Prayer for July 26-August 1, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
That You will shape our lives for your pleasure
God of glory, we rejoice that in
Christ Jesus your reign has permeated our lives, and the entire world, in
unforeseen, generative ways, and that it is expanding into a commodious realm
of welcome and rest.
We
treasure your presence and reign and invest ourselves wholly in service to your
reconciling, renewing plan for all of creation. We withhold nothing from You.
You are worthy of the best that we have to offer, and we give it gladly.
Enable us to act wisely, and passionately, with all of the resources
that You have provided for following You in faithfulness. Shape our lives so
that we are preserved for your pleasure in the day when You set everything
right.
We
rejoice and praise You more boldly the more evident your reign becomes to us.
Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Monday, July 27, 2020
Prayer for July 19-25, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
That the harvest of our lives may bring delight to you and extend the ministry of Jesus
God of all, we rejoice that, in Jesus, You were bringing your reign among us and renewing your creation. You were preparing us for a harvest of righteousness that would enable many people to see your glory and for many to be touched by your love.
May we be fruitful seed as we respond to the instruction of Jesus and the guidance of your Spirit. May the harvest of our lives bring delight to You and extend the ministry of Jesus.
We realize that the field in which our lives now grow does not always seem right. There are weeds of various kinds. We often assume we know which ones have been planted by opponents of your reign, and we assume that we are competent to remove them. But Jesus’ warning to wait reminds us that there may be more than meets our eye. We may not discern as fully as we believe we do. We may endanger your harvest of lives if we begin removing those that do not seem right to us.
Help us to be patient, to wait for your judgment, in your timing, to put everything right. Amen.
Sermon Text: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
That the harvest of our lives may bring delight to you and extend the ministry of Jesus
God of all, we rejoice that, in Jesus, You were bringing your reign among us and renewing your creation. You were preparing us for a harvest of righteousness that would enable many people to see your glory and for many to be touched by your love.
May we be fruitful seed as we respond to the instruction of Jesus and the guidance of your Spirit. May the harvest of our lives bring delight to You and extend the ministry of Jesus.
We realize that the field in which our lives now grow does not always seem right. There are weeds of various kinds. We often assume we know which ones have been planted by opponents of your reign, and we assume that we are competent to remove them. But Jesus’ warning to wait reminds us that there may be more than meets our eye. We may not discern as fully as we believe we do. We may endanger your harvest of lives if we begin removing those that do not seem right to us.
Help us to be patient, to wait for your judgment, in your timing, to put everything right. Amen.
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Prayer for July 12-18, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That we may be fully and fruitfully receptive to your word
Holy Sower, You have scattered the seed of your word among us. You have brought the reign of God near by your presence, action, and speech.
At times, our responses to You are blocked and interrupted by others who are resistant to the new life that You would bring among us. At times, your word cannot penetrate our hearts of stone that resist instruction and enlightenment. At times, we are so caught up in pursuing, procuring, and protecting our personal interests, particularly in accumulating wealth of various sorts, that our interest in God’s reign is quickly choked out by our many cares.
Remove all obstructions to faithful response. Pulverize our stony hearts and turn them into receptive soil. Tear away all the weeds that divert our attention from You and choke our growth in grace. Make us fully and fruitfully receptive to your word. We know that You are able to make something beautiful of our lives. We trust You do so, for God’s glory. Amen.
Sermon Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That we may be fully and fruitfully receptive to your word
Holy Sower, You have scattered the seed of your word among us. You have brought the reign of God near by your presence, action, and speech.
At times, our responses to You are blocked and interrupted by others who are resistant to the new life that You would bring among us. At times, your word cannot penetrate our hearts of stone that resist instruction and enlightenment. At times, we are so caught up in pursuing, procuring, and protecting our personal interests, particularly in accumulating wealth of various sorts, that our interest in God’s reign is quickly choked out by our many cares.
Remove all obstructions to faithful response. Pulverize our stony hearts and turn them into receptive soil. Tear away all the weeds that divert our attention from You and choke our growth in grace. Make us fully and fruitfully receptive to your word. We know that You are able to make something beautiful of our lives. We trust You do so, for God’s glory. Amen.
Prayer for July 5-11, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
That we may learn that your way is less burdensome than others we might choose
Jesus, we acknowledge that we are fickle when challenged by bearers of God’s word, including You. We have our own preferences for how God’s messengers will appear, how they will be deployed, and the degree of sobriety or festivity with which they approach us. It only takes a moment of irritation or displeasure for us to turn away from God’s representative and go our own way to seek another who will speak in ways that match our expectations more closely.
Forgive us for our fickleness. Forgive us for our failure to produce deeds of wisdom. Enable us to recognize, more fully, the truth that You have revealed to us. Enable us to know our Sovereign God in life-altering ways. Help us to learn that your way is less burdensome than other ways that we have chosen or might choose now. Enable us to enter the rest that You promise to those who follow You in devoted obedience. Amen.
Sermon Text: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
That we may learn that your way is less burdensome than others we might choose
Jesus, we acknowledge that we are fickle when challenged by bearers of God’s word, including You. We have our own preferences for how God’s messengers will appear, how they will be deployed, and the degree of sobriety or festivity with which they approach us. It only takes a moment of irritation or displeasure for us to turn away from God’s representative and go our own way to seek another who will speak in ways that match our expectations more closely.
Forgive us for our fickleness. Forgive us for our failure to produce deeds of wisdom. Enable us to recognize, more fully, the truth that You have revealed to us. Enable us to know our Sovereign God in life-altering ways. Help us to learn that your way is less burdensome than other ways that we have chosen or might choose now. Enable us to enter the rest that You promise to those who follow You in devoted obedience. Amen.
Prayer for June 28-July 4, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:40-42
That we may be drawn more closely into a holy network of welcome and love
Jesus, we are grateful for the way that you welcomed us into your presence. We are thankful for the many ways that you demonstrated hospitality – to children, to poor persons, to those who were sick, blind, or controlled by oppressive spirits, to potential enemies, and to others from whom You might have turned away.
Let our hearts be as fully open to You as yours was and is to us. Let us welcome God’s presence and sovereignty in every dimension of our lives, and enjoy rich communion that enriches and energizes us for courageous faith and friendship.
As we are drawn more closely to You in a holy network of welcome and love, enable us to open our hearts more fully to the diverse people whom we encounter in our daily lives. Let us be agents of your welcoming love who draw others near to your healing and liberating presence.
We rejoice to be near You. Amen!
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:40-42
That we may be drawn more closely into a holy network of welcome and love
Jesus, we are grateful for the way that you welcomed us into your presence. We are thankful for the many ways that you demonstrated hospitality – to children, to poor persons, to those who were sick, blind, or controlled by oppressive spirits, to potential enemies, and to others from whom You might have turned away.
Let our hearts be as fully open to You as yours was and is to us. Let us welcome God’s presence and sovereignty in every dimension of our lives, and enjoy rich communion that enriches and energizes us for courageous faith and friendship.
As we are drawn more closely to You in a holy network of welcome and love, enable us to open our hearts more fully to the diverse people whom we encounter in our daily lives. Let us be agents of your welcoming love who draw others near to your healing and liberating presence.
We rejoice to be near You. Amen!
Prayer for June 21-27, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:24-39
That we will draw assurance from your promise that truth will be fully disclosed
Jesus, help us to remember that we are
dependent upon your instruction, your provision, your vision, your energy, and
many other gifts, in order to carry out the mission that You began among us and
called us to continue.
Help us to witness to your sovereignty by
speech and action. Help us to place loyalty to You above loyalty to our
families, friends, or nations.
Help us to draw assurance for bold and faithful
witness from your promise that the truth will be fully disclosed and that God
will watch over each of us with compassion.
We give ourselves fully to You. Work in
and through us to achieve your mission of renewing all of creation. Amen.
Prayer for June 14-20, 2020
Sermon Text: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
That our laughter may be the laughter of love
God of new hopes, how often have we laughed because we were unable to believe your promises? How often have we laughed because of the skepticism and cynicism that have been nurtured by a culture of disbelief?
God, forgive us when we doubt You. Forgive us when we perceive your promises as jokes that are meant to taunt and tease us.
Forgive us when our laughter arises from cruelty, or when we laugh at the misfortunes of others. Forgive us when we laugh in arrogant pride.
Transform our laughter from the laughter of doubt to the laughter that reflects pure joy in your presence and promise. May our laughter be the laughter of love, for You, and for our many neighbors, beginning with those of our own household. Amen.
Sermon Text: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
That our laughter may be the laughter of love
God of new hopes, how often have we laughed because we were unable to believe your promises? How often have we laughed because of the skepticism and cynicism that have been nurtured by a culture of disbelief?
God, forgive us when we doubt You. Forgive us when we perceive your promises as jokes that are meant to taunt and tease us.
Forgive us when our laughter arises from cruelty, or when we laugh at the misfortunes of others. Forgive us when we laugh in arrogant pride.
Transform our laughter from the laughter of doubt to the laughter that reflects pure joy in your presence and promise. May our laughter be the laughter of love, for You, and for our many neighbors, beginning with those of our own household. Amen.
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