Let us bring our prayers for our fellow believers and for all people to our heavenly Father’s throne of grace, trusting His promise to answer in the way He knows to be best.

Gracious Father, we confess that without Your Son we are dead in our trespasses, overpowered by Satan, and overcome by our own sinful desires. O God, be merciful to us sinners. Grant to us a repentant faith so that we never cease believing that because of Christ Jesus You have raised us from death to life and given us heaven instead of hell. By Your Holy Spirit enable us to accomplish the good works that You have created us in Christ Jesus to do.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, fill us with a hatred for our sinfulness and a desire to please You. Make us humble as little children, just as Your Son, the greatest in Your kingdom, humbled Himself for us and for our salvation. Because You desire that none of Your little ones should perish and because sin is constantly crouching at our door, we beg You to call us back to Yourself when we are tempted to stray, deliver us from temptation and keep us in faith.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, we pray for all the little ones who believe in You. Keep us and everyone else from leading them into sin. Through their parents, their pastors, and their teachers, teach them Your truth and Your ways so that they grow up trusting Christ’s forgiveness and living as Your children.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, form in us a love that cares so fervently about each other that we are willing to confront unrepented sin and joyfully speak Your forgiveness to those who confess. Make us a Church that is willing to excommunicate when necessary and that always desires and rejoices over each sinner who is restored to You.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, we believe You when You tell us that our governing authorities receive their authority from You. So teach us to obey You by obeying them. Provide us with rulers who are not a terror to good conduct but to bad. Endow those who lead our nation with wisdom as they make, administer, and judge our laws.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father teach us to bring our gifts to You in humble gratitude for all the ways You lovingly provide for us. We ask You to provide honest and fruitful laborers in our land. Be with those who are unemployed or underemployed. Use us and others to provide for their needs, and lead them to opportunities where they may earn a living and serve You.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, as You marked Cain and gave him Your protection even though he was a sinner, we thank You that You have marked us in Holy Baptism and protect us from spiritual harm even though we are sinners. We praise You for washing away the sins of each of us. Deliver us when sin and Satan attack us, and renew us in faith and life.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Father, because You have made us our brother’s keeper, fill us with care for the members of our earthly families and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. By Your promises and by Your Son’s body and blood, forgive our sins and strengthen us to live so that we owe no one anything except to love one other.

Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

These prayers we bring before You, gracious Father, by the guiding of Your Spirit and in the name of Jesus, Amen.