“Prayers of the People”

For All Who Labor without End from Table Prayer: An Evening of Food and Fellowship

1. For all who labor without end, All: Hear our prayer, O God.
For all who, lonely, seek a friend, All: Hear our prayer, O God.

2. For all who grieve and all who fear, All: Hear our prayer, O God.
For all who wait as death draws near, All: Hear our prayer, O God.

3. For all who search for righteousness, All: Hear our prayer, O God.
And live the faith that they confess, All: Hear our prayer, O God.

Refrain: Holy Healer, your people call your name, Send your Spirit, hear our prayer.
Holy Healer, your people call your name, Send your Spirit, hear our prayer.

4. For those with whom our lives are bound, All: Hear our prayer, O God.
And those we name in silence, sound, (silence) All: Hear our prayer, O God.

5. That peace may come in our own day, All: Hear our prayer, O God.
That your blest word may light our way, All: Hear our prayer, O God.

6. Your name be hallowed far and wide, All: Hear our prayer, O God.
Your reign of justice long abide, All: Hear our prayer, O God.

Refrain: Holy Healer, your people call your name, Send your Spirit, hear our prayer.
Holy Healer, your people call your name, Send your Spirit, hear our prayer.

Text: Ruth C. Duck / Tune: Mark A. Miller © 2014 Hope Publishing Company
Duck, Ruth C. The Poetry of Grace: Hymn Texts of Ruth C. Duck, Compiled and Edited by Dan Damon, Hope Publishing Company, 2015. pp 62-64.

“Sacred the Body” The Faith We Sing 2228 (Can also be sung to the tune of “Morning Has Broken”)

A Prayer of Faith

We give thanks to you, O God, Eternal Spirit;
We call on your name and sing your mighty deeds:

You call the worlds into being, create us in your own image,
And set before us the ways of life and death.
You judge lives and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Christ,
You have come to us and shared our common lot,
Conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.
You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,
Binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in serving humanity,
to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil,
to share with Jesus Christ
in the waters of baptism,
in the breaking of bread,
to join Christ in suffering and in victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
Courage in the struggle for justice and peace,
Your presence in trial and rejoicing,
And eternal life in your realm which has no end.
Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you. Amen.

Duck, Ruth C. and Michael G. Bausch, eds. Everflowing Streams: Songs for Worship. Cleveland, Ohio: The Pilgrim Press. 1981. (Back Cover)

This version of the United Church of Christ Statement of Faith was inspired by Roger Shinn, developed by Gabriek Gackre, Barbara Gerlach, Kenneth Iha, Norman Jackson, Barbara McCall, and Reuben Sheares, and adapted by Ruth C. Duck. The introduction is based on Psalm 75:1. This prayer form, although not strictly creedal, may be useful in worship.