We all ask others to pray for us
and we promise to pray
for those who ask the same of us…
So, I’ll be praying today for folks who’ve asked me
to lift their names to the Lord
– and I’m sure you’ll be doing the same…
We’ll be praying for many people, for many reasons,
and we take comfort in knowing
that the Lord knows our every need
– even before we speak…
Like you, I’ll pray for family and friends
and for neighbors and fellow parishioners
who’ve asked for my prayers…
And like you, I’ll pray for people I’ve never met,
For some we’ll pray
for help, for hope and for healing…
For others we’ll intercede
for patience, forgiveness and reconciliation…
For many we’ll plead
for guidance, counsel and understanding…
For still others we’ll ask
for relief, comfort and consolation…
And for all we’ll pray
serenity, harmony and peace…
We’ll pray for all whose lives are upended
by natural and man-made disasters:
for those whose lives have been devastated
by hurricanes, earthquakes and fires;
and for those who’ve been victims
of a sniper’s deadly aim…
We’ll pray for the healing of the sick,
for the consolation of the dying
and for those who care for them, day by day…
We’ll pray for those who need work
and we’ll pray for those who need rest…
We’ll pray for those who are burdened
with anxiety, worry and fear…
We’ll pray for those in prison,
for freedom in their minds and hearts…
We’ll pray for children waiting to be born
and we’ll pray for the mothers who carry them;
we’ll pray for children awaiting adoption
and for the families who’ll soon receive them…
We’ll pray for an end to violence
in our homes, in our streets
in our world…
We’ll pray for people
whose lives, homes and churches
are threatened by death and destruction…
We’ll pray for the healing of the abused and betrayed,
and for the recovery of the addicted…
We’ll pray for the Church and for her leadership,
for her people and their mission…
We’ll pray for the victory of justice
and we’ll pray for a harvest of peace…
We’ll pray for counsel and wisdom
in the work and decisions of those who govern…
We’ll pray for reconciliation and unity
in our deeply divided nation…
We’ll pray for all who serve and protect us,
especially those who stand in harm’s way
at home and around the world…
And just as Jesus taught us to do,
we’ll pray for our enemies
and for those who persecute us…
We’ll pray for the many needs
of so very many people
with confidence that God does hear
our every prayer…
And we’ll pray in thanksgiving for those today
who’ll find peace and healing,
mercy and pardon,
contentment and serenity,
happiness and joy…
For whom, for what
I promise to keep you in my prayers,
– and every good thing you pray for today…
And in return, I ask:
remember me
and all that’s on my mind, in my heart
and in my prayer today…
Amen.