Prayer for March 31-April 6, 2013 

Sermon Text: John 20:1-18

That we may be empowered for energetic faithfulness

O God of wisdom and power, we worship You.  We praise your name.  We rejoice in the amazing gift and mystery of resurrection.

We thank You for the empty tomb, holy messengers, the name spoken in tenderness by the beloved Teacher, the glad commission to tell others: “Jesus is alive!”

Who gives hope where hope seems impossible?  Only You!

Who defeats death?  Only You!

Who gives new life?  Only You!

We exalt your name though your ways and thoughts are a deep mystery to us.

God of new life, by the power with which You raised Jesus from the dead, raise us to new life in him, and empower us for energetic faithfulness today and each day.  Amen.

Prayer for March 24-30, 2013 

Sermon Text: Luke 19:28-40

That we may cling to your word for assurance and motivation

Jesus, we acclaim You as our Sovereign!  We praise You with joy.  We worship You in hope.  We give You glory in word and song and faithful action.  We receive your peace and seek your peace for all the places of anxiety and violence in the world around us.

Enable us to practice courageous faith as we follow You each day.  Enable us to remain vulnerable in the face of resistance and rejection, while clinging to your words as our source of assurance and our motivation for witness and service.

Blessed are you, Christ Jesus, faithful Sovereign!  We bow to You and follow You with songs of praise on our lips.  Amen.

March 17-23, 2013 (Isaiah 43:16-21)

That we may welcome the new thing You would do among us

You who shape and guide our history, we adore You.  We rejoice in the wonders You have done among us.  We look to You in hope.  We worship You with joy.

Your deeds of compassion and mercy have made us your people and have shaped our lives for your purpose and your glory.

You have done great things for us.  But You are not done with us.  You still go before us to lead us into new places of freedom and faithfulness.  You still make a way forward where there was previously no way.

Enable us not to dwell on the past in ways that blind us to the new things that You are doing among us.  Enable us to find refreshment and renewal at the places You have prepared for us along our journey with You.

Energize us for praise by your creative provision for us.  We pray in the name of Jesus who has become the Way of Life for us.  Amen.

Prayer for March 10-16, 2013 

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

That we may live with enduring joy in your presence

God of all people, we rejoice that You do not easily settle for the absence of those whom You love.  You await the return of the beloved one who has abandoned You.  You seek out the lost.  You celebrate those whom You find, those who return to You.  You challenge and correct those who do not want the “undeserving” to benefit from your forgiveness, your generosity, and your joy.

God, we rejoice that You came looking for us when we were lost, when we abandoned You to try to create a life of fullness, freedom and peace that is only available as your gift.  We rejoice in your forgiveness.  We praise You for the tenacity of your love.  We are astonished by your joy at our return.

God, our God, let us live with enduring joy in your presence.  Let us rejoice with You for all your loved ones who return to your welcoming embrace and glad celebration.  Amen.

Prayer for March 3-9, 2013 

Sermon Text: Isaiah 55:1-9

That we may find satisfaction only in You

God of all creation, we praise You.  You whose ways are not our ways, whose thoughts are not our own, we rejoice in your invitation, through your prophet, to receive true nourishment and enduring satisfaction from your generous gifts.

We have answered your invitation and turn, continually, to You.  We have received your mercy and forgiveness with great joy.  We have forsaken evil practices and thoughts.  Where any linger in our lives, give us the courage, energy and patience to change.

You have given us great delight in your presence.  You have enfolded us in your covenant love.

You have given us what we could not discover, achieve or create for ourselves.  We rejoice in You, Generous Sovereign.  We adore You, God of grace and mystery.  Amen.