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

We come before the triune God to pray for our communities, ourselves, and our world.

A brief silence.

God of grace, equip your faithful people to approach this world with a sense of wonder. Make your church a safe place to explore big questions, troubling doubts, and honest laments. Humble our hearts to repent of the ways that communities of faith have inflicted pain or trauma. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

You spoke creation into order from the chaos of the swirling deep. May your name be praised by rivers and seas, wetlands and waterfalls. Secure clean water for all people and protect water sources from contamination or exploitation. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Amid whirlwinds of division, violence, and conflict, remind us again that you are as steadfast as the foundations of the earth. Rejuvenate peacemakers, advocates, and community organizers when they feel weary in their work, and bring about peace for all. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Deliver your people from their distress, O God. We lift before you all who are sick or struggling (especially those we name either silently or aloud…). Grant consolation and peace to all who live with chronic, terminal, or persistent illness. In times of affliction or hardship, sustain us in faith. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation for all the redeemed of the Lord. Joined together with the great cloud of witnesses, we give thanks for your steadfast love and your wonderful works. Merciful God,

receive our prayer.

Receive our prayers, O God, and come quickly to our aid, through the power of the Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen.

Blessing of Graduates

The following order is used after the prayer after communion, before the final blessing.

In each of our lives, we pass some significant milestones that set the stage for the next phase in our journey. Graduation from high school (or university) is one of these milestones. Today we want to honor those who are moving through this special time of accomplishment, transition, and change, and to show them that we, as their community of faith, stand with them and support them as fellow believers in Jesus Christ.

The leader prays for God's blessing with these or similar words.

Gracious God, we give you thanks for your presence in the lives of our graduates (names). You have guided these young men and women. You have sustained them. You have shared in their laughter and wiped away their tears. You have given them direction, and have offered them hope. Your Holy Spirit has lifted them up. (Today we pray not only for those who are here with us, but also for those who are unable to be present.)

Continue to bless them. Let them know you are always with them as they move on from high school (or from university). Guide their steps. Hold them in your hand. Give them the gifts they need through faith.

Amen.

Adapted from sundaysandseasons.com 2024