Here are some ways to focus your
congregation's worship on hunger ministry during specific parts
of the service. You may copy these prayers and litanies and
paste them into your worship bulletin or other resource in your
congregation, as long as the source (see
information below) is cited.
L: In this season of desert pilgrimage, let us call to mind the
prophet's vision: If you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
C: The Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your need in parched places, and make your bones
strong. [Isaiah 58:10a, 11a]
L: Let us pray. Holy God, whose
loving kindness is everlasting: Lift the burden of all who are
weary from the search for food and refresh those who are parched
from thirst. Lord, in mercy,
C: As you sent manna in days of old,
grant living bread in our wilderness.
L: O God, source of all consolation:
Comfort with the sure sense of your presence all who feel
forsaken, whose hope is dried up. Lord, in mercy,
C: As you sent manna in days of old,
grant living bread in our wilderness.
L: Lord Jesus, who cried out in thirst
upon the cross: open our ears to all cries of affliction, and
through us provide food and drink. Lord, in mercy,
C: As you sent manna in days of old,
grant living bread in our wilderness.
L: God our creator, who makes our
bones strong: through our prayers and gifts heal the ravages of
poverty and disease, that those now suffering may one day leap
for joy. Lord, in mercy,
C: As you sent manna in days of old,
grant living bread in our wilderness.
L: Merciful God, you ask us to cleanse
our hearts, to loose the bonds of oppression, and to repair the
ancient ruins. Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, that we
might pour ourselves out for the hungry and offer refreshment to
those who thirst. In the name of Jesus we pray;
C: Amen.
Jesus, who knew temptation and hunger
for our sake: Free us from all covetousness, and wake us from
indifference to evil. For the life of the world, we pray; Amen.
Eternal God, whose image we bear: You
have created us to live by more than bread alone. Nourish us
through your Word and release us from the selfishness born of
fear. In Jesus' name we pray; Amen.
Christ, who wept over Jerusalem: Look
with compassion upon the cities of our time; that our children
might live to adulthood and enjoy a future filled with hope. In
Jesus' name we pray; Amen.
God, who searches for the lost: our
season brings the lengthening of days and longer light reveals
what had been hidden. Cleanse our hearts as we spring-clean our
dwellings, that we give away what we no longer need and justice
and kindness have ample room. In the name of Jesus we pray;
Amen.
Father of mercies, as you made water
spring from desert rock, cause streams of compassion to pour
from hearts of stone; that they be turned to hearts of flesh,
and all who thirst might have their fill. In the name of Jesus,
from whose pierced side flowed living water. Amen.
Jesus, whose love took the shape of a
cross: in the hour of deepest agony your mother and your beloved
disciple did not flee, but stood beside you. You call us to pour
out our lives in service to others, yet the suffering of your
people seems to have no end. When we feel numb and helpless at
the horror, remind us of Mary, the unnamed women, and John who
could not save you from death, but did not leave you to face it
alone. Strengthen us in keeping vigil; have mercy upon us all.
Amen.
Ash Wednesday (B)
Now, O Lord, is the day of salvation;
now, O Lord, you have given us life. On this day of dust hear
our praise for all the life you grant us, and hear our plea for
all the world, that you may have pity on the people and gather
them all into life, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lent II (C)
Blessed are you, O Lord our God. Like
a mother hen shielding her chicks, you nurture and protect us.
We praise you for your care: Blessed be God forever! Gather all
the hungry and homeless, O loving God, under the warmth of your
wings, and so give life to the world, that your name may be
praised now and ever. Amen.
Lent IV (C)
O God, like a loving father you have
provided a fatted calf for our table. We praise you for the
plentiful food you prepare. Save us from the lot of the prodigal
son, wasting your goods foolishly. Save us from the lot of the
elder son, hoarding your gifts selfishly. All the earth's stores
are yours: We praise and bless your bounty, O God. Amen.
Sunday of the Passion (B)
O mighty God, you come among us on a
donkey, serving us all and giving us life. Blessed are you for
life; praise be to you for this food! Humble us now to be
servants to others, willingly helping all in need, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Maundy Thursday (A)
O God, Host of the festival table, you
have prepared the Passover lamb, and you have broken bread with
the disciples. We praise you for all the food you have served to
us and to all the world. And now, O God, servant at our table,
teach us to serve one another. Make us willing to wash the feet
of the world, and to welcome all people at our table; through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Good Friday (A)
O God, on this day of your Son's
humiliation, we bless you. Look from Calvary upon this meal
[this fast] and bless us with life. May we see Christ in the
despised and rejected of the earth, and carry their sorrows as
he has carried ours, that all grief may be shared and your
wondrous life restored; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source:
These litanies and prayers are taken from "Pour Yourself Out for
the Hungry: A Resource for Worship," ©1993 Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (currently out of print but reproduced here in
its entirety).
Table prayers have been selected and
reprinted from "Blessing and Beseeching: Prayers on Food and
Hunger" (LCA, 1985-1987) by Gail Ramshaw. |
