BAPTISM OF THE LORD

 

CELEBRANT: As the Spirit came upon Jesus as he prayed, so may the Spirit of God now inspire our prayers.

 

READER: Please respond, “LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER!”

 

1.  That we, the Body of Christ, the Church, may be seen ever more as a servant community of welcome and hospitality, of reconciliation and forgiveness, of compassion and hope, we pray. . .

 

2.  That valleys of despair may be lifted up, especially for those struggling with the coronavirus; mountains of prejudice brought low; the uneven resources of earth generously shared; and, all peoples live in peace, we pray. . .

 

3.  That the Christian community, made one by our common baptism, may always welcome the unborn, the stranger, and the hurting, we pray. . .

 

4.  That the richer nations may soon guarantee to the world’s poorer nations adequate and affordable supplies of vaccines for COVID-19, we pray. . .

 

5. That men and women may have the courage to respond “Yes” to God’s calling them, through the priesthood or the religious life, to the service of the Gospel mission, we pray. . .

 

6. That our First Responders, our service men and women, and all essential workers, especially medical, may be blessed with safety, we pray. . .

 

7. That the seriously ill in our parish community and among our family members and friends may be gifted with love’s comfort and the healing touch of our God, (especially __________,) we pray. . .

 

8. That the sorrowing may be consoled by hope in the God in whom life is greater than death; and, ________, (and) all our beloved dead come to be welcomed into our God’s eternal embrace of peace and love, we pray. . .

 

CELEBRANT: Gracious God, help us to grow in our baptismal commitment to give you glory through our prayer, and our service of others. This we ask through Christ our Lord.