The Book of Common Prayer uses the title “Prayers of the People” for the oratio fidelium or general intercessions in the eucharist. Such prayers have a long and venerable history. Their existence was first mentioned by Justin Martyr about the year 150, and for centuries they formed a vital part of the Daily Office and eucharistic liturgy. In the early church they usually included a long series of biddings that were chanted by a deacon, to each of which the people responded with “Kyrie eleison”
At St. Martin’s, the Prayers of the People are seen as a companion to the sermon and thus composed by either the Rector or the preacher of the day and led by a member of the congregation. They seek to focus our attention on timely concerns in both our community and the world around us – channelling the power of our communal prayer to strengthen the values and expectations of God’s kingdom for the world.
Prayers of the People: Palm Sunday (3/24/24)
The response to the bidding, “God of justice and mercy” is “hear us.”
Christ enters the holy city – the site of so much suffering and injustice both then and now–to complete his work as our Savior. Let us go with him amidst the jubilation of the throng shouting, “Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” God of justice and mercy—hear us.
Remember, Lord, your Church and her life:
We pray for all in positions of Christian leadership especially for +Justin, Archbishop; +Michael, Presiding Bishop and Metropolitan; +Nicholas, our bishop; and +Hosam, Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Middle East; For Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and the leaders of Protestant and Reformed Churches. We pray for your holy Church – that through the suffering of disunity there may grow a rich union in Christ. God of justice and mercy—hear us.
Remember Lord our world and its needs:
God the source of all wisdom, guide the leaders of the nations – chiefly among them the President of the United States. Strengthen the leaders of democratic and free nations and soften the hearts of tyrants and autocrats everywhere.
We pray that Congress may find its better voice to accomplish the good purposes – national and international – that we have entrusted to it – for the benefit of the nation and the wider world. God of justice and mercy—hear us.
We pray for a de-escalation of the war in Gaza; for the reestablishment of civil order; for hostage release, and the resumption of international humanitarian aid and relief to meet the urgent food insecurity and community health crisis unfolding for Gaza’s civilians. We pray for continued Western resolve in support of Ukraine and a swift passage of the Ukraine military aid package currently languishing in Congress. We remember people caught-up in brutal civil wars in Myanmar, Yemen, Sudan and the Horn of Africa. We pray for the people of Haiti, especially for women and girls who are targeted victims in a brutal collapse of civil and moral order. God of justice and mercy—hear us.
We pray for the planet, our island home:
We pray for effective global collaboration on addressing the issues of climate change, and we remember people and communities suffering from its effects. Help us to pay attention- remembering there is no “Planet B” in the fight against impending climate collapse.
God of Exodus, we remember our responsibilities towards the vulnerable stranger in our midst and on our borders. We continue to pray for humane and effective immigration law reform. God of justice and mercy—hear us.
We remember those whose strength is failing through ill health, whose spirits are flagging through depression, whose determination is being sapped through addiction. We remember by name: Dennis, Raya, Arthur, Sylvia, John, Rosalind, and Meredith ______; together with others known to us [pause]:
We pray for our own needs, together with those nearest and dearest to us, remembering Hal Conner, Sarosh Fenn, Connie Hildesley, Susan Kostas, John Marion, and Anne Wood, celebrating birthdays this week. We give thanks for the marriage of Thomas Anderson Barr to Marika Swanberg on March 16. Thomas is the son of Kathryn and Tom Barr.
We pray for those we love yet see no longer, especially those we name. [pause] We pray for all who grieve. God of justice and mercy—hear us.