Opening prayer KEY:

From the Vanderbilt Lectionary Site

Don’t read aloud
Wording may very week-by-week
Let us pray today saying (Response)
Placeholder
Opening/Response/Close
The Church of Christ:
Holy God, help us to remember in our prayers through this week the faithful of your Church on
earth:
In our Anglican Cycle of Prayer let us remember (BODY).
In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer let us pray for our area bishop, Kevin, our diocesan bishop
Andrew, and (BODY/PERSON).
In our Outreach and Advocacy Cycle of Prayer let us remember (CHURCHES) for their
community and justice work.
In our Parish Cycle of prayer let us remember (PARISHIONERS).
Holy God, guard and direct your Church in the way of unity, service, and praise. Guide the leaders of this
parish as they serve you through serving others, and attend all who call themselves Christians: that we
may become a royal priesthood, a holy nation, to the praise of Christ Jesus our Saviour. (Response)

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority;

Prayer for those in authority (Response)

Prayer for peace/humanity (Response)

Prayer for creation/the environment (Response)

The Local Community

Lord of all, we pray for this city and those who live here, the poor and the rich, the elderly and the
young, those of every gender and orientation, every race and ability: that you will show your goodwill to
all. (Response)

Those Who Suffer

Prayer touching on topical issue (Response)

Prayer for poverty/oppression (Response)

Healing God, bring your comfort to those afflicted with illness, pain, and, disease. Bring wholeness to
those suffering in mind, body, and spirit. We remember especially today (NAMES from Fridge notes,
leave space for names from sheet) (Optional close to this prayer depending on wording)

Communion of Saints
Finally, Father, we remember those who we love but see no longer, remembering today those whose
names are written on our hearts, (NAMES from sheet)
And those whose names are known to you alone. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord; and let light
perpetual shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through your
mercy, rest in peace.

Closing prayer
Matched to opening prayer (same source)

NOTES:

YOU DON’T HAVE TO PRAY FOR EVERYTHING, REALLY (God’s got this)

Try to coordinate opening of each prayer. For instance, names of God related to the prayer to follow
(“Healing God/Great Healer/God of Comfort” for a prayer for the sick and distressed)

Don’t use the beginning of the response or language close to it elsewhere to avoid confusion

The topical issue may be left vague (e.g. a prayer for victims of violence after a shooting) or name the
exact issue while including like circumstances/events (e.g. prayer for the residents of Flooding Place and
all who are displaced by fire, flood and natural disaster)

Other prayers to rotate in may include (look to lectionary and church calendar for clues):

 Ministries of the Parish and their leaders

 Clergy of the parish
 Healthcare professionals
 Schools/universities/teachers/students (especially in September and at term time!)
 Changing seasons
 Harvest/food/agriculture
 Our enemies
 Prisoners
 Travelers (especially at holidays)
 Unity of Christians
 Neighbours of other faiths (especially after violence/discord)
 First Nations/Indigenous peoples/Reconciliation

Remember to pray for upcoming life/church events such as those to be baptized/confirmed/ordained or

parish anniversaries/patronal feasts

Have a backup thanksgiving prayer to insert if there’s a thanksgiving listed on the sheet. Insert it at “The
Local Community.” If more than one of a type, name all in the same prayer.

For a child born to/adopted by a parishioner:

God the creator of us all,

we give you thanks for the life of N, born to/adopted by N (and N).
Let your love for us be seen in our lives,
that we may create an atmosphere
 in which s/he will live a life of dignity and worth.

For a child who may not be in the parish:

Living God,
We thank you for the gift of N,
born to/adopted by/grandchild of N (and N). (OR We thank you for the gift of N’s new grandchild
etc.)
We thank you for the promise of her/his personality.
Guard her/him from all that may harm her/him,
and make her/him happy in receiving and giving love.

For a marriage:
We thank you today for the marriage of N and N,
and for leading them to each other
in friendship and love, commitment and trust.
As you pour out your love,
may they grow together in your sight,
and each be to the other
a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need.

A birthday:
O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servant N. as s/he begins
another year. Grant that s/he may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen her/his trust in
your goodness all the days of her/his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For a wedding anniversary:

We thank you today for the marriage of N and N,
and for leading them to each other
in friendship and love, commitment and trust.
Pour out your love upon them as they celebrate (the Xth) anniversary of their marriage,
That they may be each to the other
a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need for all the years to come.

Prayer sources:

BAS - https://c2892002f453b41e8581-
48246336d122ce2b0bccb7a98e224e96.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/BAS.pdf

BCP - http://prayerbook.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/BCP.pdf

Episcopalian BCP - https://www.bcponline.org/

NZ Prayer Book - http://anglicanprayerbook.nz/

Church of England BCP - https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-

and-resources/book-common-prayer

Vanderbilt Lectionary - https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/ (prayer linked in right-hand box

for each week)