May these challenging words of Charles de Foucauld begin our prayer:
Lord, I abandon myself into your hand.
Do with me what you will;
Whatever you do I will thank you.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
I pray only that your will be done in me,
and I’ll ask nothing else, my Lord.
Into your hand I commit my spirit
We pray for the poor, the afflicted, the sick and the dying.
We pray for those with cancer, those facing surgery, those with extended illnesses.
We pray for those who are nearing the threshold of death,
even our friend Ross Griffith who crossed that threshold on Friday,
and those who will die even this day.
We pray in solidarity with them:
Into your hand I commit my spirit.
We pray for all who are weary from the burdens they carry –
burdens too heavy for one person.
We pray especially for immigrants
who live in fear for their families and their futures.
We pray for the lonely and isolated and for families in crisis.
We pray for those suffering broken relationships and broken trust.
We pray for our friends in Texas, and the tragic loss of life and injuries
suffered from the floods this week.
May we be bearers of our neighbor’s burdens.
Just as Christ bore the suffering of all humankind,
so may we continue his work of compassion as we pray on their behalf:
Into your hand I commit my spirit.
We pray for your church gathered here and throughout the world.
Give us courage to live as faithful disciples.
Give us courage to speak truth in an age of half truths.
Give us courage to show compassion, love, and mercy,
even in this day when your kingdom is so misunderstood.
Give us courage to pray:
Into your hand I commit my spirit
We pray in the name of the One who told us of a new kingdom,
and even had the vision to see it already present among us,
Jesus Christ, the One who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.