Thursday, January 11, 2018

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT FOR THE NEW YEAR
January 7, 2018

One:      God, our God,
Many:   We worship you!
One:      God, One and only God,
Many:   We offer You all of our praise!
One:      Move among us by your Spirit in this new year.
Many:   Enable us to receive refreshment and energy from You.
One:      Make us aware of the depth of your forgiving and healing love
Many:   So that we may live each day with thanksgiving and joy.
One:      May your Spirit guide us in effective and fruitful service to our many
  Neighbors, so they may see and experience your generous reign.
All:        Teach us to see and love our neighbors as they are.
              Teach us to act in their best interests, even when that may not
  match our preferences or needs.
  Guide us to pray for them and do good for them without growing weary.
  Free us to act with extravagant generosity in the face of real needs.
  Help us to welcome and include people who are often attacked,
  abused, or excluded by others.
  Open our hearts and homes and church to strangers.
  Enable us to practice mercy for people who do not deserve it.
  Enable us to offer forgiveness of both the personal offenses we
  have endured and the financial debts we are owed.
  Help us to bring peace and reconciliation to relationships that
  have become painful in their brokenness and bitterness.
  Let us be a source of presence and comfort for those who are sick or in prison.
  Let us be agents of freedom for those who are bound by
  addictions, sin, and human servitude.
  Shape us for effective stewardship of this beautiful and complex
  planet that You have created and provided as our home.
One:      We know that without your help we can do nothing. We know that
  we cannot do all of these things every day.
All:        We trust in your promise that You will never leave us or forsake us.
One:      Free us from any fears that prevent us from being bold disciples.
All:        Free us to practice love for you and for every person we encounter with 
              overflowing gladness. Amen.

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