Prayers of the People: Easter 7 B

Here’s a prayer of intercession written for the sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B).  It comes from the Lutheran Church in Australia.

Prayer of Intercession
(John 17:6-19; 1 John 5:9-13)

God of all ages, the success of your kingdom does not depend on any one of us, but on Jesus Christ. Help us hold firmly on to Jesus so that neither death, nor the evil one, nor our own sin, nor love of the world can separate us from him. Cleanse us of all that would stain our lives, including the sins of which we are not even aware.

Your Son stands at your right hand to pray for each one of us personally, and not only for us but for all your followers still living here on earth. Give us patience as we wait for your word to control us and lead us. Bless those who spread the good news about Christ to people whose hearts are hardened and cold, so that they can respond to the warmth of your love and care.

Comfort the sick and those who are shaken by the loss of a loved one. Bless the elected leaders of our country and help them to care for all the people with special needs, including the mentally ill, those out of work and those who live in broken families.

Fill our hearts with your Spirit of mysteries and miracles, and give us joy in the mystery of the bread and wine, where we experience the miracle of forgiveness and receive the body and blood of the risen Christ to lift our spirits. May we go on our way rejoicing that Jesus has visited us today! We ask this in his name. Amen

— from the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Sunday by Sunday website. 

For other prayers on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right side of the page.