General Prayer Easter 5 One Year Series

Lord God heavenly Father, we praise You for Your awesome deeds and give glory to Your name. Hear us as we come to You in prayer:

Bless the work of Your church on earth as we make known Your deeds among the peoples so that all who hear would bless You for the salvation You have given in Jesus Christ. We thank You for giving a new pastor to Lord of Life Lutheran Church and ask Your blessing upon their life together as shepherd and flock.

Rule this world by the might of Your power and watch over the nations so that the rebellious do not exalt themselves over the righteous. Especially do we ask your blessing upon our nation and its leaders. Protect our military men and women and keep them from harm and danger and grant us courage to take a stand against the filthiness and rampant wickedness that we see all around us.

Encourage all of those who are discouraged and depressed by the hardships of life. Grant them joy as they draw living water from the well of your salvation. Empower us to assist them to meet their material and emotional needs. Especially do we pray for Henry and the Hooper family as they mourn Elvira. Sustain in them the hope of the resurrection. And we pray for Clara as she recovers from a fall, that You would grant her healing.

All around we see a world that is changing. There seem to be very few things that we can count on to remain the same and that makes us afraid and insecure. Remind us that You do not change—that Your goodness and mercy can be counted on to remain the same throughout our life.

We thank You for the gift of Your Word as it is preached and received in the sacraments for it has brought us to life. By your Holy Spirit empower that new life in us so that we show that we are the firsfruits of Your redeeming work by the holy lives we live. In our common life together in families and workplaces and in this congregation help us to be slow to speak and quick to hear and slow to become angry.

We sing praises to Your name for all of the good things You give to us. Especially do we praise You for the gift of life that you have given to Your servant Cruz. As he celebrates his birthday grant him every good gift of body and soul.

Whatever else You see that we need—whatever is good for our neighbor and redounds to Your glory—grant to us dear Father in heaven for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose name we have come before you in prayer. Amen.