Prayer for June 25-July 1, 2017 

Sermon Text: Matthew 10:24-39

That we may find our life and identity in You    

Christ Jesus, we want to be your followers, but we have many fears. We do not want to leave behind our quiet lives. We do not want to risk our wealth. We do not want to face insult, injury and death in order to follow You. We want it easy. We want it smooth. We want to be liked and honored.

By calling us to follow You, you call us to put everything at risk: ease, security, wealth, health, honor, family, friendship, even life itself. We need more courage than we presently have in order to follow in your way. Please grant us such courage.

Help us not to fear those who might oppose us, abuse us, undermine and diminish us, or harm us in significant ways.

Help us to do nothing that denies our identity in You. Help us to honor You in every dimension of our lives. Help us to give our lives fully to You for your mission in the world. Enable us to follow you in bold fidelity even when our faith in You sets us at odds with or puts us in danger from the people to whom we are closest. 

Let us find our life in You! Amen. 

Prayer for June 18-24, 2017 

Sermon Text: Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7

That we may laugh with joy, thanksgiving and praise when You fulfill your promises

God of promise, sometimes it is so difficult to believe your word. We want to believe. We want to hold onto the least shred of hope. But when we consider your promise and consider who we are, with all of our weakness and frailty, it seems unlikely that You can fulfill your best promises for us.

And sometimes we laugh. We laugh from anxiety and doubt. We laugh because we are unable to believe You even though your word of promise addresses our deepest desire. We are embarrassed by our laughter, and want to deny it, but it erupts from us, unbidden, and we do not know what else to do.

In spite of our lack of faith. In spite of our laughter in the face of your promise, You do fulfill your promises for us. You surprise us by your action. You alter our lives in amazing ways. And You move us from the laughter of doubt to laughter that overflows with joy, thanksgiving and praise. 

Bringer of laughter, we rejoice in You! Amen. 

Prayer for June 11-17, 2017 

Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a

That we may be wise and sensitive stewards of your good creation

God of all creation, we rejoice that by your brooding Spirit, and your effective Word, You have given form and beauty to your own loving impulse. You have tamed chaos without struggle. You have given light. You have generated life in myriad forms. You have invested your creation with generativity and fruitfulness.

We echo your assessment and share your delight that your created universe is “very good!”

We rejoice that You have created us in your own image to reflect your glory. We rejoice that You have given us a grand role as coworkers in the care and nurture of this world. Enable us to be wise and sensitive stewards!

We rejoice, too, that You rested from the work of creation. Enable us to rest! Enable us to recognize that You sustain all things, even when we lay aside the work You have given us. 

In work and rest, let our lives be a hymn of praise to You! Amen.

Prayer for June 4-10, 2017 

Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-21

That we may overcome every barrier to communication

God of surprise and delight, unleash your energizing, liberating Spirit among us. Free our mouths for bold speech that declares your goodness and salvation. Free our hands and feet to go wherever You send us. Let our lives blaze with holy purpose

By your Spirit, let us speak truth with deep compassion. Let our speech overcome every obstacle to communication. May those who hear us hear your breath and your speech flowing through us.

We rejoice that the outpouring of your Spirit has broken down many barriers. We rejoice that You have shown no favoritism, but have given your generous gift without regard to race, gender, age or economic status.  

Enable us to act as one people, fully united by the action of your Spirit. Let many be drawn to You as we declare your greatness and live in close communion with one another. Amen.