Prayer of the Day

O God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Let us come before the triune God in prayer.

A brief silence.

Holy God, you gather your people from east and west, north and south. We pray for the mission of the church throughout the world, that your steadfast love may be made known to all peoples. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You laid the foundations of the earth and the waters are the womb of creation. The morning stars sing your name and all creation shouts for joy. We pray for your blessed creation, that it may continue to flourish and magnify your glory. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You keep watch over all nations. We pray for countries experiencing violence, hunger, and unrest, and for all those who have become refugees as a result. Guide worldwide and local community organizations like CLWR and NEST in their efforts to establish safety, justice, and places of refuge. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You are close to the brokenhearted and near to those in distress. We pray for our Indigenous brothers and sisters who continue to deal with the generational trauma caused by residential schools. Grant all of us the compassion, understanding, and healing that might eventually lead to reconciliation.  Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You are the great Healer, and we look to you not only for healing, but also for respite for those who are exhausted by caring for the sick.  Pour out your life-giving Spirit on those who need it the most, especially those we name before you now… Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Your love endures in all situations. On this Father’s Day, we pray for those who are fathers or wish to be fathers, for those with broken or strained relationships, for those who are missing their fathers, and for fathers who have lost children. Bless and strengthen them. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen.

Adapted from Sundays and Seasons 2021

Litany of Recognition and Honor for Father’s Day

On this day we recognize our fathers and stepfathers [and adoptive fathers],

those who have nurtured and guided us in our lives.
We thank You, O God,

for those who have been fathers to us.

We honor our grandfathers, our uncles and brothers,

those who have demonstrated love and care to us in our lives.
We thank You, O God,

for those who have been like fathers to us.

We appreciate our teachers, leaders and pastors,

who have been both male and female,

but we especially honor those who have extended

fatherly tenderness and love in our lives in our past and present.
We thank You, O God,

for those who have fulfilled a fatherly role in our lives.

Loving God, You have been both Mother and Father to us.

Abba, Father, we remember how Jesus called out to You on earth,

recognizing that You are closer to us than our earthly parents.

Your love and care for us are felt

in the ways we are loved and cared for by others.

We thank You for all the male figures in our lives

who have shared Your love with us.

We ask that You guide and nurture new fathers and fathers-to-be.

We seek Your forgiveness for fathers who have fallen short,

for models of fatherhood that were limiting rather than embracing,

for that is not Your model.

You are our ever-loving Parent, Father of us all.

Grant Your wisdom to all fathers and fatherly figures

to love their children as You have loved Your children.
We thank You, O God,

for fatherhood and motherhood,

for the blessing of parents in our lives.

Abba, Father,

we pray with those who are mourning the loss of fathers today,

and for those whose fathers were absent or abusive.

[We pray with those who were never able to have children or who mourn the absence of grandchildren.]

Ease their pain on this day, loving God.

May they know Your embrace,

and that You are more than Father or Mother to us–

You are the all-loving, all-caring Parent,

Creator of heaven and earth,

who knows the hairs on our heads.
We thank You, O God,

that You are always with us,

that You will never leave us or forsake us.

We thank You for this day,

and ask that You bless all of Your children with Your love,

as a wonderful father loves their child.
Amen.

~ written by Rev. Mindi, and posted on the Rev-o-lution blog. http://rev-o-lution.org/