Prayer for December 18-24, 2016

Sermon Text: Matthew 1:18-25

That we may trust You enough to obey your instruction

God, we rejoice that You sent Jesus, to be “God with us,” in the midst of a real history full of terrible times of catastrophe and failure, but also full of celebration and praise.

We thank You for making yourself and your will known through dreams and visions. And we celebrate those who were attentive enough to You that they received your word in unexpected ways and moments.

   

Open our minds! Open our hearts! Enable us to receive your word for us today. Enable us to welcome Jesus even when he encounters us in ways that we could not anticipate. Enable us to trust You enough to obey your instruction even when it seems too difficult to us.

We rejoice that through Jesus You have brought forgiveness of sins to your people. We rejoice to be counted among your forgiven ones.

  

Enable us to share the good news of your forgiveness by being people of forgiveness.  

We will keep rejoicing in Jesus Immanuel for as long as You give us breath. Amen.

Prayer for December 11-17, 2016

Sermon Text: Luke 1:46-55

That we may be useful to You as You accomplish your purpose of setting the world right

God, we praise your name! We bow before You in humility! We rejoice in all that You have done for your people! And we rejoice that You have chosen those who are not wise or powerful, like Mary, in order to accomplish your purpose of setting the world right.

We celebrate prophetic words that point to the great work that You have begun in Jesus Christ and that You will bring to completion at the last day. We rejoice that pride (including ours) will be undone. We rejoice that unjust power structures will be overturned.  

We rejoice that the poor will receive justice. We rejoice that your people will receive mercy as your deepest promises to them are fulfilled in unexpected ways. We rejoice in You and put all our hope in You! Amen.

Prayer for December 4-10, 2016

Isaiah 11:1-10

That we may be just and peaceful servants of Christ’s reign

God, our Creator, we rejoice that a fruit-bearing Branch has sprung from the root of Jesse, whom we know as Jesus of Nazareth, and whom we acclaim as our Savior and Friend.

We rejoice that his entire ministry was empowered by the presence of your Spirit within him. We rejoice that You gave him wisdom and understanding and enabled him to act with authority. We rejoice that his life was so fully given to You that doing your will was his source of nourishment.

We rejoice that Jesus acted on behalf of the poor and needy: befriending, preaching, healing, and exorcising oppressive spirits. We thank You that he did not come as a conquering hero, shedding blood on every side, but that he was willing to shed his own blood as an expression of your unfathomable love for humankind. And we rejoice, that through his great self-sacrifice, he has created a way for your peaceful reign to come to fruition among us. 

Many have flocked to his banner as just and peaceful servants of his reign. We await with hope the day when all “the nations will rally to him.” Because You are faithful, we know that our hope is not in vain. Amen.

Prayer for November 27-December 3, 2016

Sermon Text: Matthew 24:36-44

That we may be alert for your presence as we complete the work You have given us to do    

God of all, we wish to know the time of Jesus’ return, but since only You know, we leave aside all attempts to calculate the day and hour. We trust You to choose the right time for the completion of your plan to bring your reign of peace and justice on earth as in heaven.

Enable us to discern the truth about what is happening in the world around us. Enable us to resist the spirit of lawlessness that opposes your reconciling work and prevent it from taking root in our lives.  

Enable us to live, each day, alert for your presence, doing the tasks to which You have called us and serving those whom You have placed in our lives. We rejoice that You have chosen to set us apart by and for your truth. We cling to your word and find constant encouragement and hope in You. Amen.

Prayer for November 20-26, 2016

Sermon Text: Colossians 1:11-20

That our lives may more fully reflect your glory

God of all things, in whose image we have been created, we rejoice that You are at work in us through the prayers of others, and through the guidance of your Spirit, so that our lives will more fully reflect your glory into your world.

We rejoice that your Spirit is giving us more complete wisdom and understanding about your desire to unite all things together in Christ Jesus. We rejoice that your Spirit is energizing us for fruitful labors for justice and peace. We rejoice that your Spirit gives us patience and endurance for ongoing faithfulness in the face of resistance. We rejoice that You have made us yours and that we share in the reign of Christ Jesus and the inheritance of your holy people.

We rejoice, most of all, in Christ Jesus, who has fully embodied your justice and covenant faithfulness among us. We rejoice that everything is being bound together in Christ, who has supremacy over all, and whose great act of service and suffering, on the cross, overcame our alienation from You, and every other form of alienation, so that You will be glorified in everything. 

We will rejoice continually in You! Amen.

Prayer for November 13-19, 2016

Sermon Text: Isaiah 65:17-25

That we may labor fruitfully in your reign of peace

God of covenant love, we rejoice in your faithfulness to your people. We rejoice that in your fidelity you are creating new heavens and new earth that will displace both our sad and jubilant memories with new realities that are fully aligned with your desire that your people will reflect your glory into your healed and healing world.

We rejoice in You forever. We hope and take delight in You. We find comfort in your nearness.

We take hope that we will enjoy and share lives of fullness, taking pleasure in fruitful work that nurtures peaceful and just relationships among all people and all creatures. 

We rejoice that You have heard our prayers and that You often do so as or before we ask. You are incomparable in your wisdom and generosity. We seek and serve You with joy! Amen.

Prayer for November 6-12, 2016

Sermon Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 

That we may stand firm in truth

Lord Jesus Christ, we rejoice in all that You have done in order to prepare us to live in your reign, now and in the age to come. We rejoice in the hope that we will be gathered to you and share in your glory.

But we are often anxious about the fulfillment of your promise. We are anxious about the array of powers that have resisted You, throughout the ages, and that resist You still. We are anxious about our ability to perceive the truth when so many versions of “truth” are offered to us.

We are sorry that we have resisted You in more ways than we care to remember, but rejoice that your forgiveness is working itself out in our lives so that we are able, with the assistance of your Spirit, to remain faithful even when our faith is severely challenged.  

We trust in You! We are encouraged by your presence and your word. You have energized us for good deeds and good words. We cling to the truth that You have revealed to us, even as we dedicate ourselves as servants of your reign of peace and love. Amen.