Prayers of the People, August 16, 2015

God of wisdom, we look to you to lead us through our days.  As we enter the last weeks of summer, many of our families are in transition.  Children are headed back to school, our college students are leaving home for the year and we begin a season of schedules and routines. 

We seek to pass on to our children the wisdom that has been given to us ....  from the generations before us and from you.  

Inspire us to be a congregation that loves our children deeply and supports our families in times of transition.

We seek your wisdom as we guide our children though lessons at school, and lesson in life.  May our children learn to reflect your love to the world.

Help our children as they learn, discover and move forward towards their own independence.

Be with teachers as they begin the year, grant them patience and knowledge to teach well and guide our children.

We ask your special blessing on the parents who are sending college students away for the first time.  Comfort them in their grieving, as this can often feel like a great loss.  Teach them to rejoice as they learn to cherish and trust their children from afar.  Loving God, help them to let go and to trust that the wisdom they have shared will have made deep imprints on their children. 

God of wisdom, we struggle to find our way in the world.  Pour your wisdom like refreshing water upon us.

We seek your wisdom to hear your call to us, as we seek paths for our own lives.

We seek your wisdom to discern how to deal with others we meet… those we live with, work with, drive our roads with, wait in line with, and be with daily.

We seek your wisdom as we care for our own well-being and as we face issues with our health and our mental health.  Guide us as we seek to care for loved ones.

We seek your wisdom for the leaders in our world, country and community.

We seek your wisdom in dealing with injustice and suffering in our world.

We seek your wisdom for our new elders, and for all those who serve as the leaders of our church.  

We seek your wisdom as we reach out to those in need, and as we minister to our own members who are homebound or in need of extra care.

We seek your wisdom as we minister to those in hospitals, in recovery and rehab.

We seek your wisdom as we reach out to the world around us.  Soften our hearts and open our eyes to the needs of others.  Grant us generous hearts to give, serve and share with the world.

God of wisdom, August days of heat are beating us down.  The world around us begins to dry up and the bright green leaves and lawns fade.    We seek relief from the heat and long to walk in cool, refreshing rain.  Help us to enjoy the remaining days of summer, to celebrate our time together in fellowship with those we love before the season changes and we begin heading indoors. 

Loving God, you invite us to a feast of celebration as we live a life in community … a community of faith created by your son.  May we listen to your wisdom and become Christ’s hand and heart.  United in this task, we join together in praying ...