Prayer of the Day

O Lord,
Your greatest command to love can also be most difficult. Give us the same heart as you have for the world and everything in it, that we might be the living presence of your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayers of Intercession

L:      We pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.

A brief silence.

L:      Strengthen your Church, O God, wherever it is to be found.  By your Holy Spirit, heal our self-centeredness and indifference that makes us worry only when our own health is threatened, and lead us beyond the timidity and fear that too easily ignore our neighbor.  Loving God,

C:      Hear our prayer.

L:      Strengthen and encourage those in public health services and in the medical profession: care-givers, nurses, attendants, doctors, and all who commit themselves to caring for the sick and their families. Loving God,

C:      Hear our prayer.

L:      Sustain all workers and business owners who suffer loss of livelihood due to shut-downs, quarantines, closed borders, and other restrictions.  Protect and guard all those who must travel or who are stuck far away from home. Loving God,

C:      Hear our prayer.

L:      Guide the leaders of the nations, that they speak the truth, halt the spread of misinformation, and act with justice so that all your family may know healing. Loving God,

C:      Hear our prayer.

L:      There are many among us with trials and struggles which may not be known to us. May we deal gently with one another, presuming the best intentions of them, and offering support without always being asked. We ask that you tend to those whose needs we do know, (especially those we name before you either silently or aloud…). Loving God,

C:      Hear our prayer.

L:      Hold in your gentle embrace all who have died and who will die this day.  Comfort their loved ones in their despair, and keep us firm in our hope of blessed rest with all your saints.  Loving God,

C:      Hear our prayer.

Here other petitions may be offered.

L:      You have promised to hear and answer our prayers, O Lord, and for this we are grateful. Please grant these things we ask, for the sake of the one who showed us what love looks like, Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

With material from ClergyStuff 2020 Resources and the Lutheran World Federation