Prayer for August 27-September 2, 2017 

Sermon Text: Romans 12:1-8

That we may give all that we are to You

God of all life, we adore You. We want to give ourselves completely to You in true worship. We want minds that are transformed and conformed to the mind of Christ. We want to do your will.

But our lives are so enmeshed in the ways of the world that we cannot perceive ourselves clearly, cannot extricate ourselves from practices that put us in competition with our brothers, sisters and neighbors, and cannot undo our idolatry of wealth.

Because we are so fully enmeshed in the “pattern of the world,” we do not know how to love, serve and honor each other as fully and consistently as You call us to. 

Work within our minds and in our relationships. Complete the transformation that we have been unable to complete on our own. Enable us to give all that we are to You and to our many neighbors in joyful love and service. Move us into the unity that You desire for your people and for which You have already given us many gifts. Amen.

August 20-26, 2017 

Sermon Text: Genesis 45:1-15

That we may keep trusting You when we suffer in ways that seem meaningless

God of Grace, it is seldom clear to us that the rejection, alienation, abuse, abandonment, pain, and other troubles that we face have been providential gifts that place us in position to do good for others.

Most of us have neither the foresight nor the hindsight of Joseph. Although we trust in You, many of the things we endure never come to have a clear meaning for us.

We suffer. We trust in You. We endure. We go on with our “whys?” unanswered. 

We know that we are able to endure only because You give us a measure of endurance and courage that we could not simply muster on our own. We believe that You are working for our good in every situation. Enable us to keep trusting You even when the meaning of the things we must endure escapes us. Amen.

NOTE: We had a guest speaker who went a different direction. This prayer was not used in our Sunday worship (but most likely will be in our Tuesday prayer meeting).

Prayer for August 13-19, 2017 

Sermon Text: Genesis 37:1-36

That we may dream and enact your dreams for your people   

Giver of dreams, we rejoice that You occasionally allow us to see more than we can see with our eyes. You give dreams that hint at the way that our future may unfold. You give us glimpses of mysteries that can be embraced, but not easily told. You pull back a corner of the veil that hides your astonishing glory.

Sometimes, those of us who receive dreams act in arrogant ways. Some tremble in terror while others speak too much or build shrines to mark the places of your visitation.

Enable us to be dreamers of the dreams that You have for your people. Then enable us to live into those dreams by humble, but courageous action that is full of faith.  

We know that the dreams You give may unfold in wholly unexpected ways, but we accept such dreams as guidance and wisdom that exceed and eventually expand our understanding. Amen.

Prayer for August 6-12, 2017 

Sermon Text: Genesis 32:22-31

That our wrestling in darkness will heal our fears and enable more complete trust in You

God of all, be our peace!

When we wrestle in the darkness--wrestle our fears, ourselves, or You--bring us to our true selves.

Wound us, if You must, to heal us. Demolish our fears. Transform our deceitful ways. Teach us trust.

Enable us to see your glory even in the ambiguous struggle through which we clutch at something we cannot name and are held by a strength that we cannot escape.

Help us not to give up hope in the midst of struggle. Help us to persevere until we are able to name our relationship with You in a new way, even as You name us as your own. 

Enable us to move forward, then, confident of your enduring promises and your unfailing Presence. Amen. 

Prayer for July 30-August 5, 2017 

Sermon Text: Genesis 29:1-28

That we may receive your gifts with open hands and thankful hearts

God, our Guide, through the scriptures we see that You are concerned with every dimension of the lives of your covenant partners, and that You are constantly leading and shaping lives for fruitfulness and fidelity, even when your people have acted in deceitful or fearful ways.

We have acted in deceitful and fearful ways far too often. But You have led us to places of new life and new hope in spite of our actions. You have led us to places where love wells up from the depths of our being; where our deceitful ways meet their match and turn our faces to You in trust; where energetic work challenges us and generates resources that sustain us. 

Teach us not to manipulate others for our advantage, but to wait upon You so that we may receive your many gifts with open hands and thankful hearts. We trust in your guidance and provision!  Amen.