Prayer for July 12-18, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That we may be fully and fruitfully receptive to your word
Holy Sower, You
have scattered the seed of your word among us. You have brought the reign of
God near by your presence, action, and speech.
At times, our
responses to You are blocked and interrupted by others who are resistant to the
new life that You would bring among us. At times, your word cannot penetrate
our hearts of stone that resist instruction and enlightenment. At times, we are
so caught up in pursuing, procuring, and protecting our personal interests,
particularly in accumulating wealth of various sorts, that our interest in
God’s reign is quickly choked out by our many cares.
Remove all
obstructions to faithful response. Pulverize our stony hearts and turn them
into receptive soil. Tear away all the weeds that divert our attention from You
and choke our growth in grace. Make us fully and fruitfully receptive to your
word. We know that You are able to make something beautiful of our lives. We
trust You do so, for God’s glory. Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Prayer for July 5-11, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
That we may learn that your way is less burdensome than others we might choose
Jesus, we acknowledge that we are fickle when challenged by bearers of God’s word, including You. We have our own preferences for how God’s messengers will appear, how they will be deployed, and the degree of sobriety or festivity with which they approach us. It only takes a moment of irritation or displeasure for us to turn away from God’s representative and go our own way to seek another who will speak in ways that match our expectations more closely.
Forgive us for our fickleness. Forgive us for our failure to produce deeds of wisdom. Enable us to recognize, more fully, the truth that You have revealed to us. Enable us to know our Sovereign God in life-altering ways. Help us to learn that your way is less burdensome than other ways that we have chosen or might choose now. Enable us to enter the rest that You promise to those who follow You in devoted obedience. Amen.
Sermon Text: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
That we may learn that your way is less burdensome than others we might choose
Jesus, we acknowledge that we are fickle when challenged by bearers of God’s word, including You. We have our own preferences for how God’s messengers will appear, how they will be deployed, and the degree of sobriety or festivity with which they approach us. It only takes a moment of irritation or displeasure for us to turn away from God’s representative and go our own way to seek another who will speak in ways that match our expectations more closely.
Forgive us for our fickleness. Forgive us for our failure to produce deeds of wisdom. Enable us to recognize, more fully, the truth that You have revealed to us. Enable us to know our Sovereign God in life-altering ways. Help us to learn that your way is less burdensome than other ways that we have chosen or might choose now. Enable us to enter the rest that You promise to those who follow You in devoted obedience. Amen.
Prayer for June 28-July 4, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:40-42
That we may be drawn more closely into a holy network of welcome and love
Jesus, we are grateful for the way that you welcomed us into your presence. We are thankful for the many ways that you demonstrated hospitality – to children, to poor persons, to those who were sick, blind, or controlled by oppressive spirits, to potential enemies, and to others from whom You might have turned away.
Let our hearts be as fully open to You as yours was and is to us. Let us welcome God’s presence and sovereignty in every dimension of our lives, and enjoy rich communion that enriches and energizes us for courageous faith and friendship.
As we are drawn more closely to You in a holy network of welcome and love, enable us to open our hearts more fully to the diverse people whom we encounter in our daily lives. Let us be agents of your welcoming love who draw others near to your healing and liberating presence.
We rejoice to be near You. Amen!
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:40-42
That we may be drawn more closely into a holy network of welcome and love
Jesus, we are grateful for the way that you welcomed us into your presence. We are thankful for the many ways that you demonstrated hospitality – to children, to poor persons, to those who were sick, blind, or controlled by oppressive spirits, to potential enemies, and to others from whom You might have turned away.
Let our hearts be as fully open to You as yours was and is to us. Let us welcome God’s presence and sovereignty in every dimension of our lives, and enjoy rich communion that enriches and energizes us for courageous faith and friendship.
As we are drawn more closely to You in a holy network of welcome and love, enable us to open our hearts more fully to the diverse people whom we encounter in our daily lives. Let us be agents of your welcoming love who draw others near to your healing and liberating presence.
We rejoice to be near You. Amen!
Prayer for June 21-27, 2020
Sermon Text: Matthew 10:24-39
That we will draw assurance from your promise that truth will be fully disclosed
Jesus, help us to remember that we are
dependent upon your instruction, your provision, your vision, your energy, and
many other gifts, in order to carry out the mission that You began among us and
called us to continue.
Help us to witness to your sovereignty by
speech and action. Help us to place loyalty to You above loyalty to our
families, friends, or nations.
Help us to draw assurance for bold and faithful
witness from your promise that the truth will be fully disclosed and that God
will watch over each of us with compassion.
We give ourselves fully to You. Work in
and through us to achieve your mission of renewing all of creation. Amen.
Prayer for June 14-20, 2020
Sermon Text: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
That our laughter may be the laughter of love
God of new hopes, how often have we laughed because we were unable to believe your promises? How often have we laughed because of the skepticism and cynicism that have been nurtured by a culture of disbelief?
God, forgive us when we doubt You. Forgive us when we perceive your promises as jokes that are meant to taunt and tease us.
Forgive us when our laughter arises from cruelty, or when we laugh at the misfortunes of others. Forgive us when we laugh in arrogant pride.
Transform our laughter from the laughter of doubt to the laughter that reflects pure joy in your presence and promise. May our laughter be the laughter of love, for You, and for our many neighbors, beginning with those of our own household. Amen.
Sermon Text: Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7
That our laughter may be the laughter of love
God of new hopes, how often have we laughed because we were unable to believe your promises? How often have we laughed because of the skepticism and cynicism that have been nurtured by a culture of disbelief?
God, forgive us when we doubt You. Forgive us when we perceive your promises as jokes that are meant to taunt and tease us.
Forgive us when our laughter arises from cruelty, or when we laugh at the misfortunes of others. Forgive us when we laugh in arrogant pride.
Transform our laughter from the laughter of doubt to the laughter that reflects pure joy in your presence and promise. May our laughter be the laughter of love, for You, and for our many neighbors, beginning with those of our own household. Amen.
Sunday, June 7, 2020
Prayer for June 7-13, 2020
Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a
That we may trust You when threatened by chaos and despair
God of Israel, and God of all people, we rejoice in your creation, which sustains us all. We rejoice, also, in your ability to act in chaotic times, when individual or communal lives have spiraled into chaos brought about by military aggression, natural disaster, or by our own sinfulness, idolatry and injustice.
You are not defeated by the chaos that overwhelms and defeats us. You are not defeated by the chaos that we generate. Your abilities are not bound and limited by any circumstance that confuses, ensnares, or otherwise diminishes us.
When things seem unchangeable and hopeless, when we are tempted to despair, You are able to act to bring new life in great variety. You are able to sustain the weak and weary. You are able to gather exiles and immigrants. You are able to give release and rest.
We trust You to do new creation among us! Transform us individually and communally. May the whole earth rejoice as You do new wonders among us. Amen.
Sermon Text: Genesis 1:1-2:4a
That we may trust You when threatened by chaos and despair
God of Israel, and God of all people, we rejoice in your creation, which sustains us all. We rejoice, also, in your ability to act in chaotic times, when individual or communal lives have spiraled into chaos brought about by military aggression, natural disaster, or by our own sinfulness, idolatry and injustice.
You are not defeated by the chaos that overwhelms and defeats us. You are not defeated by the chaos that we generate. Your abilities are not bound and limited by any circumstance that confuses, ensnares, or otherwise diminishes us.
When things seem unchangeable and hopeless, when we are tempted to despair, You are able to act to bring new life in great variety. You are able to sustain the weak and weary. You are able to gather exiles and immigrants. You are able to give release and rest.
We trust You to do new creation among us! Transform us individually and communally. May the whole earth rejoice as You do new wonders among us. Amen.
Prayer for May 31-June 6, 2020
Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-21
That we may live in generous, loving ways that are based in the unity your Spirit creates
God of all creation and all people, we rejoice that You have kept your promises to your people, Israel. We rejoice in the new creation that You were doing at Pentecost. We rejoice that You poured out your Spirit without separating men and women or young and old.
We are thankful that your Spirit enables us to understand each other in new ways. We are thankful that your Spirit gives us energy to speak your word in witness to each other and to the world that You love so deeply.
Forgive us when we resist the guidance of your Spirit. Forgive us when we refuse the reconciliation that your Spirit is working among us. Forgive us when we withhold words and acts of witness for which the world yearns.
Let us live in generous and loving ways that are based on the unity that your Spirit has created and now nurtures among us. May everything we do bring honor to You. Amen.
Sermon Text: Acts 2:1-21
That we may live in generous, loving ways that are based in the unity your Spirit creates
God of all creation and all people, we rejoice that You have kept your promises to your people, Israel. We rejoice in the new creation that You were doing at Pentecost. We rejoice that You poured out your Spirit without separating men and women or young and old.
We are thankful that your Spirit enables us to understand each other in new ways. We are thankful that your Spirit gives us energy to speak your word in witness to each other and to the world that You love so deeply.
Forgive us when we resist the guidance of your Spirit. Forgive us when we refuse the reconciliation that your Spirit is working among us. Forgive us when we withhold words and acts of witness for which the world yearns.
Let us live in generous and loving ways that are based on the unity that your Spirit has created and now nurtures among us. May everything we do bring honor to You. Amen.
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