Prayer for April 29-May 5, 2012 

Sermon Text: John 10:11-18

That we may hear clearly and follow closely

Christ Jesus, our Shepherd, we rejoice in your goodness to us.  We rejoice that You love us without reserve.  We rejoice in your total commitment to us, in the extreme sacrifice You have made in order to protect and save and gather your flock.  We rejoice that You know us more  thoroughly than we know ourselves, and even know our needs better than we do.

Because You have loved us first, because You have sacrificed yourself for us, because You have protected and guided us and taken all of the initiative to give us abundant life, we commit our lives to following You.  We hear and obey your voice with joy.  We rejoice to be identified as your people.  Christ Jesus, how we love you! 

Enable us to hear your voice more clearly and follow You more closely.  Amen.

Prayer for April 22-29, 2012

Sermon Text: Luke 24:36-48

That we may be empowered for faithful action

Christ, when You show your presence to us, we seem as likely to be startled and confused as to be filled with joy. We have many doubts. Some of them are about God’s ability to bring life from death now and do a new thing among us now. Some of them are about our ability to walk with You, even with all of the guidance You provide and all the resources You give.

Let your peace fill our hearts and minds. Give us trust instead of doubt. Let the witness of the church, through the centuries, convince us that You are present with us and active among us now. Let your wisdom and understanding guide our action. Enable us to expect the unexpected and even the impossible because of the power God has demonstrated in raising You from the dead.

Let your Spirit energize us to tell others about the forgiveness You offer those who repent and turn to You. May your power equip us for faithful action in your name. Amen.

Prayer for April 15-21, 2012

Sermon Text: John 20:19-31

That we may practice forgiveness readily

God of resurrection, we rejoice that Christ Jesus, whom You raised, is able to speak peace to us and overcome our fears. His living presence among us is cause for our greatest joy. Alleluia!

We rejoice that in the authority You gave him, Jesus imparted your Spirit to us to comfort us, teach us, energize us for ministry and enable us to forgive as You have forgiven us. Alleluia!

Enable us to practice forgiveness readily, so that others may realize that You are “slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.”

We rejoice that Jesus is able to overcome our doubts so that we may see and acclaim him as Lord and God. Though we have not heard, seen and touched Jesus in the flesh, You have revealed yourself through him and we follow him with gladness. Alleluia!

May the life of the Risen One energize us as we worship You daily and witness about You with boldness. Amen.

Prayer for April 8-14, 2012

Sermon Text: Mark 16:1-8

That we may praise You beyond our doubts and fears

God of new life, we rejoice that You raised Jesus from death. We rejoice that all attempts to silence and subdue him were defeated by your life-giving power. We rejoice that You led witnesses to the tomb so that they might tell others, who told others, who kept passing on the story, with the guidance of your Spirit, so that we, too, have heard the astonishing words, “He has risen!”

At times we have trembled and questioned in fear and doubt. We have resisted the testimony of life from death. We have kept silent rather than speak an audacious word of witness to the impossible made possible.

Nevertheless, we sing “Alleluia!” We praise You with our whole being. In spite of fears and doubts, past and present, we acknowledge You as God of all and our God. Nothing is impossible for You! You are worthy of all praise, and we give it gladly. Amen.

Dear friends, Sorry for this late post. I left town for a few days after Easter worship. Dave

Prayer for April 1-7, 2012

Sermon Text: Mark 14:1-15:47

That we may pour out our lives for Jesus

Forgiving God, when we consider all that Jesus endured, our hearts are filled with a strange mixture of remorse and thanksgiving.

We are sorry for the many times that we have denied, betrayed, abandoned and misrepresented Jesus. We are sorry for the many ways that our lives have mocked Jesus and caused him pain. We are sorry that our sin contributed to the crushing burden that caused Jesus to cry out and ask why You had forsaken him. We recoil from the horror of that moment!

Forgive us Merciful One! Forgive our many transgressions!

We ask in hope and thankfulness because we know that Jesus completed the work You gave him. Through him, we are justified in your presence and made a part of your household. Through him we have an enduring hope. Through him we have abundant life.

Oh, let us pour out our lives for Jesus without hesitation and without embarrassment, so that others may look to him and see him in his vulnerability and his glory and worship him. Amen.