MPB4THFRI

Thank you for joining in our prayer for all our sisters and brothers who find themselves without the work they so desperately seek and deserve, and for all who are working in jobs below their level of skill, experience, or training.

We also keep in mind all those who work for unjust wages.

Please share these prayers with others in your family, neighborhood, faith community, and work place; our goal is to consistently add to the number of people praying together for this cause on the Fourth Friday of each month.

Faithful and gracious Lord, your children stand before you in need of your loving care and guidance. As always, we rely on you for all things. And while the bounty of your goodness is never-ending and always more than we need, we gather ourselves together to place our prayers and our needs upon your heart.

We remain troubled, Lord, by the continually growing numbers of our sisters and brothers who are unable to find work. Each week brings fresh news of more people having lost their jobs for reasons well beyond their control. Each day finds us becoming more and more aware of how challenging this time is for so many of our family members and friends, our neighbors and acquaintances.

Help your children, Lord. Be with our unemployed and help them to find the grace and gifts they need to remain persistent and resilient in their efforts to find work; grant them the courage and inspiration which only you can provide to help them see their way through their plight. Free them from all unnecessary anxieties, and help them to not lose faith as they struggle with their situation.

Help your children, Lord. Be with those among us who are working and help us to find the grace and gifts we need to continue to be successful at our work; grant us the motivation and determination to excel at completing the tasks before us at work. Enable us to find ways to help create or save jobs; inspire us to find new ways to reach out in support of those who are searching for work. Bless all your children today, Lord God; make us one in all that we do. Amen.

You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules. The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Good News, in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This saying is faithful:

“For if we died with him,

we will also live with him.

If we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we deny him,

he also will deny us.

If we are faithless,

he remains faithful.

He can’t deny himself.”

Response: In you, O Lord, my heart trusts, mindful of your

covenant.

Lord, God of all the earth, hear my prayer!

When I call out to you in trust, O Lord

Do not turn a deaf ear to me.

In times of fear, you have provided comfort.

In times of darkness, you have been my light.

In you alone is my trust rewarded.

Response: In you, O Lord, my heart trusts, mindful of your

covenant.

I am cut down by those who would destroy; you build me up.

Those around me pursue what has no value;

You enable me to see what is good and just.

For I know that you work great wonders, Lord –

With all your faithful I stand in awe of your power.

With all your children I know you hear my prayer.

Response: In you, O Lord, my heart trusts, mindful of your

covenant.

I walk in the light of day confident of your help.

At night, I sleep in peace – aware of your protection.

Your loving embrace I will seek always.

I pray my heart be humble, my spirit contrite;

May this be my sacrifice to you this day.

In you my heart trusts, mindful of your covenant.

Response: In you, O Lord, my heart trusts, mindful of your

covenant.

You have given me joy beyond what I deserve;

Your bounty provides more than what I need.

In your loving hands, I will place my life.

Trust in the Lord God, all his children.

For all time, sing his praises to all the world.

He continues to do wondrous things for us.

Response: In you, O Lord, my heart trusts, mindful of your

covenant.

Lead all your people to the security of your love and mercy.

Guide the unemployed in their search for the work they so richly deserve.

Help those who fear for the security and well-being of their families; do not allow them to be tempted to compromise their values in their search for work.

Inspire all those who hire others to treat each individual they meet with the dignity and respect which is a right of all your children.

Bless those whose decisions result in the creation and elimination of jobs; help them to understand and appreciate the impact of their actions. Help them to be guided by the values of the Kingdom.

For the prayers and intentions of all members of the Votive Candle Prayer Network.

(please add your own intentions…)

Lord Jesus, you summon all who follow you to work in the name of all that is holy; be with us as we tackle the tasks and assignments which await us at our jobs. Walk with us and allow us to know your presence in one another and in the work we have been chosen to complete. Grant that each of us might experience the joy of meeting you in the people we work with today and every day.

Bless all your followers with the vision and compassion needed to be able to always recognize and uphold the dignity of every sister and brother we are graced to meet – our peers and co-workers, our managers and those who report to us, our customers and prospects, our vendors and partners. Help us to love as you have loved; inspire us to serve each other with joyful hearts and helping hands.

Bless all of the children of the Kingdom with the insight to understand how our words and actions impact the lives and livelihoods of others. Fill us with your Spirit, fill us with hope. Enable us to reach out to show our care and concern for all who are less fortunate than ourselves; teach us how to serve one another in humility, always in your name. Amen.

For Journaling and Reflection:

How does unemployment or the fear of unemployment impact those you work with?

How well do you know the despair of someone who has feared for their family's well-being or security due to their inability to find or hold work?

What are the "faith challenges" the unemployed face?

For Group Research & Discussion:

How are organizations in your area working together to support the un/underemployed? What resources might be better shared among groups to provide more and better opportunities for help the un/underemployed?

What groups within your faith communities might be able to join together to provide a new service or ministry to help the families of those who are un/underemployed?

We are troubled, Lord, because we are unable to find work. It gets harder and harder to get out of bed each morning and face the reality which confronts us. We work long and hard each day in our search for employment, yet most days we discover much more frustration and rejection than success. Every week brings fresh news that more of our sisters and brothers have lost their jobs for reasons beyond their control. Each day finds us becoming more and more concerned about both our ability to find work and care for ourselves and our loved ones.

Help your anxious and concerned children, Lord. Be with us and help us to find the grace and gifts we need to remain persistent and resilient in our efforts to find work; grant us the courage and inspiration which only you can provide to help us see our way through our situation. Free us from all unnecessary anxieties, and help us to not lose faith as we continue our efforts to find the work that we need.

Help all your children, Lord. Be with those among us who are working and help them to find the grace and gifts they need to continue to be successful at their work; grant them the motivation and determination to excel at completing the tasks before them. Enable them to find new ways to help create or save jobs for others; inspire them to find new ways to reach out in support of those who are searching for work. Their efforts are greatly appreciated and helpful. Bless all your children today, Lord God; make us one in all that we do. Amen.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Good News, in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This saying is faithful:

“For if we died with him,

we will also live with him.

If we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we deny him,

he also will deny us.

If we are faithless,

he remains faithful.

He can’t deny himself.”

Response: Open your ears to my call for help and rescue, Lord.

Lord, hear my prayer.

Wait and listen for the pleas which come from my heart!

Have mercy on your child, Lord, and

Open your heart to my needs.

I reach out to you from the darkness of my despair.

With each passing day the strength of my heart wanes.

Lord, hear my prayer

And raise me out of this abyss I have created for myself.

Response: Open your ears to my call for help and rescue, Lord.

You alone are the true refuge and strength I seek;

I know you can help me stand strong against my troubles.

Lord, hear my prayer

And bolster my efforts to live as you have called me to live.

In you I know I will find shelter;

Under your wings I will rest in comfort and warmth.

Lord, hear my prayer

And protect me from the demons that I have allowed to torment

me.

Response: Open your ears to my call for help and rescue, Lord.

I trust in your mercy and love, dear Lord;

You have been my source of courage and determination.

Lord, hear my prayer

And fill me with your Spirit of faithfulness and righteousness.

Lord, hear my prayer.

Open your ears to my call for help and rescue.

Bless me with a vision of your glory and

Walk beside me on my journey through life.

Response: Open your ears to my call for help and rescue, Lord.

Lead all your people to the security of your love and mercy.

Guide the unemployed in their search for the work they so richly deserve.

Help those who fear for the security and well-being of their families; do not allow them to be tempted to compromise their values in their search for work.

Inspire all those who hire others to treat each individual they meet with the dignity and respect which is a right of all your children.

Bless those whose decisions result in the creation and elimination of jobs; help them to understand and appreciate the impact of their actions. Help them to be guided by the values of the Kingdom.

For the prayers and intentions of all members of the Votive Candle Prayer Network.

(please add your own intentions…)

Lord Jesus, you summon all who follow you to work in the name of all that is holy; be with us as we continue to tackle the activities that can help us to find the work we seek. Walk with us and allow us to know your presence in one another and in the good people who give selflessly to help us along our way. Grant that each of us might experience the joy of meeting you in the people we meet with today and every day.

Bless all your followers with the vision and compassion we need to be able to recognize and uphold the dignity of every one of your children – especially those we network with, those we speak to about career opportunities, those who hold us accountable to our search efforts, those who we interview with, those who are seeking to find ways to put our gifts, skills, and experience to work. Help us to love as you have loved; inspire us to serve each other with joyful hearts and helping hands.

For Journaling and Reflection:

How has unemployment changed your life, your way of coping with challenge?

How have you leveraged the experience of others in your job networking community to help you learn and grow in your own job search?

What are the "faith challenges" you are facing as an unemployed person ?

For Group Research & Discussion:

What groups within your faith communities might be able to join together to provide a new service or ministry to help the families of those who are un/underemployed?