Prayers for Families and Individuals

Grace at Meal Time:

For these and all our blessings, God's holy name be praised. Amen.

For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe, you give us food
from the earth. Amen.

God is great, God is good,
and we thank him for our food.
By his hand we all are fed;
give us, Lord, our daily bread.
Bless our home with peace and love,
and grant in Christ a home above. Amen.

For our Home and Family:

O God, whose desire is that all the peoples of the world should
be one human family, living together in harmony, grant that our
home, by its worship and its witness, may help to hasten the
day when your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

On the Anniversary of a Baptism

The following prayer is offered on the anniversary of a baptism. Before you
offer this prayer, light your baptismal candle, reflect for a moment of the
event of your baptism and say the following prayer.

Blessed are you, Lord God, ruler of the universe, we praise you
for your love and mercy which you have shown to all your people.

Today we give you thanks and glory as we celebrate the anniversary
of the day when you made (Name) your son/daughter in baptism.

Give him/her the grace to live in your love, and help this family
to come closer to you by faith, prayer, and example.

All glory is yours, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son in the
communion of your Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

For a Birthday

God our Father, the birth of your Son Jesus Christ brought great joy
to Mary and Joseph. We give thanks to you for (Name), whose birthday
we celebrate today. May he/she ever grow in your faith, hope, and love.
We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

On the Anniversary of a Marriage

Gracious God, on this our special day we remember with thanksgiving
our vows of love and commitment to you and to each other in marriage.
We pray for your continual blessing. May we learn from both our joys
and sorrows, and discover new riches in our life together in you. We ask
this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For a Member Leaving Home

Let us ask God to bless us at this time of separation:

Gracious God, look on us in your love and give us your blessing. Be with
(Name) as he/she leaves us, and be with those of us who remain here.
You know our feelings at this time. Help us to remember that we are always
united to one another in your love, made known to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For Reconciliation in a Home

Let us ask God for his healing peace:

God of peace, forgive us as we forgive each other for all the hurt we have brought
into our lives. Let your healing love rest upon the wounds we ahve caused by our
anger. Deepen our love in a new understanding for each other and for you. We
ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who carried on is cross our discord and our
grief. Amen.

For the Poor and Neglected:

Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you the homeless, the destitute,
the sick, the aged, and all who have none to care for them. Heal those who are broken
in body or spirit, and turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this for the love of your Son, who
for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.