Prayer for January 1-7, 2017

Sermon Text: Matthew 25:31-46

That we may express your love and be guided by your values

O Christ, we long to see your glory. We long to see the day when everything in all of creation is fully reconciled to you and fully reflects your glory.

Align our lives with your compassionate, forgiving, liberating, reconciling purpose. Enable us to express your love and be guided by your values in all of our relationships, but particularly in relationships with those who are most vulnerable. Enable us to see your presence in their lives, to recognize your kinship with them. Then, let generous, caring action flow in gratitude for all that You have done for us.

Enable us to act wisely in relationship to our neighbors. But also enable us not to be overly self-conscious about the choices that we make. Enable us not to be fearful and overly concerned about judgment, but enable us to act with glad courage and trust that You will work goodness as we offer ourselves in obedient compassion.

We glorify your name. Our hope for life is in You.  Amen.

Prayer for December 25-31, 2016
Sermon Text: Luke 2:1-20

That our hearts may overflow endlessly with praise

Light of the world, we rejoice in You! We rejoice that in You we have seen the splendor of God’s holiness. We have heard angels declare God’s glory and we have been moved by awe to rejoice in You and celebrate your life among us.

In You we celebrate the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel. We celebrate the reign of peace and justice that began in your earthly ministry, that conquered sin and death through the cross, and whose consummation we await in joyful hope.  

You are our Wonderful Counselor. You are Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. We cannot stop singing your praise because You keep giving us new songs. You keep shedding the light of truth into our lives. You keep guiding and healing us. You keep forgiving us and setting us free to live for the glory of the God with whom You are one from the beginning and forever. Our hearts overflow endlessly. Amen.

Prayer for December 18-24, 2016

Sermon Text: Matthew 1:18-25

That we may trust You enough to obey your instruction

God, we rejoice that You sent Jesus, to be “God with us,” in the midst of a real history full of terrible times of catastrophe and failure, but also full of celebration and praise.

We thank You for making yourself and your will known through dreams and visions. And we celebrate those who were attentive enough to You that they received your word in unexpected ways and moments.

   

Open our minds! Open our hearts! Enable us to receive your word for us today. Enable us to welcome Jesus even when he encounters us in ways that we could not anticipate. Enable us to trust You enough to obey your instruction even when it seems too difficult to us.

We rejoice that through Jesus You have brought forgiveness of sins to your people. We rejoice to be counted among your forgiven ones.

  

Enable us to share the good news of your forgiveness by being people of forgiveness.  

We will keep rejoicing in Jesus Immanuel for as long as You give us breath. Amen.

Prayer for December 11-17, 2016

Sermon Text: Luke 1:46-55

That we may be useful to You as You accomplish your purpose of setting the world right

God, we praise your name! We bow before You in humility! We rejoice in all that You have done for your people! And we rejoice that You have chosen those who are not wise or powerful, like Mary, in order to accomplish your purpose of setting the world right.

We celebrate prophetic words that point to the great work that You have begun in Jesus Christ and that You will bring to completion at the last day. We rejoice that pride (including ours) will be undone. We rejoice that unjust power structures will be overturned.  

We rejoice that the poor will receive justice. We rejoice that your people will receive mercy as your deepest promises to them are fulfilled in unexpected ways. We rejoice in You and put all our hope in You! Amen.

Prayer for December 4-10, 2016

Isaiah 11:1-10

That we may be just and peaceful servants of Christ’s reign

God, our Creator, we rejoice that a fruit-bearing Branch has sprung from the root of Jesse, whom we know as Jesus of Nazareth, and whom we acclaim as our Savior and Friend.

We rejoice that his entire ministry was empowered by the presence of your Spirit within him. We rejoice that You gave him wisdom and understanding and enabled him to act with authority. We rejoice that his life was so fully given to You that doing your will was his source of nourishment.

We rejoice that Jesus acted on behalf of the poor and needy: befriending, preaching, healing, and exorcising oppressive spirits. We thank You that he did not come as a conquering hero, shedding blood on every side, but that he was willing to shed his own blood as an expression of your unfathomable love for humankind. And we rejoice, that through his great self-sacrifice, he has created a way for your peaceful reign to come to fruition among us. 

Many have flocked to his banner as just and peaceful servants of his reign. We await with hope the day when all “the nations will rally to him.” Because You are faithful, we know that our hope is not in vain. Amen.