Pastoral Prayer

Holding the World in our Hearts

This altarscape metamorphosized throughout a series on the Exodus. Each story led us to glue back a portion of the broken vase and restore it from a broken vessel to a whole one.

When we gather in worship, it is important that we think not only about ourselves or of only of our congregation, but for those beyond our walls. Such pastoral prayers not only name the needs of the world, but also opens our hearts and grows our compassion.

Here are a few prayers of the people that you are welcome to use or adapt for your worship –

Pastoral Prayer 1

This prayer is interwoven with the refrain of a Taizé song “O Lord, hear our prayer.” (Click if you want to hear this song.)

Holy and harmonizing one, we pray today for the world. For its minerals and ore, for its aquifers and soil. We pray for the earth’s mountains and streams; oceans and springs. We pray for its health and its healing, for its well-being and for its future.

Sung: O Lord hear our prayer. O Lord hear our prayer. When I call, answer me . . .

We pray today for the animals of the earth: those that have gone extinct and those we are driving to extinction. We pray for animals whose habitats are being threatened and destroyed, whose migration patterns are being hidden by bright human-made light or by changed weather patterns. May we become more aware of our impact on the world around us and have more regard for our finned, feathered, and four footed friends.

Sung: O Lord hear our prayer. O Lord hear our prayer. When I call, answer me . . .

We pray for the children of the earth: those that are running out of time due to inadequate nutrition, those being hurt and harmed by those they love and trust, and those dealing with troubles much more advanced than their age. We pray that all children are safe, have the food they need to grow and thrive. We pray that children know they are loved and have a community around them that supports them.

Sung: O Lord hear our prayer. O Lord hear our prayer. When I call, answer me . . .

We pray for the people of the earth: those that are dealing with new diagnosis, those that have chronic conditions, those that have terminal diseases. We pray for those that are struggling physically, mentally, spiritually. We pray for those having financial difficulties and for those whose money and perceived security has become more important than the people in their lives. We pray that every person on earth knows they are loved by you and is allowed to find and express their gifts and talents. We pray that everyone has support people around them so that they never feel alone.

Sung: O Lord hear our prayer. O Lord hear our prayer. When I call, answer me . . .

We pray also for those who are specifically on our hearts today . . .

(lift up those on our hearts)

May God make God’s self known to each of those we have named. May God comfort and care for them. We pray all of this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Pastoral Prayer 2

Today, as we think of the courage of Hannah, we pray for the people in the world that are often counted as insignificant and rarely are able to have their voices heard in the halls of power:

We pray for children . . . for their safety and their future.

We pray for the immigrant . . . often overlooked and undervalued.

We pray for the people in line at soup kitchens or food banks. May their needs be heard, seen, and met.

We pray for people with developmental delays who are infantilized.

We pray for elderly who are sometimes looked past and looked over.

We pray for the people being pushed out of generational homes because of the costs of insurance and taxes.

We pray for people of color who are being systematically silenced through the establishment of new voting districts.

We pray for the people who are being told to be quiet, to sit down, and to conform.

We pray for all the people struggling to have their challenges heard in the cacophony of a loud word.

Today, Lord, hear their prayers.

We pray also today for those specifically on our hearts:

(Lift up the names of those on our hearts out loud.)

May you wrap each in a cocoon of love and help them to access the resources that they need. May you inspire others to join in service that there might be an upswelling of care and consideration.

We pray all of this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray saying:

(Recite the Lord’s Prayer.)

Pastoral Prayer 3

Today we think and pray for the goodness in the world:

For the people who have gone out of their way to be kind.

We pray for the person that found your wallet and returned it,

for the ones who have held the door open, even when you haven’t needed it.

We pray for the person who offered you a smile today,

or a tissue when you have needed it.

We pray for the person who waved you into traffic

Or who complemented you on your clothes today.

We pray for the wait staff who refilled your coffee

And the friend who brought you over some vegetables from their garden.

We pray for the person who carefully packed your packages to make sure that nothing was broken,

And the person who let you borrow their last favorite book.

In a world where disconnection sometimes seems to be the norm,

We give thanks for all the people who have offered kindness.

[Take a moment in silence to give thanks for people who have been kind to you]

We pray also this day for:

We pray this day too, the prayer which Jesus taught us which says:

(Recite the Lord’s Prayer.)

Holy One,

The world is in need of prayers – not just our typical prayers for those who are physically ill or dying, but for an illness of the heart and a struggle of the soul.

There are too many who are grasping control and forgetting about compassion.

There are too many focused on greed and overlooking the simple rules about sharing that we learned even in the sandbox when we were young .

There are too many who are so focused on their own needs and desires that they are failing to see the suffering that exists, some of which they may have a hand in themselves.

God, today we pray for all people,

for all who need a softer heart,

a deeper conscience,

and wider understanding of your golden rules.

We pray for our own prejudices, frustrations, and anger.

We pray for others’ short sightedness, selfishness, and unwillingness to face the impact of their actions.

We pray that we all look to grow as individuals.

We pray that we are all willing to name our shortcomings.

We pray that we are all willing to grow.

We pray that we all are given strength to support the downtrodden,

voice to speak for the voiceless,

courage to stand up for their siblings.

We pray for changed hearts and transformed souls.

May your son’s teachings continue to teach us all,

and may he lead us into a world filled with deeper compassion and care

where we all look to each other’s care, even the stranger’s.

In this silence, let us lift up those who we know who need to be surrounded by and filled with God’s inexhaustible love and grace today:

Now let us pray in the words of your son –

Our Father / Mother / Creator*, 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 trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

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.

*Use the words you are most comfortable with or try something you haven’t before to see how that fits or pushes against your theology (understanding of God). Take some time to reflect on your experience.

Pastoral Prayer – God as the one who catches us

Pastoral Prayer –

Holy God who fishes for humanity,

We pray this day that you throw your net into the world.

There are so many who need to be caught by you:

There are those harboring resentments and anger,

Those lost in old storylines of who they could be or should be.

There are those who feel tossed and turned on the sea of life,

And those drowning in the murky waters of half-truths and made up tales.

There are those who feel abandoned out in the wide waters,

And those who are struggling trying to navigate their current conditions.

There are those who need someone to hear their cries for help and throw them a lifeline;

And those who have thrown themselves in the sea believing that no one would miss them if they were swallowed by the depths.

There are those who are afraid to sail into deep waters;

And those who hesitate to even leave port.

So many need your presence, Lord, be with them and meet them where they are.

Today, we also have specific people on our mind that need your care. Listen as we say their names:

Invite people to say names one atop the other trusting that God knows already who is in need and what they are in need of.

In your mercy, care for all who are in need; those we have named and those who we have left unnamed, and even those we do not know to name. We pray all of this in the name of your son, who taught us to pray together saying:

& Lord’s Prayer