Christ frees us to live in relationship with Him, guided by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to love one another.  May we all demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit and be recognized as a joyous, patient, kind, gentle, faithful, generous, self-disciplined and peace-loving people.  Let us always seek to be fit for service in God’s Kingdom saying Lord, show us the path of Life.

May we recognize God’s call in our lives, as Elisha changed his direction from tilling the soil to being a prophet, a messenger of God’s Word.  Let us remember the invitation of Jesus on the road to Jerusalem: Follow me! saying: Lord, show us the path of Life.

We extend our prayers to our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world, who are bearers of the Light and agents of growth and renewal in the Church.  In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we raise up the Church of North India.  In the Diocese of Maryland, we embrace St. Matthew’s, Oakland and Mt. Calvary, Baltimore.  In our own Parish, we pray for our outstanding staff and our congregation that we may serve God and our community with a deep faith and real joy, saying: Lord, show us the path of Life.

Let us also pray for political leaders in our country, that God may grant them wisdom to solve the environmental and economic problems that face our Nation.  May we seek peace and justice in conflicts throughout the world.  May anger and violence within our communities end.  We pray that fear will be replaced by love, saying: Lord, show us the path of Life.

As Christ extended his care and concern to all people, let us be involved in thought, word and deed, extending our love and prayers to those who are suffering physically or emotionally.  May the healing touch of Our Lord sustain each of us in times of greatest need, saying: Lord, show us the path of Life.

Knowing that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy, we remember those who have died and entered Eternal Life.  May we always remain a community of love, in this life and in the world to come, saying: Lord, show us the path of Life.

Our hearts are glad and our spirits rejoice as we celebrate birthdays, baptismal and wedding anniversaries in our Parish family.  As we share these important occasions in our lives, may we deepen our relationships with each other and open the windows of our souls, saying: Lord, show us the path of Life.

Our Lord refused to condemn the Samaritans and others who rejected His Spiritual leadership and His mission.  He still had plans to change their hearts.  For those whom He encountered, and a desire for discipleship was voiced, he expected singleness of purpose and a Christ- centered life.  May we be attuned to God’s vision for our lives and be available for opportunities in His everlasting Kingdom.  Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, on this day when we celebrate our earthly fathers, it is only fitting and right that we begin with our acknowledgement and thanks to you, as we say together, thank you, Father.

For the strength of your presence in our lives, especially when we aren’t looking and when we really need it most, we say together; Thank you, Father.

For Jesus giving us the freedom to call you “Abba”, “Daddy”, an image of complete relationship, we say together, Thank you, Father.

For our own earthly fathers and for all the men in our lives who have shared their wisdom, strength and love, we say together, Thank you, Father.

For the family of the church through which we strive to do your work in this world; in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for The Church of Nigeria; in our own Diocese for St. Philip’s, Annapolis and our own Christ Church and Father Ginnever, we say together, Thank you, Father.

Remembering all who have inspired and loved us, and who have gone on to eternal life, we say together, Thank you, Father.

For all among us who need our prayers and the knowledge that you, Father, are with them, we say together, Thank you, Father.

For all who have occasions of joy to celebrate this week, we say together, Thank you, Father.

For those new to our congregation and those visiting us today, we say together, Thank you, Father.

Oh, Father God, Abba, thank you for giving us all that we have and all that we are.  We ask you for the grace, desire, and courage to love you in the same way you love us.  In the name of your Son Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the faith of the early followers of our Savior Jesus Christ, and for the examples they set for us.  We pray that our own faith will continue to grow and that we will have the courage to live out our faith.  For this we pray, saying:  Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

As Jesus forgave the sins of the woman in today’s Gospel and as the woman showed her love for Jesus, may we also show our love and thanksgiving for the forgiveness of our sins by loving and forgiving others.  For this we pray, saying: Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for Eugene and John, our Diocesan Bishops, and for Richard, our Rector.  In this Diocese, we pray for Transfiguration, Braddock Heights.  In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we remember the Province of Myanmar (Burma).   For this we pray, saying: Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all in our Christ Church family and for those who have served so faithfully during the 2009-2010 ministry year.  We give special thanks for the efforts of our Sexton, Jenifer, and for the help of other members of Christ Church during the recent flood in New Brick.  We give thanks for all who worship here today including those who are new or visiting.  We pray, saying: Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all affected by the Gulf oil leak and ask for wisdom and insight for those working on solutions to control it.  We pray for those who are ill and for those care for them, especially   For those who are lonely or anxious, may they find comfort and peace.  For this we pray, saying:  Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who have died.  That we may one day join them in eternal life, we pray, saying: Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

We give thanks for occasions of happiness as those in our parish celebrate the anniversaries of their wedding, birth, or baptism.  Let us pray, saying: Dear Lord, hear our prayer.

Hear our prayers and fulfill your purposes in us in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

We lift up our hearts in prayer.

Lord of all hopefulness, on this Sunday when we give special thought to those who have survived the ravages of serious illness.  We thank you for your presence which sustains us at all times and in all places.  In that spirit and with that hope, we say together “thank you, Lord”.

As the widow in Zarephath heard Elijah’s words “do not be afraid”, help us not be afraid of what we face in our own lives and in the lives of those we love.  For the courage and grace to step with hope into our futures, we say together:

Thank you, Lord.

For the community of all believers here at home and around the world, who in your name provide places of comfort, haven and hope, we thank you.  In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we give thanks for the people of La Iglesia Anglicana de Mexico.  In our own diocese, we give thanks for the people of Holy Trinity, Essex.  And here at Christ Church, giving thanks for our Rector, Richard, for those new to us or visiting us today, and for each other, we say together: Thank you, Lord.

As Jesus had compassion for the mother in Nain, he has compassion on all of us who are ill in mind, body, or spirit.  Send us your comfort and hope, Lord, as we pray today.  For your presence in our times of need, we say together:

Thank you, Lord.

We think of those who will be born today and those who will die, and we remember especially those we love who have gone before us in the hope of everlasting life  For the knowledge that you are with us at our coming in and our going out, we say together: Thank you, Lord.

Lord, we especially feel your hopefulness as we mark our birthdays and anniversaries.   For all our occasions of joy, we say together: Thank you, Lord.

On this last day of our Sunday School year, and in this season of graduations, we thank you for the blessing of education.  Pour your hopefulness into those who are graduating into the next step of their lives.  Grant rest and renewal to the teachers, parents, and all the others who helped them get to this day.  For hope and in anticipation of our futures, we say together: Thank you, Lord.

Lord, in our opening collect today we prayed “grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right and by your merciful guiding may do them”.  Be with us this week as we try to think and be all that you desire for us.  In your Name, we pray.  Amen.