Prayer for November 29-December 5, 2015 

Sermon Text: Luke 21:25-36

That we may not be consumed by anxiety, fear, or wanton pleasures

Coming One, some days it seems that everywhere we look there are celestial signs and earthly disasters and tragedies that point to your imminent return.

Although your people, throughout the church’s history, have frequently been convinced that the signs were aligned for your return, You tarry.

Though You tarry, enable us to live in prayerful watchfulness for You.  Enable us to see and rejoice in signs that You are at work, and that your plan for the reconciliation of all things is slowly unfolding before us.  Enable us not to be consumed by anxiety and fear or by wanton pleasures.  Help us to live in daily obedience to your word as we face the world for courageous and compassionate ministry.  

May our lives bear your good news to many who live in apathy or terror.  Amen.

LITANY OF THANKSGIVING

November 22, 2015 

God, our Creator, and Creator of all things,

We offer You abundant thanks for your many acts of mercy;

For the joy of living in a world of such incredible beauty;

For families and friends as sources of mutual support;

For salvation through Christ Jesus, our Redeemer;

For the daily guidance of your Holy Spirit;

For the delight of worship in your presence;

For the communion of bread and wine and the close communion of your presence;

For your invitation to pray and your sometimes surprising answers;

For the many acts of healing we have witnessed among us;

For your outpouring of blessing after blessing upon us;

For spiritual gifts with which to minister to one another and the world around us;

For many opportunities for good works, and for the resources and energy to complete them;

For impelling us to seek your justice;

For wise leaders who practice justice and intervene for those who are vulnerable;

For hope in the midst of trial and suffering;

For comfort in the midst of grief;

For the unexpected ways that You work for good in our lives;

For the promise that nothing can separate us from your love;

For hope of creation renewed and opportunities to work for its renewal now;

For the anticipation of singing your praise forever, in company with people from every nation, tribe and tongue.

We worship You with thanksgiving!

Only You are worthy of all our praise!

Amen.

Prayer for November 22-28, 2015 

Sermon Text: John 18:33-38a

That we will not be cynical about your severeignty among us

Jesus, help us to remember that You are our sovereign.  Energize us for daily and joyful obedience to your will.  Clarify our vision so that we may see the truth as You reveal it to us.  Enable us to cling to the truth and declare it with boldness to others.  Free us to celebrate your sovereignty with thanksgiving.

Keep us from becoming cynical.  Keep us from questioning you in haughty ways because we are resistant to the truth that You declare and unwilling to submit to your commands.  Keep us from imagining that we are autonomous and absolutely in control of our own lives.  

Let all of our action express our daily commitment to You.  Enable us to bring glory to your name and point others to You.  Amen.

Prayer for November 15-21, 2015

Sermon Texts: 1 Samuel 1:4-20, Mark 13:1-8

That we will not be deceived by spiritual frauds

O Creator, when we are at our best—when we are most clear about your redeeming, reconciling desire for us and for your creation—we long to be your fruitful coworkers.  We long for the new life that You are able to create in, through, and around us.  We are ready to celebrate your goodness and blessing with unleashed joy.

At other times, we are afraid of any change—afraid of the pain and confusion that may arrive just as new life is ready to emerge.  So we shrink back.  We doubt You.  Or we doubt our readiness to trust You as You do a new thing among us.

Open our hearts.  Overcome our griefs.  Keep us from being deceived by spiritual frauds.  Draw us toward the future of justice and peace that You are creating.  Energize us to work diligently and fruitfully as we follow the guidance of your Spirit.  Enable us to be courageous in the face of fearful events and deep pain.   

We will rejoice in You with all our might.  We will sing to You forever.  Amen.     

PRAYER FOR November 8-14, 2015

Sermon texts: Mark 12:38-44; Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

That we will not be self conscious about deep commitment and glad generosity

Transforming God, we rejoice that You are able to guide us through our times of loss and grief.  We rejoice that You give us companions for our difficult journey.  We rejoice that as we commit ourselves deeply to each other You use us to bless each other in ways that we could not have foreseen. 

You provide unexpected abundance and support.  You even extend your work of salvation through us by guiding us in ways of which we are often unaware.

Enable us to trust You boldly.  Guide our steps as we go where You lead us.  Open our hearts to each other.  Open our hands to respond to your abundant generosity with generosity that may sometimes seem risky to us.  

Enable us to act with such focused commitment to You and our many companions that we are not self conscious about deep commitment and glad generosity.  Amen.

Prayer for November 1-7, 2015 

Sermon Texts: Mark 12:28-34; Ruth 1:1-18

That we may commit ourselves boldly to one another

God of all, eliminate every obstacle within us that prevents us from loving You with our whole being.  May our heart and soul be filled with your presence and moved by your love.  May our thoughts be focused on You.  May all of our energy be expended for You in ways that extend your reconciling reign.

As we give ourselves wholly to You, in response to your costly, self-giving love, move us to love our neighbors with every kind of good work.  Enable us to make and keep deep commitments to one another, so that as we love one another, we may be sources of blessing for one another, making your love visible through creative and generous action.  

As we love You wholly, and love our neighbors and companions for the journey with bold, creative love, may the observing world perceive that You are behind our loving action, and turn, with longing, to You.  Amen.