Prayer for May 28-June 3, 2017

Sermon Text: Acts 1:6-14

That our waiting and our action will be grounded in hearts full of love.

God our Creator and Redeemer, we are often more concerned about figuring out the time of Jesus’ return than we are about carrying out the mission that Jesus has given us. We want to know about Jesus’ return, in large measure, because we want to escape the world that You created and love. We want to escape the world that Jesus died for instead of continuing the work of reconciliation for which he risked and gave everything.

Enable us to carry out our role as disciples, courageously and tenaciously. Fill us with your Spirit so that we may do the challenging work of witness and justice, without growing discouraged and defeated. Teach us! Inspire us! Energize us! Unleash us to bring your healing, your liberation, your peace, your justice, your love and joy into every place You lead us. 

Help us not to be naïve about our own abilities and energy. Help us to base all of our efforts to bring healing and restoration upon thoughtful, communal prayer. Help us to recognize the times of waiting and the times of concerted action. Enable us to do both with hearts full of love. Amen.

Prayer for May 21-27, 2017

Sermon Text: John 14:15-21

That love for You will show through all of our action

Christ Jesus, dwell within us by your Spirit! Fill us with life that is vital and free. Align our lives so fully with the truth, as we have seen it in You, that we are able to love You with obedience that flows naturally from the heart of our being.

We rejoice that You have chosen us as your people! We rejoice that You have enabled us to respond to your approach by welcoming You into our lives. We rejoice that You do not abandon us! We rejoice that our lives have become enfolded into the generous and loving unity that You share with God the Father and Creator of us all.

We have seen your presence and action in our lives. We rejoice in anticipation of the day when rumors of your return will end and we will see You face to face. 

We love You more than we can say! May that love show through all of our action. Amen

Prayer for May 14-20, 2017

Sermon Text: Acts 7:55-60

That we may witness, in truth and love, to what You have done

God of wisdom, help us to study and know the history of your people so that we know where we stand in the long succession of faith, so we may instruct each other, and so we can follow the courageous example of others who have gone before us.

By your Spirit, enable us to perceive Jesus’ identity as your Chosen and Righteous One. Let us see his glory that is derived from your own and let us respond with appropriate awe and worship.

Enable us to speak boldly about the great work of redemption that You have done in Israel, for the world, through Exodus and through Jesus. Enable us to keep witnessing, in truth and love, to what You have done, even when we face great resistance. 

Help us to entrust our entire being to You. Help us to seek forgiveness even for those who do us terrible harm. Enable us to follow Jesus wherever your Spirit leads us. Amen.

Prayer for May 7-13, 2017

Sermon Text: Acts 2:42-47

That your love and power may flow through us

Bind us together, dear God, in the new life that your Spirit gives and energizes.

Enable us to immerse ourselves fully in the instruction of the apostles as we find it in the scriptures. Enable us to read, preach and learn with an understanding that You are reconciling all things together in Christ. Help us not to read in self-serving ways.

Enable us to share our lives in courageous ways. Do not let us be too focused on our individuality, but help us see our lives in the context of a community of faith whose spiritual and economic life stand in bold contrast to the usual standards of the world.

Bring us to the table to break bread, joyfully, with diverse people. Let our fellowship overflow with glad praise.

As we share life together, let your power flow through us to bring healing and liberation to many around us. Let your love flow through us to draw many close to You and your forgiveness. Let many be awed by what You can do.  

Enable us to be deeply committed to each other as we are wholly committed to You. Amen.

Prayer for April 30-May 6, 2017 

Sermon Text: Luke 24:13-35

That we may be energized to witness that You are alive

We were walking the road in defeat when You came and walked with us.

Our faces were downcast when You spoke to us and we told You about the events that had broken our hearts.  

We were confused by, and slow to believe rumors of life when You rebuked our foolishness. 

We were silent as You explained what we needed to know about the One in whom we hoped.

We implored You to stay when it seemed You would travel on without us.

Our eyes were opened, in recognition, as You took, gave thanks, broke true bread, and gave it to us to eat. 

In your absence, we realized that our hearts had been blazing in your presence. We had recognized You without recognizing You. 

Suddenly, we are energized. Suddenly, we have good news to share. Suddenly, the time for rest is over. We cannot wait to say that we recognized You, fully alive, lit with glory, when You broke bread. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen.

Prayer for April 23-29, 2017 

Sermon Text: John 20:19-31

That our doubt may be transformed into doxology    

Jesus! Enable us to be your resurrection people! Let every dimension of our lives be made complete in You. Fill us with your energizing and liberating Spirit. Prepare us to be people of forgiveness, but give us discernment of those circumstances when forgiveness should be withheld.

Some days we are full of doubt! We doubt your resurrection. We doubt that God’s resurrecting power could work through our lives. Help us to bring our doubts to You as an act of supplication, a plea for understanding. Forgive us when we use doubt as an act of resistance to the newness that You are constantly bringing into the world.

As You reveal yourself to us in the tumble and turmoil of our days, transform our doubt to doxology. Deepen our trust.  

You are our Sovereign God! We exult in You! Amen.

Good Friday, April 14, 2017 

Sermon Text: Matthew 26:14-27:66

That new hope will form within us even in our bleakest moments

O Christ, how you suffered! How You gave yourself without restraint! We are saddened and humbled because of all that You endured for your people in obedience to the will of God and in service of God’s reign of peace and justice.

Sold and betrayed by one friend, denied by another, failed and abandoned by many; how did You endure?

Arrested like a criminal, lied about, summarily condemned, accused of blasphemy; sentenced to death, flogged, mocked, crucified, insulted during your most vulnerable, painful moments; how did You endure?

Crying out as One abandoned by God; how did you endure?

One loud, last cry and you gave up your spirit, surrendered to the darkness of the moment. But in that moment … a veil was torn, deepest truth exposed. In that moment, a confession was made. Already, in the darkest hour, a new hope was being formed. 

That hope has grown within us, even in the darkness. Even now, even in grief, we hope in You. Amen.