Prayer for December 24-30, 2017 

Sermon Text: Luke 1:26-55

That we may respond to You with the willingness of Mary

God of new wonders, You are continuously announcing new creation, new salvation, and new futures for your people.

We are unnerved by your presence and by your word. We barely know how to respond, and cannot hide our fears.

You tell us (over and over) not to be afraid. You tell us that You are graciously inclined toward us. You calm our fears. You make promises for new life that only You can create.

You assure us that Jesus, who comes among us as your Child, your Agent of salvation and newness, will reign forever. You point to wonders that are taking place, now, in order to assure us that You can do what You promise. 

Enable us to respond with the willingness of Mary. May your word be fulfilled in and through us. Let us bear your presence into the world around us. Amen.

Prayer for December 17-23, 2017 

Sermon Text: Psalm 126

Let our lives reflect our gratitude and convince others that You are at work among us

God of restoration, so often it seems that our quest for autonomy and our pursuit of our own agenda makes us exiles. We find ourselves exiled from You, exiled from our true selves, from the people who have most consistently nurtured us, and from the places where we have felt most at home and most whole.

While we are lost in chaos of our own making, You are at work, often in unseen ways, to enable our return, to bring forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, wholeness and peace.

Others are seldom able to see all that You have done for us, but we declare: “God has done great things for us!” You have done great things over and over, and we will praise You again and again.  

Continue your work of restoration among us. Let our lives reflect our gratitude and convince others that You really are at work among us, so that their praise may echo our own, to your endless glory. Amen.

Prayer for December 10-16, 2017 

Sermon Text: Isaiah 40:1-11

That we may rejoice in your restoration and nearness

Holy Shepherd, we rebel against You in so many ways. We act in arrogance. We choose our own paths. We pursue what is merely vapor.

We wreak havoc on our lives, bringing chaos, ugliness and sterility in place of order, beauty and fruitfulness. Sometimes, in the midst of our self-destructive choices, we wonder, “Why has God abandoned us?”

Then You speak, and in place of the judgment we have experienced, we hear a word of comfort. We hear a word of compassion and restoration. We hear that in spite of our brief and fragile lives, You endure, your word endures, and your love for us endures.

We hear that You are near, and our hearts rejoice. We welcome your acts of justice. We welcome your wise guidance. We celebrate as You gather us and hold us close to your heart.  

Do not let us wander away from You again. Do not let us bring chaos upon ourselves. Keep us close! We are comforted by your presence. Amen.     

Prayer for December 3-9, 2017 

Sermon Text: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

That your radiance will remind us that we are yours

God of Glory, we rejoice that You have made your face shine upon us in the face of Christ Jesus our Savior, Teacher and Friend. Through Jesus you have carried us like a gentle shepherd and governed us like a wise and compassionate monarch.

We rejoice that You have not abandoned us to the mess that we tend to make of our lives. You have not allowed our enemies to mock us excessively. You have not forced us to eat and drink only the tears of bitter grief. You have not refused our prayers in prolonged anger.

We need You! We need your Word and your Presence far more than we usually care to admit. We need the radiance of your face to remind us that we are yours and to enable our prayers and our praise.  

Shine upon us that we may be saved! Shine around us that we may know the truth! Shine through us that the world may know You in your glory! Amen.

Prayer for November 26-December 2, 2017 

Sermon Text: Matthew 25:31-46

That we may be agents of your work of feeding, healing, welcoming and befriending

Christ Jesus, help us to see your face in the faces of those around us, but particularly in the faces of those who are most vulnerable in their hunger and thirst, loneliness and exclusion, nakedness, homelessness, sickness and imprisonment.

Enable us to offer care and friendship to those we encounter in their need, weakness, isolation and shame. Enable us to release the resources that You have entrusted to us so that others may experience a greater measure of the abundance, liberation, healing, welcome and friendship that are features of your reign of peace and justice and our salvation.

When we are tempted to turn away from those in need, help us to remember the kind and generous ways that You answered the burning needs of those who came to You, called to You, or reached for You amid the press of bodies and the clamor of voices. 

Let us be agents of your continuing work of feeding, healing, welcoming and befriending many people. May we be full participants in your reign of justice and peace. Amen.

Prayer for November 19-25, 2017 

Sermon Text: Matthew 25:14-30

That we may be faithful stewards who share Christ’s joy when he returns

Trusting God, You have entrusted so much to us: this creation of complexity, beauty and abundance; talents and spiritual gifts; intimate relationships; material wealth; and time and energy.

Enable us to be wise stewards of all your resources and to nurture faithfulness and fruitfulness in everything around us.

When we are fearful and want to protect the resources You have entrusted to us by hiding them, overcome our anxiety and fear by your tender, encouraging love.

When it seems to us that You are far, far away, and unlikely to return in a meaningful time frame, and we become greedy and hoard your resources as though they were our own, send us a prophetic word that reminds us that “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.” 

Help us to live in such a way that we may share Christ’s joy in the day of Christ’s return. We would be your “good and faithful servants.” Amen.      

Prayer for November 12-18, 2017 

Sermon Text: Matthew 25:1-13

That we may be fully prepared to welcome Jesus and enable others to prepare for his presence

God of mystery, enable us to welcome the presence of Christ in every moment and every place. Enable us to prepare ourselves so that Christ’s presence does not take us by surprise.

Let us live in such intimacy with Christ Jesus that we know him with a good measure of his full knowledge of us.

We cannot stay alert every minute, but help us to order our lives in such a way that they reflect total commitment to and readiness for Jesus.  

Enable us to help others to prepare for Christ’s presence, to celebrate his arrival with great joy, and to participate in his wedding feast as beloved friends. Amen.