Loving and Merciful God: Prayers of the People February 23, 2025

Prayers of the People offered at First Christian Church Boonville, Missouri on Sunday, February 23, 2025

Scripture for the day: Luke 6:27-38

Loving and Merciful God,

You invite us to envision a different world.

          One of compassion, empathy, and generosity.

You invite us into the work of co-creating, of forgiveness, of justice.

You invite us to see all people as your beloved children,

          worthy of not just the necessities of life,

          but the opportunity to flourish.

Take our fear of scarcity and transform it into trust in your abundance,

          and an understanding of “enough.”

Take our hatred and our anger

and transform it into love, mercy and the pursuit of true justice.

Take our selfishness and turn our gaze outward

          that we might perceive the pain and hopes of those affected

                    by our action and our inaction.

We pray for areas of war and violence.

          We pray for countries destroyed, for lives lost,

                    for souls torn apart by moral injury.

          We pray for world leaders and

                    all who decide whose lives are worth sacrificing.

We pray for those living with the consequences of or the threat of natural disasters.

          For those who have nothing with which to rebuild

          and for those who offer aid and whatever way they can.

We pray for those who are sick, who are isolated,

          who are grieving, who are fearful.

We pray for those dealing with lost jobs, lost funding, lost opportunities.

In all places and situations where it seems there is no way forward,

          clear a path and open doors.

For we give thanks for opportunities, for community, for love and grace.

We give thanks for healing, for hope, for courage and for sunshine.

In all things God, we ask your guidance and your wisdom,

          guide and direct us this and every day. Amen.

--Rev. Sarah Kingsbery