Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13

Prayers of the People by Diane Baker

Gracious and loving Father, we thank you for the opportunity to gather here today at Providence to worship you.  As is customary, we have a multitude of things for which to be thankful.

In particular, this weekend, as we celebrate the birth of our nation, we thank you for our rich

heritage of democracy and liberty that has been sustained for generations.    We do, however,

need  help and we ask that you guide the leaders of this land in ways of justice and peace

that we may honor one another and serve the common good.

We pray for family and friends.  May we be able to help each other just as you love and

help us.

We pray for those in need, for those who are sad, for those who are lonely, and for those who

are ill.   We ask that you bless them and all those who reach out to help.

Finally, we pray for ourselves in all that we will do this week and for all those whom we will

meet.  Help us live into Paul’s teaching:  that when we are weak, we will allow you to fill us with

your power so that we too, will be strong.  These things we ask in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray):  “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”