Our Shared Prayers June

June 25

June 18

God of love, we look forward to connecting more deeply with you this week.

Thank you for the early morning sunrises and breathtaking sunsets.

Thank you for the air, filling our lungs.

Thank you for the water, nourishing our bodies and the earth beneath our feet.

Thank you for how you designed this incredible planet. Every tiny part of your creation is needed and was designed for a purpose. Help us to see the interconnectedness of it all.

We praise you for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Inspire us to be love to the world.

God of peace, we confess that we often fall short.

Forgive us when we are too busy to connect with you.

Forgive us for our selfishness, for our love of money, for only caring for our family and not our sisters and brothers across the city and around the world.

Forgive us when we live in fear and are afraid of change.
Forgive us when we think small and cannot imagine a different way.

We praise you for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Inspire us to be peace to the world.

God of reconciliation, help us to love all people and all your creation.

Give us the courage to love all people especially when they look and think differently than us. Open our hearts and our minds to the amazing diversity of your creation. Everyone brings something unique that they can only bring.

Give us the courage to use our voice for change even when that is hard.

May our churches be reflections of your overflowing love, forgiveness and reconciliation.  

May we share your heart and passion for peace and justice.

We praise you for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Inspire us to be reconciliation to the world.

We pray these things, in the name of Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who empower us to be the hands and feet of Christ on this planet.

AMEN.
Written and shared by Lisa Rosenberg (in response to Joanne De Jong’s prayer June 4, 2025). Lisa is passionate about reconciling with the land and Indigenous peoples. Along with Leanne Bear Froese, Lisa co-leads the Buffalo Shout group at Foothills Mennonite Church (where she and her husband, Steve, are members). Lisa is currently completing a graduate program in climate action leadership.

June 11

God of rushing wind,
coming from where it wants
and going to where it wants,
pour out your Spirit upon us.

God of fire,
lighting up gathered disciples
and burning away their resistance and pride,
pour out your Spirit upon us.

 

God of miraculous speaking and hearing,
amazing that first group of the faithful,
jolting their expectation and awareness of who you are,
pour out your Spirit on us.

God of the young who see visions,
of the old who dream dreams,
of male and female prophets,
pour out your Spirit on us.

God of wind and fire and tongues,
God of visions and dreams and prophecies,
God of signs and wonders,
pour out your Spirit on us today.

Help us to follow where you are leading us.
Undo our pretensions and resistance.
Soften our hearts. 
Move us to repentance.  
Fill us with love for you and for all you have made.

By our faithful witness 
may others come to believe that through Christ,
in the power of the Spirit,
You are making all things new. 
Amen. 

Written and shared by Terry Fach, interim pastor, Trinity Mennonite

 

June 4

Holy Spirit, we look forward to celebrating your activity in our lives this Pentecost Sunday

Thank you for the rainbow of people groups you have created.
Thank you for the wide variety of food we get to enjoy such as ploomimoos, poutine, and Pho because of the diversity of your creation.
We praise you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who blows like the wind and purifies our hearts with fire, transforming us into a people who can love like Christ.

Holy Spirit, we confess that we often ignore your promptings

Forgive us when our hearts are closed to people from other tribes and nations.
Forgive us when we care more about our own needs and wants and are not willing to share and learn from others.
Forgive us when we think our way is superior to others, whether in faith or in practice.

Holy Spirit, help us to love all people, regardless of who they are or where they are from.

Give us the courage to try something new, even when we don’t want to.
May our churches be reflections of your beauty and hospitality to all people.
May we share your heart and passion for unity in the church and in the world, praying for shalom in every nation.
We pray these things, in the name of Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us to participate in the Creator’s joyful vision of one new humanity.

AMEN.

Written and shared by Joanne De Jong. After serving in MCA for 15 years, Joanne and Werner De Jong have recently completed a 3-year assignment with Mennonite Church Canada in Ethiopia. Werner is now pastoring in Kenya, but they consider themselves life-time members of MCA.