“Jesus told them a parable, about how they should always pray and not give up...” (Luke 18:1)
CONFESSION
Prayers of confession help us clear space within our own hearts, so when it comes time to pray for the world we have taken inventory of anything that might cloud our perspective.
God of all comfort: We confess to You that we have buried our grief, and in doing so, we have lost hope. Teach us how to mourn, so that we might be lifted up into Your loving embrace.
What losses are you grieving right now?
God of all justice: We confess our numbness and despair, that we have accepted things as they are without asking You how they could be. Give us a vision of Your redeemed new world, that we might cry out for justice in our time.
What does God want to say/do in your loss?
God of all time: We confess our addiction to instant gratification and control. Teach us persistence, that we may pray unceasingly as we stand in the gap between heaven and earth.
What are you confused about in this moment?
God of all hope: We confess to you that, by hiding from the confusion of the present moment we have kept ourselves from holding onto hope. Teach us how to feel fully now so we can be strengthened by Your Holy Spirit for the work ahead.
What will all this look like when God finished what He started on the cross?
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INTERCESSION
We take our time to consider all the different spheres of existence in our world, holding what is true in this moment and what God desires to do in tension by our prayers. Allow the Lord to bring to mind specific people you can stand in the gap for.
God of this moment:
We ask Your blessing on all who are at the forefront of combatting the coronavirus epidemic:
For our governmental leaders.
For hospital workers.
For community leaders.
Grant them wisdom and perseverance.
We pray for all affected.:
For the sick and the dying.
For the lonely and isolated.
For our children and our elderly.
For our parents.
For those who have lost their jobs.
For those of us who wait in the confusing in-between.
For the Mission of the Church:
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you, bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.