Dear Heavenly Father,
We offer our thanks and praise to You. You have given us a beautiful world, and we ask Your guidance in caring for it.  You have given us blessings without number.  We especially thank You for the gift of you son, and we ask that You help us to follow his example always. 

We pray for peace between nations and in nations, in churches, and in families. We pray for understanding and unity. Help us to spread the love of Jesus to all people everywhere.

We pray that as a congregation You will help us to be mindful of all who suffer. We pray for those who are sick or hurting, or grieving, lonely, or anxious, or in the midst of life transitions, or struggling in their faith. Bring comfort, healing, and wisdom as needed. 

We thank you for all the Saints who have gone before us offering their examples for us to follow.  And, Lord, on this Saint Patrick’s Day, may we be comforted by words recited from Saint Patrick’s breastplate:
May you be blessed with the strength of heaven, The light of the sun and the radiance of the moon, The splendor of fire, The speed of lightning, The swiftness of the wind, The depth of the sea, The stability of the earth and the firmness of the rock.

In Jesus name we pray,
Amen. 

Mrs. Martha T. Bean, Elder