A Prayer for Pentecost
(Replace prayer concerns as relevant for the gathered congregation.)
Come, Holy Spirit, come,
Breathe into the hearts of your people,
like a dove, like a wind, like a flame.
Like a dove,
find a resting place in our land and around the world, bringing hope and peace.
We pray for Palestine, especially remembering the families of those killed this past week. We also lift up the Nakba, the Catastrophe, when on May 15th in 1948, 700,000 Palestinians were ejected from their homes, 70 years ago.
We pray for all refugees forced from their homes, living in foreign lands, aching to return.
Like a dove,
hover over them with your hope.
Like a wind,
blow throughout our land and around the world, bringing justice and peace.
We pray for Myanmar, for Venezuela holding elections tomorrow, for the people of Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
We pray for the United States, seeking to hold leaders accountable under the law.
We pray for exiles and political prisoners, and for the work of Amnesty International.
Like a wind,
swirl around and among all people with your grace and truth.
Like a flame,
rise up in the hearts of the people of our land and nations around the world, bringing love and goodness.
We pray for creation, that humanity will become passionate toward protecting and preserving it.
We pray for those working to eradicate poverty, unemployment, loneliness.
We pray for Christian Aid, Oxfam, and other agencies who work so hard on our behalf.
Like a flame,
fuel the passions of your servants,
fanning the embers when enthusiasm wanes.
Come, Holy Spirit, come,
Breathe into the hearts of your people,
like a dove, like a wind, like a flame.
Fill us with your empowering strength,
to go into the world proclaiming your truth in every tongue, helping those in need,
protecting the discriminated and scorned.
Make us a church of disciples
overflowing with your love and hope.
Come, Holy Spirit, come,
Breathe into our hearts this day.
Amen.
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- Banner, Andover United Reformed Church
