November begins with All Saints’ Day, followed by that of All Soul’s. This month, then, I’m posting prayers for the two Sundays – both of which remind us those who have run the race before us, and those who will follow in our own footsteps. The first two comes from my 2001 book Prayers for All Seasons (book 2); the third is from Prayers for All Seasons (book 1), published in 1998.
Prayer of praise and confession
The undeserved faithfulness of God
Sovereign God,
Lord of history,
we come to you in reverent praise.
We come to praise you
for the way you have worked across the centuries –
the way you have moved in so many lives
to make known your purpose,
offer your guidance
and express your love.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
We praise you for the way you have spoken throughout history –
to your people, Israel,
to your Church,
to countless generations of believers.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
We praise you for the great cloud of witnesses that surround us –
our fellowship here,
your Church across the world,
and all those who have kept the faith
and run the race before us.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
We praise you for the example we have been given to follow –
through the disciples and Apostles,
through the early Church and its life beyond,
and through the saints of old.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
Forgive us that we sometimes forget all you have done,
losing sight of the breadth of your purpose
and the extent of your love.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
Forgive us that we fail to honour the heritage in which we stand,
our love for you weak,
our trust hesitant
and our commitment poor.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
Forgive us that we walk half-heartedly,
casual in our discipleship,
careless in our devotion,
our hearts concerned with what is trivial and unimportant,
rather than focused single-mindedly
on the work of your kingdom.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
Sovereign God,
as we remind ourselves together
of your activity throughout history,
as we reflect on your work through your people,
speak now to our lives,
that our love may grow,
our faith be deepened,
and our resolve to serve you be strengthened.
So may we live always to your praise and glory.
Great is your faithfulness:
forgive the feebleness of our response.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer of thanksgiving and petition
The people of God
Eternal God,
we thank you for your hand at work throughout history,
bringing order out of chaos,
shaping the universe
and creating the world we live in.
But especially today, we thank you for men and women of faith,
all those who, across the years and in our own lifetime,
have given us an example to follow.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for the commitment of Abraham –
his willingness to step out into the unknown,
to walk in faith,
to trust in your promise.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for the dedication of Moses –
the way you used him to lead your people out of slavery,
guide them through the wilderness
and bring them to the Promised Land.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for the prophets –
those who had the vision and courage to speak your word,
to pronounce your judgement,
to make known your mercy
and to proclaim your love.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for the apostles –
for their willingness to leave everything and follow Jesus,
their witness to his death and resurrection,
their courage in the face of hostility and persecution.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for the great saints of the Church –
those whose commitment to you has been self-evident,
whose devotion to you has shone from their lives,
who have given heart, mind and soul to the service of Christ.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for those who have made known the gospel to us –
those who have encouraged and instructed us in faith,
who have been a source of inspiration,
who have walked with us on our journey of discipleship.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
We thank you for one another –
for our share in the inheritance of your people,
for our unity in the body of Christ,
for the comfort, strength and support we are able to give
one to another.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
And so we pray finally for ourselves –
that you will help us to continue
in the footsteps of those before us,
keeping the faith,
running the race with perseverance,
offering to future generations an example in turn.
For the great company of your people,
and for our place within it,
Lord, we thank you.
In the name of Christ.
Amen.
All Saints’ Day intercession
Loving God,
we remember today all who have gone ahead of us
in the journey of faith,
running the race set before them,
and holding firm to the end.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called at the beginning –
like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob –
examples of faith who have been an inspiration
to generations since.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to lead your people
through adversity –
like Moses, Joshua, Gideon –
examples of commitment and determination
against all odds.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to speak your word –
like Samuel, Elijah, Elisha –
examples of wisdom and insight into your will.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to rule your chosen nation –
like Saul, David, Solomon –
examples of human greatness and human fallibility.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called
to proclaim judgement and renewal –
like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah –
examples of openness to your word
and courage in proclaiming it.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember these and so many more
leading up to the coming of Christ,
and we remember also your servants
who were a part of his ministry,
or a part of his Church.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember John the Baptist, the voice in the wilderness,
Mary, the mother of Jesus,
the twelve apostles, his friends and confidantes,
the women at the empty tomb, looking in vain for his body,
and all those countless individuals
who were touched by his earthly ministry.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember Peter, the Rock of the Church,
Paul, apostle to the Gentiles,
and those who have followed in their footsteps,
saints known and unknown, near and far,
yet each a part of the great company of your people
in heaven and on earth.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those we have known,
those who have been part of our own church,
who have influenced our lives,
who have inspired and encouraged us through their lives.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those around us,
the churches of our town,
Christians across the country,
fellow-believers throughout the world.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
And we pray finally for those who will come after us,
all who will come to faith,
offer their service,
and live for Christ.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
Loving God,
we remember today all who have gone before us
in the journey of faith.
Help us and all who follow to run the race as they did,
holding firm to the end.
Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.