Sermon Text: Matthew 5:1-12
That we may be blessed as your faithful servants
God of wonder, through Jesus You have surprised us by speech and action. You have undermined our expectations, by declaring “Blessed,” many people who seem to be outside the scope of your care and anything but blessed.
Through Jesus, You have welcomed people without spiritual resources; people in grief; people who are unable, or unwilling, to compete for their place in the world; people who ache for your righteousness to come, your justice to be done, so they may experience freedom in You.
You also welcome and bless people who act with forgiveness and generosity toward their neighbors, people who desire You and your reign only, those who
act to create wholeness in place of conflict, anxiety and fragmentation, as well as those who are abused for their commitment to your just ways.
God, most of us are not seriously deprived, grieved, marginalized, oppressed, or persecuted. Nor are most of us excessively compassionate and forgiving toward our neighbors, devoted to You, or effective at bringing your wholeness and healing. We have not been persecuted and abused for our faith. But we hope in You. We trust in your unfailing compassion and forgiveness. We seek your generous reign. We welcome You because Christ welcomed us. We give our lives into your hands for your blessing and reward, but also that we may serve You as faithful agents of your welcome, generosity, justice and peace. Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Prayer of Confession - January 23, 2011
Each year, from January 18-25, the UCC observes a week of prayer for Christian
unity. Our congregation, St. Nicolai UCC, has a "Service of Prayer for Christian Unity" during this week, and I write at least one new prayer for the service each year. This responsive prayer is our prayer of confession for January 23, 2011.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: One and Only God, we rejoice in You.
People: Thank You for coming among us in Jesus Christ, who is Head
of the church.
Leader: You have revealed yourself to us as Three-in-One – a great mystery
to us, but also a deep source of comfort.
People: So we worship You as Sovereign, Savior and Sustainer.
Leader: You are One.
People: Amen!
Leader: You have created unity among us through Christ Jesus, your Living
Word.
People: Hallelujah!
Leader: You have united us with You through Christ Jesus in whom your
fullness dwells.
People: Hallelujah! Amen!
Leader: In spite of all You have done to join our lives together and link
them with You, we have turned from You, and from each other, to
go our own ways, and assert our own will.
People: Forgive us for our rebelliousness.
Leader: We have wounded the body of Christ by our stubborn selfishness.
People: Forgive us for failing to recognize Christ’s body and the harm
we have done to it.
Leader: We have refused to let the mind of Christ be formed in us, refused
to serve each other in joyful obedience.
People: Forgive us for placing our own interests above those of the
church of Christ.
Leader: Do not give up on us or abandon us Patient One.
People: But soften our hard hearts and heal us by your grace.
Leader: You are able when we are unable!
People: Unite us fully in Christ!
All: We hope and trust in You! Amen.
unity. Our congregation, St. Nicolai UCC, has a "Service of Prayer for Christian Unity" during this week, and I write at least one new prayer for the service each year. This responsive prayer is our prayer of confession for January 23, 2011.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: One and Only God, we rejoice in You.
People: Thank You for coming among us in Jesus Christ, who is Head
of the church.
Leader: You have revealed yourself to us as Three-in-One – a great mystery
to us, but also a deep source of comfort.
People: So we worship You as Sovereign, Savior and Sustainer.
Leader: You are One.
People: Amen!
Leader: You have created unity among us through Christ Jesus, your Living
Word.
People: Hallelujah!
Leader: You have united us with You through Christ Jesus in whom your
fullness dwells.
People: Hallelujah! Amen!
Leader: In spite of all You have done to join our lives together and link
them with You, we have turned from You, and from each other, to
go our own ways, and assert our own will.
People: Forgive us for our rebelliousness.
Leader: We have wounded the body of Christ by our stubborn selfishness.
People: Forgive us for failing to recognize Christ’s body and the harm
we have done to it.
Leader: We have refused to let the mind of Christ be formed in us, refused
to serve each other in joyful obedience.
People: Forgive us for placing our own interests above those of the
church of Christ.
Leader: Do not give up on us or abandon us Patient One.
People: But soften our hard hearts and heal us by your grace.
Leader: You are able when we are unable!
People: Unite us fully in Christ!
All: We hope and trust in You! Amen.
Prayer for January 23-29, 2011
Sermon Text: Matthew 4:12-33
That we may fullfill your call and draw others to You
Holy God, You have walked among us in the man Jesus—the bearer of your image and your fullness, one with You. Through Jesus, You have called us to yourself, called us from our worries and our work to new work, or new ways of working, that participate in and prepare others for life in your realm of blessing.
Give us energy and insight to fulfill our calling. Help us cast wide the net of your love, so that many are drawn to You to give You praise and to receive your generous gifts.
May we be your agents to instruct others in faith, to announce good news, to heal and to liberate from spiritual bondage. We know that we can do none of these things by our own strength and ingenuity. But we believe that your Spirit, working through us, can accomplish many things that would otherwise be impossible.
We give our lives to You, our Creator, to do with as You will. Amen.
That we may fullfill your call and draw others to You
Holy God, You have walked among us in the man Jesus—the bearer of your image and your fullness, one with You. Through Jesus, You have called us to yourself, called us from our worries and our work to new work, or new ways of working, that participate in and prepare others for life in your realm of blessing.
Give us energy and insight to fulfill our calling. Help us cast wide the net of your love, so that many are drawn to You to give You praise and to receive your generous gifts.
May we be your agents to instruct others in faith, to announce good news, to heal and to liberate from spiritual bondage. We know that we can do none of these things by our own strength and ingenuity. But we believe that your Spirit, working through us, can accomplish many things that would otherwise be impossible.
We give our lives to You, our Creator, to do with as You will. Amen.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Prayer for January 16-22, 2011
Sermon Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7, John 1:29-42
That our witness and works will point to You
God of goodness and mercy, You have named us as your own. You have shaped our lives by your wisdom and grace. You have called us to serve You with delight and have given us provocative models of fruitful service.
Living One, help us remember that the many gifts You have given to us were given not only for our own delight, but that we might be generous to the diverse people we encounter. Help us remember that we are called to be your witnesses and to multiply good works of compassion in the world. Help us not to grow weary of doing good, and help us not to be envious when the good works of others draw more attention than our own.
May all that we do point to your presence, your action, your supremacy in all things. May other people be drawn to You and glimpse your glory because our words of witness and our works of compassion point beyond ourselves to You. Amen.
That our witness and works will point to You
God of goodness and mercy, You have named us as your own. You have shaped our lives by your wisdom and grace. You have called us to serve You with delight and have given us provocative models of fruitful service.
Living One, help us remember that the many gifts You have given to us were given not only for our own delight, but that we might be generous to the diverse people we encounter. Help us remember that we are called to be your witnesses and to multiply good works of compassion in the world. Help us not to grow weary of doing good, and help us not to be envious when the good works of others draw more attention than our own.
May all that we do point to your presence, your action, your supremacy in all things. May other people be drawn to You and glimpse your glory because our words of witness and our works of compassion point beyond ourselves to You. Amen.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Prayer for January 9-15, 2011
Sermon Text: Matthew 3:13-17
That our lives may embody your presence more fully
God, our God, we worship You with thanksgiving for coming among us in Jesus Immanuel. We rejoice that Jesus was wholly committed to your righteousness, and that his life embodied and fulfilled the law and the prophets You gave to Israel for guidance and blessing.
We rejoice that Jesus identified so fully with us that he entered the waters of repentance, though he knew no sin. And we rejoice that by your Spirit and by your word of affirmation, You identified Jesus as your beloved Son in whom You delight.
God, we turn to You in hope and expectation because we have seen You in Jesus. We praise You for making yourself known in the words and deeds of this beloved Son who has become Light and Life to us. We rejoice that in Jesus, You have made us daughters and sons of your love and pleasure. You have given us more than we knew to ask, so we offer our praise without limit, even as we pray that our lives may embody your presence more fully. Amen.
That our lives may embody your presence more fully
God, our God, we worship You with thanksgiving for coming among us in Jesus Immanuel. We rejoice that Jesus was wholly committed to your righteousness, and that his life embodied and fulfilled the law and the prophets You gave to Israel for guidance and blessing.
We rejoice that Jesus identified so fully with us that he entered the waters of repentance, though he knew no sin. And we rejoice that by your Spirit and by your word of affirmation, You identified Jesus as your beloved Son in whom You delight.
God, we turn to You in hope and expectation because we have seen You in Jesus. We praise You for making yourself known in the words and deeds of this beloved Son who has become Light and Life to us. We rejoice that in Jesus, You have made us daughters and sons of your love and pleasure. You have given us more than we knew to ask, so we offer our praise without limit, even as we pray that our lives may embody your presence more fully. Amen.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Prayer for January 2-8, 2011
Sermon Text: John 1:1-18
That we will know You as fully as we can
You who dwell in light, we rejoice that in Jesus, your Living Word, we have seen the light of your glory in a measure that we could bear. We rejoice that your Word has overcome our resistance and given us understanding that we could not have achieved on our own. We rejoice that your Word has energized us with new life that is more closely attuned to your desire for us.
You have come near to us, walked with us, and embraced us through your Living Word: Jesus. Through Jesus, You have welcomed us as sons and daughters of your creation and choosing. You have filled our lives with your grace and truth and have heaped up blessings that we did not expect and could not earn.
You, whom we could not see and could not know by our own effort, we rejoice that your Living Word has given us knowledge of You. We long to know You as fully as we can. You are Life to us! Light! Grace! Truth! Glory! We rejoice in You! You only! Amen.
That we will know You as fully as we can
You who dwell in light, we rejoice that in Jesus, your Living Word, we have seen the light of your glory in a measure that we could bear. We rejoice that your Word has overcome our resistance and given us understanding that we could not have achieved on our own. We rejoice that your Word has energized us with new life that is more closely attuned to your desire for us.
You have come near to us, walked with us, and embraced us through your Living Word: Jesus. Through Jesus, You have welcomed us as sons and daughters of your creation and choosing. You have filled our lives with your grace and truth and have heaped up blessings that we did not expect and could not earn.
You, whom we could not see and could not know by our own effort, we rejoice that your Living Word has given us knowledge of You. We long to know You as fully as we can. You are Life to us! Light! Grace! Truth! Glory! We rejoice in You! You only! Amen.
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