Prayer for May 15-21, 2016

Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-21

That your Spirit will sweep into our presence in surprising ways

God of all, we rejoice that You have poured out your Spirit upon your people. We rejoice that You gave so generously of yourself and that gender, age and economic differences did not limit your kindness. We rejoice in the surprise of your disciples and the amazement of all who witnessed the new thing You had done. We rejoice that You broke through language barriers in order to enable people to speak and hear of your saving acts. You are incomparable! We praise You with joy!

Sometimes our faith seems tired and worn. Let your Spirit sweep into our presence in surprising new ways. Blow away all that is dead and dry within us. Let our hearts burn with love for You and for the people around us. Fill us with new hope. Expand our vision for the future You are creating. Energize us for bold witness and glad service. Break down every barrier to communicating your love boldly. 

We thank You for fulfilling your promise. We rejoice in You and in your gift. Let your Spirit guide us and touch other lives through ours. Amen.

Prayer for May 8-14, 2016

Sermon Text: Acts 16:16-34

That we may be agents of your liberating love

God of wonders, we rejoice that You are able to break every chain. You are able to bring new life and joyful freedom from every form of bondage,  those we take upon ourselves and those that are pressed upon us by other people and by powers that seem beyond our control.

Forgive us when we clutch our chains as though they were our salvation. Forgive us when we profit from keeping other people in bondage. Forgive us when we seek our freedom everywhere but in Christ.

Enable us to face the truth about those things that bind us. Show us where we are ensnared in ways that we do not yet recognize. Free us from every form of bondage: our sins, fears, and addictions, our devotion to false gods, the oppressive actions of others, and even our own narrow vision.  

Transform us! Then let our lives be a sign that draws others to your liberating and transforming love.  Amen.

Prayer for May 1-7, 2016

Sermon Text: Acts 6:6-15

That we may be agents of healing and wholeness for your creation

God of glory, we rejoice in the beauty and complexity of creation! We rejoice that You called everything You made, “Very good!”

We rejoice that You have placed us in this world and that You have given us responsibility to nurture and care for the earth and enhance its fruitfulness.

Although you have given us great responsibility, we remember that the earth is not our own. Forgive us for the times when we have forgotten that the earth is yours. Forgive us for the times when we have used creation in greedy, reckless and violent ways, and assumed that we could act as though there were no limits upon our desires.

Transform us! Enable us to hear your creatures as they cry for help. Enable us to be agents of your healing and wholeness.  

Enable us, now, and in the end, to join all of creation in worshiping You as part of one grand and glorious choir.  Amen.

Note: I had agreed to preach a sermon related to the crisis of climate change. My emphasis was on care for creation. I used the story of Paul's call to Macedonia as a springboard to invite us to hear the call of creation for our help. Romans 8's word about the groaning of creation was also in the back of my mind.

Prayer for April 24-30, 2016

Sermon Text: Revelation 21:1-6

That our hearts will be fully open to the future You are preparing

God of Creation, we rejoice in You. We rejoice that all things have their beginning in You and will find their conclusion in You. We rejoice that You are transforming heaven and earth so that everything will be made new.

We rejoice in your promise that You will dwell permanently among your people in your renewed creation. We rejoice that You will bring an end to all of the sadness and sorrow, pain, death and mourning that have been such a part of our experience.

We long to witness and participate in the great wedding celebration that You are preparing. And we yearn to live in unbroken fellowship with You.  

Keep reminding us of your promise of newness. Keep reminding us that your Spirit is with us now. Open our hearts fully for the future that You are creating. Let us hope in you, each day, as we await the fulfillment of all of your promises. Amen.

Prayer for April 10-16, 2016

Sermon Text: Acts 9:1-20

That multitudes who resist You will turn to You with gladness

Risen Christ, we rejoice in You! We rejoice that You are able to work in surprising ways in order to draw people into the sphere of your mercy and love. We rejoice that You are able to transform the hearts of even the people who are most resistant to You. You are able to undo hatred and violence.

We rejoice that You are able to inspire courage in your disciples so that some will go into situations of threat in order to bring about your healing and be channels of your Holy Spirit. We rejoice that You are able to make those who had been resistant to You into faithful witnesses who speak your word and who enact your healing and liberation for many.  

Christ, we rejoice that You have revealed yourself to us. We rejoice that You have overcome our resistance by confronting us and calling us by name. We rejoice that You have sent agents of your healing to us in order to heal our blindness and enable your Spirit to flow through our lives. We gladly tell of your many mercies and pray that multitudes who resist You now will turn to You with gladness. Amen

Prayer for April 17-23, 2016 

Sermon Text: Acts 9:36-43

That You will energize us in new ways

Wondrous God, neither resuscitation nor resurrection are common parts of our experience. But when we read or hear these stories, we are convinced that You are able to give us new life. You are able to heal every sickness and disease, break the chains that bind us in order to release us from every form of spiritual bondage, and energize us in ways that we have never experienced before, so that we seem new and everything else in all of creation seems new too.

Work in and through us by the same power with which You raised Jesus Christ from death. Let others see your glory in the transformation of our lives. Let others experience your newness as we befriend and minister to them in the name of Jesus.   

May your Spirit breathe through us without resistance, but forgive us when we do resist. Forgive us when we refuse the change to which You call us. Forgive us when we choose to cling to fear and the ways of death that paralyze us and keep us from being wholly ourselves. Forgive us when we are thoroughly conformed to the ways of the world.  

We rejoice that You are making all things new. Make us new today. Breathe new life into us once more. Amen. 

Prayer for April 3-9, 2016

Sermon Text: Acts 5:27-32

That we may be hopeful and steadfast witnesses

God of resurrection, let your power flow through us in such ways that many experience healing and release from spiritual bondage. Enable us to witness and serve in bold ways. As we do so, draw many people to believe in Jesus and become his disciples.

Do not let us be turned aside from our calling to be your witnesses by those who do not acknowledge You, those who are jealous of the communion of joy and peace in which we share, or those who would pressure us to stop bearing witness to your name and your resurrection.  

Enable us to be steadfast in our hope in You and in our witness to You. You are the one who has created us, redeemed us, and called us to your service. You are our Sovereign. We acknowledge your authority in every dimension of our lives. Amen.