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Prayers of the People/ Prayers of intercession
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Use all or parts of this prayer at worship and mass, and add your own prayers as needed. Please include the accompanying bulletin insert whenever you can. Consider adding a sung response from the Taize or other traditions. An additional worship service on redistribution of wealth is available on the KAIROS website, along with a downloadable or print resource on the 2007 Week to End Poverty. |
Holy Creator, we live in a world of plenty. You created rich soils, fruits of all kinds and colours, materials for clothing and shelter, medicines to heal us. You gave us hands to help us meet our needs, and those of our neighbours.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Renew in us a spirit of thanksgiving.
Yet in this world of abundance, billions of our neighbours live in poverty. We pray for the courage to ask why; to listen for the answer; and to take action. Knowing that our brother Jesus came to us to strengthen the poor and hold up the oppressed, we pray now for communities and individuals who face poverty.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Open our ears and hearts; help us raise our voices against poverty.
We pray for the millions living with HIV/AIDS. We pray for the children and adults left without families; for the caregivers; for those who cannot afford the medicines that will help them live. We pray that our government will offer better funding to fight HIV-AIDS. We pray that we will set aside stereotypes and stigma.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Renew in us a spirit of compassion. Help us raise our voices against poverty.
We pray for those who grow our daily bread. We pray especially for farmers who face food prices that are too low to make ends meet. We pray for farmers around the world who are losing their land and livelihood, who are forced to leave their lands in search of work. Whenever we eat, we remember and pray.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Renew in us a spirit of awareness. Help us raise our voices against poverty.
We pray for all those forced to leave their homes and families in search of work. Jesus was himself a poor worker, and relied on the hospitality of strangers throughout his time with us. Help us, Worker God, to welcome those who come here seeking work, and to speak against those who exploit migrant workers with low wages and dangerous working conditions.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Renew in us a spirit of justice. Help us raise our voices against poverty.
We pray for Canada, where the First Nations of this rich land too often live in poverty. Will those of us who are newcomers meet their calls for justice with anger or violence? We pray for the ears to learn from the Aboriginal leaders, youth and elders.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Renew in us a spirit of cooperation and respect. Help us raise our voices against poverty.
We again pray for our own country, where rich and poor live side by side; where some have far too much and some chose between the rent and the next meal. Again and again, O God, you tell us that poverty is not your will. Move us, and our decision makers, to create fair wages and benefits. Move us and move our churches to work together to put an end to stereotypes and discrimination. Open our eyes, generous God, to the leadership offered by people living in poverty.
You came that all might have life, and have it abundantly. Renew in us a spirit of courage. Make your spirit of justice known through our hands, our mouths, our hearts and our lives, loving God of all. May we hear your call; may we respond. Help us raise our voices against poverty!
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