Prayer for August 25-31, 2013 

Sermon Text: Luke 13:10-17

That we might act in ways that free others to praise You

Liberating God, we rejoice in your desire to free each of us, and every one of our neighbors, worldwide, from all that binds our spirits and prevents us from experiencing the fullness of life that You desire for us.

Enable us to open ourselves fully to your liberating presence.  Enable us to celebrate your liberating acts for others with joy.

Forgive us when we shut ourselves off from the freedom You desire for us.  Forgive us when we complain about or stand in the way of your liberating acts.

Enable us to follow Jesus as agents of your liberation, whose healing acts set others free to praise You and to live with delight in your presence.  Amen.

Prayer for August 18-24, 2013

Sermon Text: Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19

That we may experience renewed energy in your presence

Merciful God, everything depends upon your presence.

     You are our salvation.

     You are our provision.

     You are our Judge when we turn from You.

     You watch over us.

     You raise up wise and just leadership among us.

     You revive our flagging devotion and enable us to worship You with enthusiasm and joy.

     When You turn your face toward us, we experience the fulness of your salvation, we experience peace that is beyond adequate explanation and that endures through every circumstance.  We rejoice in You, our Savior and our God.  Amen.

Prayer for August 11-17, 2013 

Sermon Text: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

That we may exercise a bold, hopeful faith

O God, give us bold faith.  Give us assurance that You will bring your plan for salvation - for the healing of all creation - to fulfillment.  Give us confidence that You, in your creative ability, will bring about a new reality that we cannot now see or fully envision.

Give us faith like that of Abraham, who left his home to follow your guidance to an unfamiliar place, and there receive the gifts that You had in mind for him. 

Give us faith to live in covenant fidelity and to trust You in all things.  Give us faith, especially, when your promises seem long in coming, when the new reality we await seems like a delusion or an impossibility.

We are not heroic, God, but we ask that You enable us to live by faith daily, consistently, boldly, and with great hope.  Amen.

Prayer for August 4-10, 2013 

Sermon Text: Luke 12:13-21

hat we will not give in to covetousness and greed

Generous God, how easy it is for us to succumb to covetousness and greed.  How easy it is to compare what we have with what others have and concluded that we have gotten a raw deal.

Root out greed and covetousness from our lives.  Fill us with joy in your presence.  Enable us to live with gratitude – content with your ample provision for our daily needs.

Open our hearts to express your generosity.  In our gratitude, enable us to be generous with our neighbors.  Enable us to be generous, especially, with those whose needs are unmet, those who are truly victimized by unjust practices.

Let us not be lured into folly by wealth, but let us overflow with love and generosity as we depend upon You.  Amen.