worship you in our spirits in both truth and gratitude. You have showered us with every possible blessing from food to eat, places to rest our heads at night, and family and friends who love and care for us. Forgive us for taking your provisions for us for granted.

Father of Lights, we yank our heads to the side in a doggy-head tilt of confusion over all that is going on in our world the last several weeks.  We witness the effects of climate change in building collapses, rising seas, fires destroying homes and lives all over the world from Greece to Northern California.  Give us wisdom, dear Lord to know how to live as stewards of your Earth, and give us courage to live into that knowledge.

Mother of Gentleness and Peace, we lift to you all who are undergoing violence emotionally or physically and ask you to breathe restoring life into them. Whether in families, in classrooms or on homelands now-turned-battlefields, spread your wings of protection over your children and keep them safe from all evil.  We are ever mindful of the those in Afghanistan as we witness what happens when religious fundamentalism is wrapped up in pursuing power over a nation.  We pray for the innocents, for those who may be targeted by the Taliban, and for those who are trying to escape to a better life.  We pray for our American brothers and sisters with boots on the grounds and for their allies in Kabul that they can be brought home soon.

Spirit of Life, closer to home we pray for those who are in need of healing and grace, especially for those…

…leading us in government;

…the people of Haiti;

…for those grieving the death of a loved one;

…those who are fighting an illness;

…those starting to return to the classrooms as students and teachers;

…for our healthcare professionals fighting the onslaught of COVID hospitalizations;

…for an expression of civitas among citizens of our country that reminds us that we are all in this together and we need each other to make this nation great again;

…for reconciliation among those who are at enmity;

…and for joy whose hearts are full of pain and despondency. We lift all of these prayers up to you in the powerful Name of Jesus Christ as we pray together…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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 us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.