These ideas are designed to be starting points for the prayers of a particular community of faith.

Joe Milner

1. For the Church: that the fire of the Holy Spirit will embolden us to give witness to God and to courageously follow the example of Jesus

2. For the grace to follow Christ: that we may embrace the cross as we experience opposition, hardship or rejection and allow God to raise us to new life

3. For all who are suffering for the sake of the Gospel: that God will protect and sustain those who risk their lives to bring the Gospel message, the sacraments, or medical care to those in difficult or distant places

4. For Wisdom: that the Spirit will unshackle us from the contemporary priorities of power and wealth, and renew us to live virtuously and generously

5. For the grace to live with the unknown: that in times of loss, we may trust God who is with us even when answers or new beginnings are not apparent

6. For the gift of discernment: that the Spirit will guide us in our judgments and actions so that the Gospel can be manifest in our lifestyles, families, and professions

7. For all whom God has called to be prophets: that the Spirit of Christ will sustain and empower them to unmask the truth from which society hides and proclaim a vision of hope and new possibilities

8. For the grace of freedom: that God will help us lay down our lives in sacrificial love toward our families and those in need so that they may be enriched and experience God’s compassionate care for them

9. For all who are discouraged by the burdens of life: that the compassionate love of God will renew their hearts and lead them through their struggles

10. For all who have been scandalized and who have acted scandalously: that God will give strength to the weak in faith and awareness to those who act without being conscious of the consequences of their actions

11. For all who live amidst civil discord and conflict: that God will break the cycle of violence, heal the divisions that exist within the civic community, and protect the innocent

12. For all recovering from storms, floods, and wildfires: that God will ease their suffering, give them strength, and help them to find the resources that they need to rebuild their homes and lives

13. For civility in public discourse: that public figures may respect the human dignity of each other and find ways to address the heart of the real issues of our world and nation

14. For those who are starving or malnourished: that God will remove the bureaucratic barriers the block food distribution, help people to more aware of hunger around them, and come to the aid of those who lack food, particularly children

15. For new spirit in leadership: that God will call women and men to leadership in the church, education, and government and gift them with critical insights and the ability to place the needs of the most vulnerable above their own