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:
Pentecost 16
8 September 2024
The response to the bidding, “Lord in your mercy,” is “Hear us”
God of Justice and mercy: We pray for our Nation and its future: We pray for the wisdom and the courage not to be found wanting in the task of defending our democracy at the ballot box.
As students and teachers return to class this week, we pray for all affected by the latest mass school shooting in Georgia. We pray that “thoughts and prayers” will be transformed into effective gun safety policy that will protect all of our citizens, especially our children.
Lord in your mercy, Hear us.
We pray for the Church and her life: For Michael, Presiding Bishop, Sean, Presiding Bishop-elect, and Nicholas, our bishop; for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; for Hosam, Archbishop of Jerusalem, remembering the pastoral outreach of the Diocese of Jerusalem; for Pope Francis; and for Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch.
We pray for the world and its needs:
We mourn the continued grotesque slaughter of civilians in Gaza; continuing to pray for hostage release and a lasting ceasefire.
We pray for West Bank Palestinian communities suffering increasing pressure under military occupation and settler violence; for communities displaced on either side of the Israel Lebanon border; and for de-escalation of tension between Israel and Hezbollah- Iran. We pray that peace with justice may come to the Holy Land of Israel Palestine.
We pray for the people of Ukraine and its armed forces – for success in the bold initiative to break the military stalemate in the Kremlin’s war of aggression. We remember Russian refugees now forced to evacuate new conflict zones, as well as all peoples forced by war and conflict to flee their homeland.
We pray for a peaceful transition to democracy in Venezuela and an easing of the burdens of daily life for ordinary Venezuelans.
We remember the peoples of Sudan where the specter of genocide and famine once more stalk the land.
We pray for the needs of the earth, our island home, especially for those affected by extreme heat, wildfires, and catastrophic storms. We pray for all whose environment is degraded or devastated by climate change.
Lord in your mercy, Hear us.
We pray for all in need: for those whose strength is failing through ill health; whose spirits are flagging through depression; whose determination is being sapped through addiction; that they might better see the path of God’s footprints etched out in the morning dew.
Lord in your mercy, Hear us.
We remember with love those who have asked for our solidarity in prayer: Arline, Lori, Hays & Linda, Rosalind, and those we name: [pause]. Lord in your mercy, Hear us.
We pray for our own needs, together with those nearest and dearest to us, remembering especially Erin Welshman, Jane Lavoie, David Ames, Dwight Phillips, Marie Langlois, Claire Kokoska, and others known to us who are celebrating birthdays in the coming week. Lord in your mercy, Hear us.
We remember those we love but see no longer, especially LoisAnne Bilka, mother of Bonnie Gorman, who died last Sunday; Charles Nickerson, in whose memory the flowers have been given today; and those we name [pause]. And we pray for all who grieve. Lord in your mercy, Hear us.
Celebrant adds a concluding prayer.