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The Insistent Friend / JESUS MAFA / 1973 (Click the picture for more information)
Reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. A complete edition of the prayers is available though Augsburg Fortress [link].
  • Thematic
  • God, you are the power of liberation,
    calling your servant Moses
    to lead your people into freedom,
    and giving him the wisdom to proclaim your holy law.
    Be our Passover from the land of injustice,
    be the light that leads us to the perfect rule of love,
    that we may be citizens of your unfettered reign;
    we ask this through Jesus Christ,
    the pioneer of our salvation. Amen.

    OR

    Through the waters of oppression and death, Lord God,
    you led a people into the burning presence of your love.
    As you fed them in the desert,
    now feed us with the finest of wheat,
    that we may know the liberating power of the paschal feast. Amen.

    OR

    Your voice burns within the depths of our being,
    O God of our ancestors,
    and draws us into your presence and service.
    Hear the cries of your people
    and speak a word of comfort,
    that we may proclaim to all the earth
    the glory of your name. Amen.

    OR

    On this day of rejoicing, O God of our ancestors,
    as we gather to break the bread,
    we remember that through the blood of the Lamb
    you redeemed us
    and made us pass over from death to new life.
    Grant that, as we celebrate your mighty deeds,
    we may be one with Jesus
    in offering you this sacrifice of praise. Amen.
  • Intercessory
  • Friends in Christ,
    God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
    as dear to us as our own needs.
    Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
    we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
    on behalf of the church and the world.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Hear our prayers, God of power,
    and through the ministry of your Son
    free us from the grip of the tomb,
    that we may desire you as the fullness of life
    and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

    OR

    As you heard the prayer of Isaac and Rebekah, O God,
    and guided them in the way of your love,
    so listen now to those who call upon you.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Move us to praise your gracious will,
    for in Christ Jesus you have saved us from the deeds of death
    and opened for us the hidden ways of your love.
    We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    OR

    Lord God, friend of those in need,
    your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
    and healed our spirits.
    We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
    those seeking healing,
    those in need within the church and the world.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Hear our prayers
    that we may love you with our whole being
    and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.

    OR

    Creator God,
    you call us to love and serve you
    with body, mind, and spirit
    through loving your creation
    and our sisters and brothers.
    Open our hearts in compassion
    and receive these petitions
    on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Holy One,
    hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards
    of the fragile bounty of this earth
    so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.

    OR

    We praise your abiding guidance, O God,
    for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah,
    to model for us the way of love for the whole universe.
    We offer these prayers of love
    on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors,
    on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Loving God,
    open our ears to hear your word
    and draw us closer to you,
    that the whole world may be one with you
    as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    OR

    God of mercy and healing,
    you who hear the cries of those in need,
    receive these petitions of your people
    that all who are troubled
    may know peace, comfort, and courage.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Life-giving God,
    heal our lives,
    that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
    and offer you thanks from generation to generation
    through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    OR

    God of salvation,
    who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
    hear our prayers
    on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
    receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
    with your unending compassion.

    Prayers of the People, concluding with:

    Redeeming Sustainer,
    visit your people
    and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
    that we may hurry to make you welcome
    not only in our concern for others,
    but by serving them
    generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.
  • Scripture (Series 1, Semicontinuous)
  • Holy God,
    you call us to righteousness and light.
    Teach us the undivided law of love,
    that we may love your children even as you do,
    love you with all our will and strength,
    and find our freedom in this blessed service,
    taught to us in word and deed
    by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  • Scripture (Series 2, Complementary)
  • God among us,
    we gather in the name of your Son
    to learn love for one another.
    Turn our feet from evil paths,
    our hands from shameful deeds,
    our minds to your wisdom,
    and our hearts to your grace. Amen.