Sermon Text: Luke 18:9-14
That we will seek your mercy in humility
God, we cry to You for mercy. Forgive us! Release us from the power that sin has held over our lives. Free us to live in obedience with hope. Unite our hearts with your own generous heart. We implore You because You are slow to anger and You abound in steadfast love and mercy.
Protect us from pride. Protect us from the delusion that we are better than our neighbors and less in need of your mercy. Forgive us for believing that we have achieved righteousness on our own and for looking at others to judge them, as though we were their creator or sovereign.
God, we know that we cannot justify ourselves before You, not now, or ever. So we pray with humility: claim us, again, as your own. We have no other hope. Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Prayer for October 17-23, 2010
Sermon Text: Luke 18:1-8
That we may be energized to pray for justice
Just and generous God, enable us to pray in bold and direct ways. Enable us to pray with persistence, especially when we pray for justice for those of your children who have been steamrolled by power and greed.
You hear the cries of those whose homes have been confiscated, the homeless, exiles and immigrants who are trying to rebuild their lives, prisoners incarcerated for petty crimes, and others who have been denied basic needs and freedoms that most of us value. You hear all who cry because they have been cast aside, or ignored, by our systems of status and worth.
You know, too, the pain of those without voice who have been unable to get a good education, or a good job, or good health care. Even their hopeless silence is audible to your sensitive heart.
God, give us ears to hear their cries. And give us voice to cry out with them as companions and advocates. Energize us so that we do not cease praying for justice when we become weary or change seems slow.
We believe that You are just. We believe You will bring justice for the oppressed. Align our lives with your just purpose. Energize us to work for the justice for which we pray. Amen.
That we may be energized to pray for justice
Just and generous God, enable us to pray in bold and direct ways. Enable us to pray with persistence, especially when we pray for justice for those of your children who have been steamrolled by power and greed.
You hear the cries of those whose homes have been confiscated, the homeless, exiles and immigrants who are trying to rebuild their lives, prisoners incarcerated for petty crimes, and others who have been denied basic needs and freedoms that most of us value. You hear all who cry because they have been cast aside, or ignored, by our systems of status and worth.
You know, too, the pain of those without voice who have been unable to get a good education, or a good job, or good health care. Even their hopeless silence is audible to your sensitive heart.
God, give us ears to hear their cries. And give us voice to cry out with them as companions and advocates. Energize us so that we do not cease praying for justice when we become weary or change seems slow.
We believe that You are just. We believe You will bring justice for the oppressed. Align our lives with your just purpose. Energize us to work for the justice for which we pray. Amen.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Prayer for October 10-16, 2010
Sermon text: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7
That our lives may bring your blessing to others
God Almighty, You shape our lives in ways that we cannot see clearly or comprehend fully. Even when it seems that our lives are under your judgment and You have abandoned us, You send your word that challenges us and calls us to trust.
When we would withdraw from life and limit our contacts to those who share our experience and conviction, You call us to live with courage and to enter fully into building and planting a vital community. You call us not to consider only ourselves, but to live in ways that bring blessing and enrichment to others, even our enemies. You call us to hopeful action even when much of the evidence of our lives points toward despair.
Faithful One, enable us to act with courage and trust in every circumstance. Let us open our hands to receive what You would give us in our times of trial. Let us open our hands, also, to bless those we live among, be they friend, stranger, or enemy. Amen.
That our lives may bring your blessing to others
God Almighty, You shape our lives in ways that we cannot see clearly or comprehend fully. Even when it seems that our lives are under your judgment and You have abandoned us, You send your word that challenges us and calls us to trust.
When we would withdraw from life and limit our contacts to those who share our experience and conviction, You call us to live with courage and to enter fully into building and planting a vital community. You call us not to consider only ourselves, but to live in ways that bring blessing and enrichment to others, even our enemies. You call us to hopeful action even when much of the evidence of our lives points toward despair.
Faithful One, enable us to act with courage and trust in every circumstance. Let us open our hands to receive what You would give us in our times of trial. Let us open our hands, also, to bless those we live among, be they friend, stranger, or enemy. Amen.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Prayer for October 3 - October 9, 2010
Sermon text: Psalm 137
That we will express our grief with honesty
God, our source of song, few if any of us here, today, have seen our whole life collapse around us in national defeat and exile. We have not experienced that tragedy and pray that we may never experience it.
We have been deeply hurt, though, by enemies and friends. And we have thought the unthinkable in our desire to return hurt for hurt. We have imagined deprivation, pain, suffering and annihilation, and wished that they would come quickly from your hand.
We find no lasting satisfaction, no peace in such imaginings, though, at times, they are our truest thoughts.
Somehow, in this grief, our memories are awakened to your Spirit. Then we remember Jesus, hanging in agony from the cross, pleading, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”
We also remember that Jesus cried out in abandonment. And we ask that You listen, and hear our grief, and help us speak it truly, and stay close to give comfort. Amen.
That we will express our grief with honesty
God, our source of song, few if any of us here, today, have seen our whole life collapse around us in national defeat and exile. We have not experienced that tragedy and pray that we may never experience it.
We have been deeply hurt, though, by enemies and friends. And we have thought the unthinkable in our desire to return hurt for hurt. We have imagined deprivation, pain, suffering and annihilation, and wished that they would come quickly from your hand.
We find no lasting satisfaction, no peace in such imaginings, though, at times, they are our truest thoughts.
Somehow, in this grief, our memories are awakened to your Spirit. Then we remember Jesus, hanging in agony from the cross, pleading, “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”
We also remember that Jesus cried out in abandonment. And we ask that You listen, and hear our grief, and help us speak it truly, and stay close to give comfort. Amen.
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