Bidding Prayer
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers” (Romans 12:12-13).
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving” (Col 4:2).
The bidding prayer is an informal intercessory prayer, covering a wide variety of concerns such as the church, the state, the living and the dead, and public and private necessities, and is considered one of the oldest forms of prayer in the Christian Church. In this prayer, the leader invites ("bids") the people's prayers for a specific cause or concerns; there follows a brief silence, during which the people can pray both silently aloud their personal concerns and prayers. Then the leader summarizes the people's prayer, usually in a brief collect-type prayer, and the people respond "Amen." Then the leader invites the people's prayer for a second specific cause or concern. This is again followed by silence, then by a collect prayed aloud by the leader, and so on. Although in most bidding prayers it is the minister who both “bids” and “summarizes,” we will take turns summarizing as we are all called to ministry in some form.
Let us pray for the witness of the whole church. (Silence for prayer)
O God, you have graced us with the gift of life and a world to live in. Empower and strengthen your church that true to its calling it may witness to your radical and boundless love, in word and deed. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
Let us pray for all the people of our church. (Silence for prayer)
Saving God, you nourish and sustain us by Word and Sacrament. Strengthen all the people of our church, especially our superintendents, and our pastors and teachers. Grant that, sustained in you, our service and witness in this land may be full of faith and love. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
Let us pray for all those who suffer poverty, injustice or oppression. (Silence for prayer.)
Liberating God, you are the hope of the weak and the needy. Rescue those who suffer when they cry out. Open the ears of our hearts to hear and quicken in us the fire to respond in love. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
Let us pray for all who suffer illness, distress or grief. (Silence for prayer.)
Compassionate One, you are a well-spring of comfort and healing. Grant comfort, healing and release to those in need. Awaken in us boundless compassion and use us as agents of lovingkindness. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
Let us pray for all those who have died. (Silence for prayer.)
God of All Generations, we thank you for the gift of the lives and the loving service of all who have died. Keep us in the bonds of love with all the saints throughout the ages and bring us to the fullness of your reign. We pray in Jesus' name.
All: Amen.
Let us pray for whatever else we need. (Silence for prayer)
O God of Love, hear the prayers of your people. Enliven us, by your Spirit, to live into the fullness of your reign. We pray through Jesus, our life and our hope.
All: Amen.
