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Rural Prayer Petitions January January [ TOP ] February [ TOP ] For many, O God, the dry, bare ground has left hope for spring planting dry and bare. We give you thanks, O Lord, that you have spread snow on the ground like frosting on a cake, and sweetened the lives of farmers with hope. * Lengthen our days, O Lord, this Lent. As you increase daylight and warmth for the earth, preparing it for new life in the fields and forests, increase in us the Light and Warmth of your Holy Word, Jesus, preparing us for new life now and forever. * Send your Holy Spirit to be with our members of Congress as they reconcile differences in the farm bills. Fill them with a desire to promote justice, value rural culture, and show compassion for those who work the land and feed our nation and the world. March [ TOP ] Gracious God, you lead Israel in the wilderness and provided for them even when they feared that they would die. As you lead your people through a new exodus of change in rural communities, be near and give us your strength, for we fear that our way of life and our communities may die. Out of this suffering we ask for endurance, character and hope, for your hope does not disappoint us. April [ TOP ] For those in rural America who are feeling displaced, O God, we pray. While family farms are displaced; while small towns are being displaced; while rural culture is being displaced; while the influence of rural areas on the rest of America is being displaced, let us cling to the inheritance that is imperishable and unfading, and to the new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. * Water the earth, O God, so that crops and plants may sprout, leaf out, blossom and bud. Water the earth, O God, so that your people and all your creatures may eat. Water our lives, O God, through Word and Sacrament, so that our faith may sprout, leaf out, blossom and bud. * O Good Shepherd, call our name and lead us out into the world. When we are confused or frightened, let us raise our heads to look for you in Word and Sacrament. And, O Good Shepherd, bless all who reflect your care for the world, by caring for livestock. Fill them with your patience, your strength, and your ability to trustworthy leadership. May [ TOP ] Give your strength and approval, O God, where people suffer unjustly. Where farmers are asked to give much with little reward, and so suffer, give your strength and approval that they may endure. Move us to reduce their suffering with justice. * Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; we give you praise for the gift of rain which nourishes the earth. Give rain in abundance to places that are suffering from drought, especially Malawi and the eastern and western United States, for your rain restores the earth, quenches our thirst and feeds the hungry. * Triune God, creator of all, continue your creation. Keep saying, "Let there be light; let the earth put forth vegetation; let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures; let birds fly above the earth; let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind; let us make humankind in our image," for as long as you call forth life there will be life. Make our dominion of the earth a dominion like yours: loving and life-giving. Give us all the grace to see how very good your world is, and give us all the grace to enjoy rest as much as you do June [ TOP ] Bless our seedtime, O God, for planting is an act of faith. You have provided the biological wonder of seeds, the fertility of earth and rain, and the energy of the sun to empower growth; yet we long for your blessing, for planting, tending and waiting seem such tenuous enterprises. Bless the seed; bless the earth and rain; bless us with sunshine and let our crops grow that the world may be fed. * We give you thanks, O God, that, even though our love for you is like morning dew that wets our boots but won't nourish the crops, your love comes like spring rains that soak the earth and bring forth life. Soak us well with Word and Sacrament so that we grow in ways you desire - steadfast love and knowledge of you. Let us see your promise in green shoots and white blossoms and know you are near * Gracious God, we are thankful that you send showers of rain to refresh, restore and renew. We pray for rain for all drought-stricken areas. Assist all fire fighters as they work to preserve our natural resources, resources of creation and beauty. * We give you thanks, O God, for the miracle of growth. As we watch calves get bigger every day, and corn shoots turn once black fields to green, we give you thanks for the complex and energetic mechanisms of growth. Bless the growing so that the world may be fed and bless farmers who work to encourage the growth and who wait for calves and corn to mature. * Keep safe, O Lord, those who work the land. Keep them alert and protect them from accident and injury in fields, barns and around machinery. Give your special attention to children helping on farms this summer that they may know the joy and satisfaction of farming without getting hurt. July [ TOP ] We give you thanks for the gift of the power of the sun. We watch plants take the energy of sunshine and turn it into stalk, leaf and seed. We rejoice in summer warmth. We also pray that you will protect those who work outside from too much sun, and we pray that you would protect the vulnerable from too much heat. August [ TOP ] We give you thanks, O God, for swelling fruit and grains. As zucchini bulge, tomatoes become plump, and corn ears fill out we are alert to the growth you give. As young stock mature we see your power to bring life and growth. Use these events to inspire gratitude, awe, and our own growth in faith. * At creation, you placed people in the garden to till and keep it. You made work a holy calling that is designed to contribute to the health of the whole world. Guard and keep all people in their vocations, and especially those who till and keep the earth. September [ TOP ] At this time of the year, O King of the universe, you balance light and dark, day and night. Balance our lives, O Lord. Balance work with rest, seriousness with laughter, and service for the sake of others with growth for ourselves. Balance receiving your Word with proclaiming your Word. Balance treasure that we keep with treasure we give for ministry. Balance rejoicing in our harvest with prayers for the hungry. October [ TOP ] For fields that are becoming empty, we give you thanks, O Lord. Where crops stood, now is harvested stubble; where young stock grazed, pastures grow taller. Out of your faithful promise, O God, the land has produced and grains are in the bins and livestock have gone to markets. We give you thanks for providing food for all people. Bless those who continue to work the harvest. Keep them safe. Let them hear our thanks for their efforts. * Come to us like a shepherd comes, O Lord. Even in foul weather, the herder makes sure that livestock has water. Even when the herder is sick and tired, the livestock gets their grain. Even when the herder would rather be somewhere else, there is a word &endash; sometimes a gentle word and sometimes a kick-in-the-butt word. Come to us like a shepherd comes, O Lord. Bring us the water of baptism; grain made into bread made into your Body; and your Word, Jesus, who brings us life and faith. Amen. * We marvel, O God, at the quiet that has come to the earth. As you wrap our part of the earth in cold and darkness to give it rest; as you draw livestock to huddle together to share warmth and block the wind for each other; and as you move agriculture workers from the hectic action of harvest to the thoughtful action of planning for spring, give us rest, warmth, and a desire to block the wind for each other. You provide for needs of all people, O Lord. We give your thanks for those who labor to provide our food: for farmers who raise the food, truckers who transport the food, processors prepare the food, bankers who finance the farm and retailers who distribute the food. Let each rejoice in their part in feeding the hungry and grant each a fair livelihood. We give you thanks for the miracle of growth, O Lord of Life. You have taken seed and sweat and grown them into food and fabric. Now, at harvest time, we rejoice in your abundance and give thanks for those who participate in the miracle. Lift their hearts with our gratitude and with a good reward for their work. * You provide for needs of all people, O Lord. We give your thanks for those who labor to provide our food: for farmers who raise the food, truckers who transport the food, processors prepare the food, bankers who finance the farm and retailers who distribute the food. Let each rejoice in their part in feeding the hungry and grant each a fair livelihood. We give you thanks for the miracle of growth, O Lord of Life. You have taken seed and sweat and grown them into food and fabric. Now, at harvest time, we rejoice in your abundance and give thanks for those who participate in the miracle. Lift their hearts with our gratitude and with a good reward for their work. * "We give you thanks, O God, for the gift of harvest. Grant fair weather to take in crops and fulfill the hopes of those who long to support their families and feed the world." November [ TOP ] The earth makes a joyous noise to you, O God of all creation. Hear livestock make joyous and lively noises to you. Hear wind over fields make a joyous noise to you. Hear all those tied to the land by work and affection make a joyous noise to you. Hear all of us who benefit from the bounty of the earth make a joyous noise to you, O God of all creation. December [ TOP ] Lift our hearts with Isaiah's promise, O Lord, that, one day, weapons of war will be made into tools for agriculture. Turn our priorities, so that, even now, even when we are at war, we know that your true desire is that we strengthen our people and our abilities to feed and clothe the world. * As we await your return in power, giving others their allowance of food at the proper time, we pray your blessing on those who produce the food. Comfort those who see their communities diminish and mourn it. Encourage those who fear that this year might be their last. Open our eyes to their fear and grieving, for they often will not speak of it. Come to our brothers and sisters through us. * Your word says that we wait for your coming like farmers wait patiently for crops to mature. Your word encourages us to endure with strength just like Job endured with strength. Give us hope, O Lord, from which patience and endurance come. Give us hope for your coming in power and glory and we will be patient. Give us hope for our livelihoods and communities now and we will endure. * O God of the nations, we have placed in the hands of those who govern, decisions that have powerful impacts on those who farm and who live in farming areas. Inspire our Senators with justice, compassion and selflessness as they consider the farm bill this week. Open their eyes and ears to the well being of producers and the earth as well as consumers. |
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