Please join me in prayer, as we lift our concerns, our joys, and our hopes up to the One who created us.

Almighty Creator,

God who welcomes the crowds and heals those who need to be cured.

God who takes a little and turns that little into a lot.

God who takes the inadequate broken pieces we see and turns them into enough.  God who uses those broken pieces as instruments of grace.  God who sees our brokenness and gathers us up for good.

To you, O God, we lift up all the brokenness, the hurt, and the worry in our community, our city and nation, and our world.

God we pray for our community.  For those who are navigating transitions.  For those who are facing illness in mind, body, and soul.  For relationships that are torn or tearing.  For the everyday anxieties and worries about well . . . anything and everything.  Be with us, God.  Comfort us and hold us closer.  Strengthen and shield us.  Give us wisdom and direction.

God we pray for our city and our nation.  For our neighbors who struggle to meet daily needs, who struggle to find a safe place to be.  For our leaders.  For all those impacted by the rains, the winds, and the heat.  For everyone trying to savor these last few weeks of summer.  Feed the hungry, God.  Calm the storms.  Heal divisions; turn folks away from violence.  Give us all guidance.

God we pray for our world.  For those caught up in ongoing conflicts.  For those whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by violence, greed, and pride beyond their control.  For those who find themselves in the path of extreme weather events.  For your beautiful creation.  It’s time for peace, God.  Cool heads; soften hearts.  Turn us all toward a better way.  Heal this broken world.

God this morning we lift up not only our brokenness but the places and moments in our lives where you have gathered us together.  The times when there has been plenty.  Where your goodness has been shown to us.  For the kindness of friends.  The gift of beloved community.  For unexpected luck.  For the magic of this world.  We give you thanks, O God, for so many blessings.

With thanks and praise and confidence that as your children, though we are broken, we are beloved, we pray now together using the words Jesus taught us . . .

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.