Prayers for Sunday July 29, 2001
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
8th after Pentecost, Proper 12

Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 85)
Leader: God forgives our sins; God pardons all our wrongdoings.
People: Restore us, and put away Your anger toward us.
Leader: Show us Your steadfast love, O Lord.
People: The Lord will listen to our prayers, and God will give us what is good.

Prayer of Confession
Gracious Lord, You speak to us, but we do not listen. We are engaged in too many other conversations to hear Your voice. We are busy speaking on the phone to our friends. We are occupied sending e-mail to our relatives. And we stand in the grocery store talking with neighbors. We find the time to take part in so many conversations. Yet so often we fail to set aside time for the most important conversation we can have, the conversation that we call prayer. Forgive us for failing to set the right priorities in our lives. Lead us back to You, so that daily we may pray for the coming of Your Kingdom. This we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer
Almighty God, You tell us that whatever we ask in Your name will be given to us. You tell us that everyone who makes requests of you will receive. You tell us that if we knock on Your door, we will not be turned away empty. With a spirit of hopefulness then, we come before You with our requests this day, trusting that You will respond to our needs. We trust that even if we do not know what words to speak to express the troubles that exist in our lives, You are able to hear the silent cries of our hearts, and You will respond with mercy and compassion.
Heavenly Father, we pray for the coming of Your Kingdom. At times, when we witness the bloodshed and brutality that fill our world, we begin to wonder whether You have abandoned us. But in those moments when our souls seem to be dying of hunger for Your presence, draw near to us and satisfy us with Your daily bread. Keep us from losing heart. Maintain a steadfast spirit within us as we trust that You are our God this day and forevermore. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication
Bountiful Lord, You give to us beyond measure. Your generosity goes beyond all limitations. Just as You have abundantly given of Yourself for us, may we likewise give of ourselves to those around us. Whenever someone knocks at our door in time of need, let us not turn them away. Rather, with grateful hearts, lead us to share Your riches with everyone. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.