Sermon text: Exodus 17:1-17 with John 4:1-42
That we will accept the satisfaction You offer
Source of living water, we are frequently tempted to satisfy our deepest thirst by looking for resources that are not connected to You and your generous provision for us. We amass more and more possessions. We overuse and abuse food and drink and other necessary resources. We run from relationship to relationship. We plunge into activities that make our hearts race and our skin tingle.
In our pursuits, we mute the deepest cry of our heart: to be known fully by You and to know You fully as Creator, Rescuer and Comforter.
Forgive us when we will not recognize your presence or acknowledge You. Forgive us when we turn to You only in desperation.
Expose the truth of our hearts to us. Teach us with patience. Fills us with your hope. Transform us by your truth. Send us, with enthusiasm and joy, to tell others about our encounters with You. We rejoice in You! Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Prayer for March 20-26, 2011
Sermon Text: Genesis 12:1-4a
That we may be quick to obey your call
God of all peoples, You called Abraham to leave his family and country for a place he had never seen. You promised to bless him, and make him a blessing so that all peoples would be blessed through him. We rejoice in your great promise to Abraham, and we rejoice that Abraham trusted You enough to get up and go when You commanded him to go.
Through Jesus Christ, we whose ancestors represent various national and ethnic backgrounds have become children of your promise to Abraham. So we rejoice in You! We rejoice that in your choice of Abraham, You chose us. We thank You for the uncountable blessings You have showered on our lives. You have enriched our lives by your generous Presence.
Enable us to trust You as Abraham did, to go where You direct and do what You command. We promise obedience as an act of gratitude, and we ask that others will be blessed through us. Amen.
That we may be quick to obey your call
God of all peoples, You called Abraham to leave his family and country for a place he had never seen. You promised to bless him, and make him a blessing so that all peoples would be blessed through him. We rejoice in your great promise to Abraham, and we rejoice that Abraham trusted You enough to get up and go when You commanded him to go.
Through Jesus Christ, we whose ancestors represent various national and ethnic backgrounds have become children of your promise to Abraham. So we rejoice in You! We rejoice that in your choice of Abraham, You chose us. We thank You for the uncountable blessings You have showered on our lives. You have enriched our lives by your generous Presence.
Enable us to trust You as Abraham did, to go where You direct and do what You command. We promise obedience as an act of gratitude, and we ask that others will be blessed through us. Amen.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Prayer for March 13-19, 2011
Sermon Text: Psalm 32
That we will always voice our sin in hope of your forgiveness
Gracious One, in your forgiveness we find healing, energy and abundant blessing. Because You are merciful, you invite us to see ourselves as we are: sinful, sorrowful, sickened and weak from the sin in which we have entangled ourselves. Because You are merciful, You invite us beyond silence and shame to call on You.
Because You have answered us and forgiven us, because You have healed and energized us, we trust in You when deep trouble comes. We take refuge in You as our Deliverer who causes us to rejoice with singing.
Teach us your way. Give us more understanding and obedient hearts. Help us remember the many ways that You have provided for us, protected us, and rescued us.
There is no love like yours! All our songs are for You! Amen.
That we will always voice our sin in hope of your forgiveness
Gracious One, in your forgiveness we find healing, energy and abundant blessing. Because You are merciful, you invite us to see ourselves as we are: sinful, sorrowful, sickened and weak from the sin in which we have entangled ourselves. Because You are merciful, You invite us beyond silence and shame to call on You.
Because You have answered us and forgiven us, because You have healed and energized us, we trust in You when deep trouble comes. We take refuge in You as our Deliverer who causes us to rejoice with singing.
Teach us your way. Give us more understanding and obedient hearts. Help us remember the many ways that You have provided for us, protected us, and rescued us.
There is no love like yours! All our songs are for You! Amen.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Prayer for March 6-12, 2011
Sermon text: Matthew 17:1-9
That your glory will energize us for witness
God of all, we rejoice that You have revealed your glory in Christ Jesus. Even though we have not experienced visions as powerful as that of the apostles who witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, what we have experienced—in joyful worship, in the reading and preaching of your word, in the witness of others to your presence, in the communion of your holy ones, and in some odd moments of our lives—has dazzled us enough to stun us, terrify us, and shatter any self-confidence we may have had about our worthiness before You.
You who are Light, we follow the Son of your love with hope and joy. We receive his word of instruction as light for our journey, our very life, and recognize, each day, that our entire existence is lived from the generosity of your self-disclosure to us.
We are yours. We will testify about your glory. Amen.
That your glory will energize us for witness
God of all, we rejoice that You have revealed your glory in Christ Jesus. Even though we have not experienced visions as powerful as that of the apostles who witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, what we have experienced—in joyful worship, in the reading and preaching of your word, in the witness of others to your presence, in the communion of your holy ones, and in some odd moments of our lives—has dazzled us enough to stun us, terrify us, and shatter any self-confidence we may have had about our worthiness before You.
You who are Light, we follow the Son of your love with hope and joy. We receive his word of instruction as light for our journey, our very life, and recognize, each day, that our entire existence is lived from the generosity of your self-disclosure to us.
We are yours. We will testify about your glory. Amen.
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