PRE-WRITTEN PRAYERS

IN THE STORM
A prayer in the time of an approaching hurricane
   God of the Universe, at the dawn of creation, your Spirit breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all holiness. You created the oceans and rivers, and all that dwell within them, and at your word the wind and the waves were born.
   The seasons follow your plan, and the tides rise and fall on your command. In both calm and storm, you are with us.
   On the Sea of Galilee, even when the disciples began to fear, Jesus showed that he was Lord over the waters by rebuking the storms, so that all would know that even the wind and the waves obey him.
   Creator God, we ask you to calm the wind and the waves of the approaching hurricane, and spare those in its path from harm. Help those who are in its way to reach safety. Open our hearts in generosity to all who need help in the coming days.
   In all things and in all times, help us to remember that even when life seems dark and stormy, you are in the boat with us, guiding us to safety.
 By Fr James Martin SJ

LET OUR CRIES COME UNTO YOU
Most merciful and compassionate God,
Giver of Life and Love,
hear our prayers
and let our cries come unto you.
We weep with your people
We hear the cries of orphaned children and laments of bereaved parents
We feel the desperation of those searching for loved ones
We behold the silence of vanished villages.
We see the devastation.
We are overwhelmed by the enormity of it all.
Our hearts are hushed, our minds are numb.
Let not our hands be stopped, our voices dumb.
God of the universe,
Open our hearts to feel your compassion
Galvanize in us the act of continued giving
Bond us to our sisters and brothers in need
Comfort and heal the injured, the bereaved, the lost
Strengthen the aid workers and medical personnel
Bolster the resolve of governments and those with power to help
Open through this tragedy pathways to partnerships and peace
In Your Name of mercy and healing and compassion we pray
- Offered for the people of Japan following the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011

DULL THE PAIN

Dear God,
It hurts so bad.
Dull the pain with Your love.
Blur the sharp edges by reminding me that from bad comes good.
Help me appreciate that after the sorrow, joy is sweeter.
I look forward to better times. I can endure anything with You by my side.
- Author Unknown

FOR A SICK FRIEND
O Holy Spirit, please come like a dove
Shield and protect now the one that I love.
Cover their wounds with Your grace feathered wings,
Shield them from sorrow, breathe hope songs within.

Tend with Your goodness the pain that they bear
Heal now their sickness with miracle care.
Carry them high far above till they see
Your rainbow of promise, real hope lies ahead.

I love them so dearly, so help me to be
All that you, would give out through me.
- Author Unknown

PRAYER FOR HEALING
Dear God,
I pray for [insert name] who is sick, I pray that you restore his/her health and make him/her healthy again. Cleans his/her body Lord, remove all the bad cells and all that is making him/her sick. I pray for all the doctors treating him/her, that they will provide him/her with the best care and treatment.
Amen
- Ashley D

IN TIMES OF SORROW
May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall,
You do not walk alone.
- Author Unknown

IN TIMES OF LOSS
We pray that in this time of loss,
You'll feel God's love much more
And that you'll find your comfort
In the presence of the Lord
We pray God pours upon you,
His sweet amazing grace
And overflow your heart with peace
As you live in His embrace.

- M.S. Lowndes 

PSALM 25: 6-7
Remember, Lord,
your compassion and mercy
which you showed long ago.
Do not recall the sins and failings of my youth.
In your mercy remember me, lord,
because of your goodness. 
- Book of Psalm

FORGIVE ALL MY SINS
Lord Jesus,
You opened the eyes of the blind,
healed the sick,
forgave the sinful woman,
and after Peter's denial confirmed him in your love.
Listen to my prayer:
forgive all my sins,
renew your love in my heart,
help me to live in perfect unity
with my fellow Christians
that I may proclaim your saving power
to all the world.
- Author Unknown

SERENITY PRAYER
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.

PRAYER TO TRUST GOD
Heavenly Father, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your word, which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run from my pain but to trust fully in Your goodness and power to carry me through. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

PEACE FOR THE OVERWHELMED HEART
Lord, when my heart is overwhelmed, overwhelm me with Your peace. Lead me to You, my rock. Guide me to Your Word which gives me strength and refuge. Help me not to run to lesser things. Draw me to run to You first. Help me get into the habit of taking my “overwhelmed” and placing it under your will. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen (Jennifer Rotheschild)  

PRAYER FOR WORRY AND DEPRESSION
Dear Father in Heaven, so much in my life is broken. I have so many concerns and cares, and they weigh me down. While I desire to cast my cares upon You, I find I usually pick them back up again, and they only add more anxiety and stress. Please help me learn to cast my cares on You as I learn what it means to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Chrystal Hurst)

Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen. (St. Francis of Assisi)