Prayer for October 28-November 3, 2012 

Sermon Text: (Mark 10:46-52)

That we may hear and respond to cries for help

Jesus, amid all the clamor and commotion of life, we rejoice that You hear the voice that cries to You from the crowd.  You hear the voice that others rebuke and silence.  You hear the voice of anxiety and anguish and desperation.  And You respond.

You give audience to those who are often cast aside.  You listen to those who have stopped expecting anyone to listen to them.  You ask those who cannot help themselves what they would have You do for them.

When You have listened, You heal, restore, and liberate.  You generate new life that exceeds the thin hopes of those who cry to You.

Jesus, we rejoice that You have heard our cries.  We rejoice that You have turned to us and heard our requests and acted to heal and liberate us.  We rejoice that You have led us beyond anxiety and desperation into your peace and joy.  How gladly we follow You! 

Enable us to hear and respond to others as You have heard and responded to us.  Amen.

Prayer for October 21-27, 2012 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:35-45

That we may have the wisdom and patience to serve one another

God of all, we rejoice that You know us fully.  You know all of our subtle and not so subtle strategies for trying to gain an advantage over our neighbors, even over our brothers and sisters in faith.  You know that many of us would rather be served by others than offer ourselves to them in service. 

Forgive us when we jockey for position and compete with one another.  Forgive us when we fail to take to heart Jesus’ instruction and call that we follow him by serving others. 

Give us wisdom and patience to serve our sisters and brothers in ways that strengthen and encourage them.  Enable us to serve without being overly concerned about the recognition or reward that we might receive.  Give us the heart and mind of Christ Jesus that we may honor You in humble obedience.  Amen.

Prayer for October 14-20, 2012 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:17-31

That we may see the multiplied blessings You have provided

Generous God, we want to be your people.  We want to live the abundant life of freedom that You have prepared for us.  But in our anxiety we are inclined to amass as much wealth as we possibly can.  We are inclined to hold our resources close and to trust in them more than we trust in You.

Forgive us.  Liberate us from the snare that money, and other forms of wealth, often become for us.  Enable us to see that our true security does not lie in the abundance of our resources.

You have shown yourself faithful in all things.  Enable us to trust in you with deep confidence.  Enable us to see the way that You have already multiplied your blessings by giving us many places where we are welcomed and offered hospitality, and many brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers in faith with whom we share your joy and love, and with whom we sing your praise.  Amen. 

Prayer for October 7-13, 2012 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:2-16

That we will practice fidelity in all our relationships

Loving Creator, we rejoice in your many gifts!    

We praise You for the joy that many of us have experienced through our marriages.  For many of us, our spouses have been a sign of your love, your faithfulness, and your patience.  Through their love, we have become more fully convinced of your love for us.

Enable each of us to be faithful partners in our marriages and our friendships.  Enable us to honor our spouses and our friends and help them to draw strength from You.  Prevent us from treating our marriages or any other relationships as disposable products that we may cast aside when we grow tired or disappointed with them. 

Enable us to practice the enduring fidelity that You have shown to us.  Enable us, also, to assist those who are trapped in relationships of abuse, so that they may experience freedom and joy in your presence.

Loving God, we rejoice also in the children that You have placed in our lives.  Let us welcome them as fully as Jesus did.  Let us encourage their creativity and joy with nurturing love.  And let us learn child-like responsiveness to You, so that with your littlest ones, we may experience the fullness of your reign among us.  Amen.