Prayer for March 27-April 2, 2022
Sermon Text: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

That we may celebrate and live in gratitude with all your deeply loved children

God of all, we rejoice that You wait for us, even seek actively for us, when we have forgotten You, wandered from You, or otherwise lost ourselves in pursuits that we deem more compelling or more reliable than your continuous presence and wise guidance.

God, You know the ways that we have devalued and diminished our own lives. You know the times when we have settled for slop instead of receiving the abundant nourishment that You offer by your Spirit. We cram ourselves full of empty calories and useless information. We attach ourselves to vain causes for our own self-inflation. We attempt to separate ourselves from You in order to create independent lives from the resources we expect You to provide, but for which we are unwilling to make any durable commitments.

You have waited patiently for us. You have watched for us to appear in the distance. You have welcomed us back and celebrated our return.

Don’t let us be belligerent and self-righteous when You welcome lost wanderers. Help us to recognize that You have provided everything for us. Help us to celebrate and live in gratitude with all your deeply loved children. Amen.

Prayer for March 20-26, 2022
Sermon Text: Isaiah 55:1-9

That we may release our grasp on that which could never sustain us and trust in You

God, our Provider, help us to trust in You completely.

We are so easily deceived by marketing hype that wants us to believe that we truly need things that are unnecessary and often harmful for our well-being, as well as the well-being of our communities and your creation.

But these forms of hype just build on our prior inclination for self-deception. We want what we want and we are willing to rationalize our desires. We are covetous and grasping. We acquire more and more because we are spiritually impoverished and will use anything to fill the hollow within us.

In spite of our need and in spite of your generous invitation and many gifts, we settle for junk and junk food, instead of receiving true sustenance from You. We toil endlessly for trash and trinkets, enslaving ourselves to what is ultimately meaningless.

Enable us to release our grasp on that which could never free or sustain us. Enable us to trust You fully and receive your life-giving gifts with joyful thanksgiving that turns to neighbors and enemies with glad generosity.

We know You are our only source. Help us trust You daily. Amen.

Prayer for March 13-19, 2022
Sermon Text: Luke 13:31-35

That we may remember our share in Jesus' healing ministry and live in solidarity with our most vulnerable neighbors.

God our Maker and Redeemer, as we walk with Jesus, give us clarity of purpose. Help us to remember that we have been called to live in solidarity with our most vulnerable neighbors. Help us to remember that we have been given a share in the healing and liberating ministry of Jesus.

We cannot remember and act by our own intellect, ingenuity, and initiative, but need the guidance and energy that your Spirit gives as we devote ourselves to your reign among us.

May the example of Jesus and the presence of your Spirit enable us to stand firm against any resistance to our efforts to practice radical love toward both our neighbors and our enemies.

At the same time, may we be continuously guided and enabled to act in compassionate ways and not allow our encounters with resistance to make our hearts callused toward those who need a tender touch.

We rejoice in your energizing presence. Amen.

Prayer for March 6-12, 2022
Sermon Text: Luke 4:1-13

That we may stand firm in your Spirit as we are tempted in many ways

God, our Provider, we trust that You have endowed us with your Spirit. Now, enable us to follow the leading of that Spirit, as we walk with Jesus through times of trial and rejoicing.

May we stand firm in your Spirit when we are tempted, especially during times when we may be weakened by deprivation. May we find clarity of purpose in your Spirit as deprivation enables us to perceive the things that we trust more than we trust You. May your Spirit give us understanding and recall of your word so that we resist and rebuff the words or images of temptation that challenge us.

May your Spirit guide us to trust You fully and devote ourselves to you completely, while leading us away from all presumptuous, self-serving and grandstanding choices.

Enable us to value and seek your reign before everything. Amen.