CHAPTER 1

Community, Nation and World

For the president and civil authorities

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation toyour merciful care, that being guided by your Providence, we may dwell secure inyour peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of thisState (or commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to knowand to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, andmake them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in your fear;through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the HolySpirit, one God, world without end. Amen. [820]

Almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting and power infinite; Have mercy uponthis whole land; and so rule the hearts of thy servants The President of theUnited States, The Governor of this State, and all others in authority, thatthey, knowing whose ministers they are, may above all things seek thy honor andglory; and that we and all the People, duly considering whose authority theybear, may faithfully and obediently honor them, according to thy blessed Wordand ordinance; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Ghostliveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen. [28BCP, 132]

O Lord, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dostfrom thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseechthee, with thy favor to behold and bless thy servant The President of the UnitedStates, and all others in authority; and so replenish them with the grace of thyHoly Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way.Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperitylong to live; and finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy andfelicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [28BCP, 17]

For the human family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son:Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance andhatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite usin bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish yourpurposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve youin harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen[815]

For the future of the human race

O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over allthe earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us newinsight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determinationin making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through JesusChrist our Lord. Amen. [828]

In time of an epidemic

O most mighty and merciful God, in this time of grievous sickness, we flee untothee for succor. Deliver us, we beseech thee, from our peril; give strength andskill to all those who minister to the sick; prosper the means made use of fortheir cure; and grant that, perceiving how frail and uncertain our life is, wemay apply our hearts unto that heavenly wisdom which leadeth to eternal life;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [28BCP, 45]

For innocent victims

We remember today, O God, the slaughter of the holy innocents of Bethlehem byKing Herod. Receive, we pray, into the arms of your mercy all innocent victims;and by your great might frustrate the designs of evil tyrants and establish yourrule of justice, love, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives andreigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen. [238]

For cities

Heavenly Father, in your Word you have given us a vision of that holy City towhich the nations of the world bring their glory: Behold and visit, we pray, thecities of the earth. Renew the ties of mutual regard which form our civic life.Send us honest and able leaders. Enable us to eliminate poverty, prejudice, andoppression, that peace may prevail with righteousness, and justice with order,and that men and women from different cultures and with differing talents mayfind with one another the fulfillment of their humanity; through Jesus Christour Lord. Amen. [825]

For commerce and industry

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil andhallowed our labor: Be present with your people where they work; make those whocarry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to your will; andgive to us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; throughJesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the HolySpirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. [259]

For working toward the common good

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we doaffects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, thatwe may do it not for self alone, but for the common good; and, as we seek aproper return for our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations ofother workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out of work; throughJesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, oneGod, for ever and ever. Amen. [261]

In times of conflict

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of ourstruggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred orbitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; throughJesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [824]

For our country

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humblybeseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favorand glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning,and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride andarrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into oneunited people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust theauthority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that,through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations ofthe earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and inthe day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we askthrough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [820]

Almighty God, the source of all life, giver of all blessing, and savior of allwho turn to you: Have mercy upon this nation; deliver us from falsehood, malice,and disobedience; turn our feet into your paths; and grant that we may serve youin peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [BOOS, 41]

In time of calamity

O God, merciful and compassionate, who art ever ready to hear the prayers ofthose who put their trust in thee; Graciously hearken to us who call upon thee,and grant us thy help in this our need; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[28BCP, 41]

For fellow-citizens abroad

Watch over our fellow-citizens, O Lord, who live and travel in other lands. Openthem to the values of different cultures, and make them worthy representativesof our own, that by their courtesy and good judgment they may strengthen thebonds of friendship and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [PTL, 45]

For peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword ofrighteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spreadabroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of thePrince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, nowand for ever. Amen. [815]

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way ofjustice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit ofrighteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist. Amen. [816]

Almighty God, whose will it is to hold both heaven and earth in the peace ofyour kingdom: Give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in ourhomes, and peace in our hearts; through your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.Amen. [PTL, 30]

For those who influence public opinion

Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, inour time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read;that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mindsound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[827]

For rain

O God, heavenly Father, who by your Son Jesus Christ has promised to all thosewho seek your kingdom and its righteousness all things necessary to sustaintheir life: Send us, we entreat you, in this time of need, such moderate rainand showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and toyour honor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [828]

For the poor and neglected

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglectedpersons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute,the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to healthose who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grantthis, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, JesusChrist our Lord. Amen. [826]

O God, Almighty and merciful, who healest those that are broken in heart, andturnest the sadness of the sorrowful to joy; Let thy fatherly goodness be uponall that thou hast made. Remember in pity such as are this day destitute,homeless, or forgotten of their fellow-men. Bless the congregation of thy poor.Uplift those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, andsanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all discouragedand unhappy people, and by thy heavenly grace preserve from falling those whosepenury tempteth them to sin; though they be troubled on every side, suffer themnot to be distressed; though they be perplexed, save them from despair. Grantthis, O Lord, for the love of him, who for our sakes became poor, thy Son, ourSavior Jesus Christ. Amen. [28BCP, 599]

For the conservation of natural resources

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellowworkers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resourcesof nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generationsyet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ ourLord. Amen. [827]

Almighty God, whose loving hand hath given us all that we possess; Grant usgrace that we may honor thee with our substance, and remembering the accountwhich we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty; throughJesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [28BCP, 599]

A general intercession

O God, at whose word man goeth forth to his work and to his labor until theevening; Be merciful to all whose duties are difficult or burdensome, andcomfort them concerning their toil. Shield from bodily accident and harm theworkmen at their work. Protect the efforts of sober and honest industry, andsuffer not the hire of the laborers to be kept back by fraud. Incline the heartof employers and of those whom they employ to mutual forbearance, fairness, andgood-will. Give the spirit of governance and of a sound mind to all in places ofauthority. Bless all those who labor in works of mercy or in schools of goodlearning. Care for all aged persons, and all little children, the sick and theafflicted, and those who travel by land or by sea. Remember all who by reason ofweakness are over tasked, or because of poverty are forgotten. Let the sorrowfulsighing of the prisoners come before thee; and according to the greatness of thypower, preserve thou those that are appointed to die. Give ear unto our prayer,O merciful and gracious father, for the love of thy dear Son, our Savior JesusChrist. Amen. [28BCP, 599]

For a spirit of reconciliation

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love;where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there isdoubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoledas to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For itis in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it isin dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. [833]

For the church in a changing world

O God, sustain your Church as we face new tasks in the confusions of thischanging world. By your Holy Spirit give us good judgment and the strength topersevere, so that we may boldly bear witness to the coming of your kingdom;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [PTL, 36]

For the navy

O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the ragingof the sea; Vouchsafe to take into thy almighty and most gracious protection ourcountry's Navy, and all who serve therein. Preserve them from the dangers of thesea, and from the violence of the enemy; that they may be a safeguard unto theUnited States of America, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon theirlawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our land may in peace and quietnessserve thee our God, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. [28BCP, 42]

For animals

O God, you created all living things on the face of the earth and gave usdominion over them: Grant that we may be faithful to this trust in the way wetreat all animals, both wild and tame. Teach us to admire their beauty and todelight in their cunning; to respect their strength and to wonder at theirintelligence. Grant that our use of them may be both merciful and wise. So maywe lend our voice to their praise of your goodness, which endures for ever.Amen. [PTL, 55]

For the responsible use of inventions and discoveries

Almighty and merciful God, without you all things hasten to destruction and fallinto nothingness: Look upon us now with compassion, for we have learned tounlock power from atoms and lift ourselves into the boundless space of yourcreation. Save us, lest we abuse these discoveries which you have put into ourhands, turning them to the world's misery and ruin. Teach us to think yourthoughts after you in fear and wonder, and to use our knowledge for man'swelfare and to your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [PTL, 54]

For a person, or persons, going to sea

O Eternal God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the raging of thesea; We commend to thy almighty protection, thy servant, for whose preservationon the great deep our prayers are desired. Guard him, we beseech thee, from thedangers of the sea, from sickness, from the violence of enemies, and from everyevil to which he may be exposed. Conduct him in safety to the haven where hewould be, with a grateful sense of thy mercies; through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen. [28BCP, 46]

For children

Almighty God, whose compassion embraces all men, we beseech you for the world'schildren. May those whose small bodies are undernourished or diseased be fed andmade whole; May those whose minds are dull and unchallenged come alive; Maythose whose homes are broken by strife find peace and security. Protect in allchildren, O Lord, their special sponteneity; and keep from despair those whoknow failure or frustration. In due time bring them, your children and ourbrothers, to their full human stature; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[PTL, 57]

For prisoners

O God, who sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath rememberestmercy; We humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, to comfort and succor allprisoners (especially those who are condemned to die). Give them a rightunderstanding of themselves, and of thy promises; that, trusting wholly in thymercy, they may not place their confidence anywhere but in thee. Relieve thedistressed, protect the innocent, awaken the guilty; and forasmuch as thou alonebringest light out of darkness, and good out of evil, grant to these thyservants, that by the power of thy Holy Spirit they may be set free from thechains of sin, and may be brought to newness of life; through Jesus Christ ourLord. Amen. [28BCP, 46]