God of all power and love,

we give thanks for your unfailing presence

and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss.

Send your Holy Spirit to enkindle in us your holy fire.

Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world:

a people who pray, worship, learn,

break bread, share life, heal neighbors,

bear good news, seek justice, rest and grow in the Spirit.

Wherever and however we gather,

unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission,

that we and the whole creation might be restored and renewed,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PANDEMIC PRAYER

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

For all health caregivers – nurses, physicians, aides, EMTs, paramedics, technicians and therapists; out of the depths, O God-

We cry out to you.

For hospital and nursing home medical staff, assistants, and housekeepers who have close contact with patients and for the patients themselves; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For all who travel for their daily work over land and sea and through the air: flight attendants, pilots, ship captains and sailors, bus drivers, passengers and long-distance truck drivers; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For all who handle money—bankers, supermarket, village market and convenience store cashiers; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For all who pump gas and serve customers at Interstate rest areas; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For restaurant workers, coffee shop baristas, cooks, servers, chefs, and dishwashers; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For hospitality workers, hotel receptionists and reservationists, servers and housekeepers; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For daycare center staff who cuddle and comfort children and for all children; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For teachers and professors, coaches and cafeteria workers at schools and universities across the world and students everywhere; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For the homeless huddling for warmth over steam grates and under urban bridges; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For the poor, the lonely, the vulnerable, the isolated elderly, and those with preexisting medical conditions; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For clergy who remain faithful to their calling to distribute the mysteries of God in Word and Sacrament for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith; out of the depths, O God–

We cry out to you.

For all who have tested positive for COVID-19, for all who are waiting for test results, and all who are quarantined, out of the depths, O God—

We cry out to you.

For all who have already died of the coronavirus, now free from pain and suffering. May the God of hope, comfort their families and friends; out of the depths,

O God—

We cry out to you.

Loving God, protect all for whom we have prayed; hasten the day when the virus will have run its course; quicken scientists to develop medications and vaccines; call out the best instincts of your people: love, neighborliness, compassion, and a sense of caring for every member of your beloved family on earth. Out of the depths,O God-

We cry out to you,

O God of hope, in the name of Jesus.      Amen.

LITANY FOR A PANDEMIC

1. For the sick and infected: God, heal and help. Sustain bodies and spirits. Contain the spread of infection.

2. For our vulnerable populations: God, protect our elderly and those suffering from chronic disease. Provide for the poor, especially the uninsured.

3. For the young and the strong: God, give them the necessary caution to keep them from unwittingly spreading this disease. Inspire them to help.

4. For our local, state, and federal governments: God, help our elected officials as they allocate the necessary resources for combatting this pandemic. Help them to provide more tests.

5. For our scientific community, leading the charge to understand the disease and communicate its gravity: God, give them knowledge, wisdom, and a persuasive voice.

6. For the media, committed to providing up-to-date information: God, help them to communicate with appropriate seriousness without causing panic.

7. For consumers of media, looking to be well-informed: God, help us find the most helpful local information to equip us to be good neighbors. Keep us from anxiety and panic, and enable us to implement the recommended strategies, even at a cost to ourselves.

8. For those with mental health challenges who feel isolated, anxious, and helpless: God, provide them every necessary support.

9. For the homeless, unable to practice the protocols of social distancing in the shelter system: Protect them from disease, and provide isolation shelters in every city.

10. For international travelers stuck in foreign countries: God, help them return home safely and quickly.

11. For Christian missionaries throughout the world, especially in areas with high rates of infection: God, provide them with words of hope, and equip them to love and serve those around them.

12. For workers in a variety of industries facing layoffs and financial hardship: God, keep them from panic, and inspire your church to generously support them.

13. For families with young children at home for the foreseeable future: God, help mothers and fathers to partner together creatively for the care and flourishing of their children. For single mothers and fathers, grow their networks of support.

14. For parents who cannot stay home from work but must find care for their children: God, present them with creative solutions.

15. For those in need of regular therapies and treatments that must now be postponed: God, help them to stay patient and positive.

16. For business leaders making difficult decisions that affect the lives of their employees: God, give these women and men wisdom, and help them to lead self-sacrificially.

17. For pastors and church leaders faced with the challenges of social distancing: God, help them to creatively imagine how to pastor their congregants and love their cities well.

18. For college and university students, whose courses of study are changing, whose placements are canceled, whose graduation is uncertain: God, show them that while life is uncertain, their trust is in you.

19. For Christians in every neighborhood, community, and city: May your Holy Spirit inspire us to pray, to give, to love, to serve, and to proclaim the gospel, that the name of Jesus Christ might be glorified around the world.

20. For frontline health care workers, we thank you for their vocational call to serve us. We also pray:

God, keep them safe and healthy. Keep their families safe and healthy.

God, help them to be knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, as well as the changing protocols.

God, help them to stay clear-minded in the midst of the surrounding panic.

God, deliver them from anxiety for their own loved ones (aging parents, children, spouses, roommates).

God, give them compassion for every patient in their care.

God, provide for them financially, especially if they fall ill and are unable to work.

God, help Christians in health care to exhibit extraordinary peace, so that many would ask about the reason for their hope. Give them opportunities to proclaim the gospel.

God, we trust that you are good and do good. Teach us to be your faithful people in this time of global crisis. Help us to follow in the footsteps of our faithful shepherd, Jesus, who laid down his life for the sake of love. Glorify his name as you equip us with everything needed for doing your will.

                                    Amen