Just as Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him long ago, Jesus calls us today to follow him. One of the ways we follow is through prayer. Let us join our hearts together and pray.
Holy God, help us we pray, to hear your call to us. Make us ready to change the direction of our lives so that we may follow you. Help us be ready to give ourselves wholeheartedly to your work, doing all that we can in your church and in your world to ensure that your will is done.
Guide us we pray to become the people you have called us to be. Mold us to be people who care deeply for others; people who hear the true needs of others; people who live and love without bias.
Healing God, we pray for the men, women, and children who live in hostile, harsh, and unsafe conditions. We pray for all who find themselves without a place to call home; we pray for all who call a refugee camp home; and we pray for those who have to leave their homes in order to find work. We remember before you the migrant workers who lost their lives after their boat capsized near the island of Farmakonsis, Greece.
Compassionate God, we pray for those who live with the reality of war, prejudice, poverty, and violence. We pray for those who are trapped in the cycle of violence and for those who work for peace. We remember before you those attending the Geneva conference on Syria that is taking place in Switzerland. As the conference continues we pray sound and just solutions may come forth to end the conflict in Syria. We also remember before you the protests in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and pray for a peaceful resolution. And we remember before you the four people who were killed this week by a suspected suicide car bomber in Lebanon’s Haret Hreik district.
Creator God, we pray for all your creation. We pray we will find a way to bring back the balance of the earth and we will stop ignoring the signs of global warming. We pray for those in Australia who are fighting wild fires and for those on the east coast of Canada who are facing another winter storm.
Eternal God, you are never hidden from us. Your voice is never silent and you are always present. Open our hearts that upon hearing your word we, like Peter, Andrew, James, and John will respond to you with a resounding “yes.” In the strong name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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