Prayers of the People for Souper Bowl Sunday

Brothers and sisters in Christ: Before he was crucified, our Savior Jesus Christ promised to draw to himself all things whether in heaven or on earth. Let us pray, therefore, that the peace accomplished through the Cross of Christ may be realized in our own world and our own relationships. Let us pray for the Church and the world God so loves, for peace among all nations, and for the reconciliation of all people and all things in the Name of Christ. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the one billion people who live on less than one US dollar per day and for each child of God who dies every 3½ seconds from hunger. Lead us, O God, to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the more than 100 million children who are not in school this day.
Lead us, O God, to achieve universal primary education for all children.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for women who because of gender discrimination never realize their full potential.
Lead us, O God, to promote gender equality and empower women.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for those precious children under the age of five who die every 3 seconds due to disease caused by unclean water, sanitation and poor nutrition. Lead us, O God, to reduce child mortality.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for the more than 500,000 women who die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Lead us, O God, to improve maternal health.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who die each day from preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Lead us, O God, to combat these diseases. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for our environment. Make us good stewards of your creation so that all of your children may lead productive and fruitful lives. Lead us, O God, to ensure environmental sustainability.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for a fair trading system, increased international aid and debt relief for developing countries so that all peoples may realize their dreams and their potential. Lead us, O God, to create a global partnership for development. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We pray for all those on our hearts this morning... (Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.)

Rev Kurt will add names and all will end with the following prayer (#62 - p. 833):
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.