Thanksgiving Prayers of the People
Corey Spence, 2010
At a learning event at the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul in Boston, we talked about parishes creating their own Prayers of the People. Our priest, Rev. Katharine Black, mentioned that most of the prayers neglect to say thank you enough for God's innumerable blessings. I took that as a personal challenge and came up with the following Prayers of the People. I offer it to the church and the world out of my own thankfulness for God's provision of a spiritual home here at Saint John's.
We thank you Lord that you promise that wherever two or three are gathered in your name you are there with us. Hear us as we return our thanks to you for your love and care.
For the friends and family gathered around us, for all members of the human family, and for our ability to work together and help each other
We thank you, Lord.
For the community gathered in this place, our nation and all nations of the world, for the call to be peacemakers and servants to all, for the blessings of freedom, justice, and peace, and all those working to bring those blessings to those who are considered the least in the world
We thank you, Lord.
For the knowledge that all of creation is wonderfully and fearfully made and worthy of our conservation and protection, for the gift of the amazing diversity and splendor of the natural world we see around us
We thank you, Lord.
For the knowledge that you are there for us even when the world seems bleakest, for the knowledge that you are already coming to the aid of those who have requested prayers especially ______________, and the knowledge that you shelter us under your protecting wings
We thank you. Lord.
For the church gathered around the world especially (insert Anglican cycle of prayer and diocesan cycle of prayer), striving to share your love with all humankind, for _________, our Presiding Bishop; ____________, our Bishop(s); _____________, our priest(s); and all those called to serve you both lay and ordained
We thank you, Lord.
For the ability to experience the joy and wonder that leads us to share these thanksgivings with you today especially _________________
We thank you, Lord.
For the lives of those who have died especially _________________, for the lives they touched and the memories and love they provided to their friends and families, for the knowledge that not even death can separate us from you and that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses
We thank you, Lord.
We thank you that you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. In that spirit of thanksgiving we come before you to confess our sins:
Have mercy upon us, most merciful God;
in your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown,
things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(BCP Prayers of the people form 6)
Celebrant: We thank you, Lord, that you encourage us to bring our sins and supplications before you. Forgive us all our sins and bring us the joy of your saving help again. Thank you for the calm assurance that through your love and grace, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we know that we are your beloved and forgiven children.
Written by Corey Spence
Parishioner at the Church of Saint John the Evangelist
Bowdoin Street, Boston, MA
February 2010
