Sermon Test: John 14:15-21
That we will practice faith that is robust and creative
You who call and command us, we rejoice in the promise of your Spirit who instructs and guides us as we face daily challenges in faith. We rejoice that You have promised that the Spirit will be with us forever and that your Spirit dwells in us, clarifies your relationship to God the Father, and reveals and sustains the unity that we have with You and in You.
We thank You that your Spirit enables us to obey You in love and reveals your ongoing presence to us.
Forgive us when we are slow to receive the guidance of your Spirit. Forgive us when we will not acknowledge your nearness and when we hesitate to obey You because our love for You has wavered.
May your Spirit rouse us to faith that is robust and creative, and to obedience that is energized by deep love. Amen.
Thoughts, and prayers from Pastor David Antieau at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Prayer for May 22-28, 2011
Sermon Text: Acts 7:55-60
That we may boldly tell the story of Jesus
God of compassion and mercy, we rejoice that You have raised up and sent bold witnesses throughout the centuries of your history with Israel and the Church. Without such witnesses, we would not know the name of Jesus. Without such witnesses, we would live still in the futility of our own understanding. Without such witnesses, we would have no hope of participating in the resurrection life of Jesus.
We rejoice in You! And we rejoice that you enabled your witnesses to persevere in the face of bitter and brutal opposition even when it cost them their lives. You gave faith, hope, even joy, in the midst of the most challenging circumstances. Because of the tenderness and tenacity of your witnesses, our lives have been opened to You, to your truth and your love.
Source of all that we have and all that we are, give us a full measure of courage to tell the story of Jesus to others. Enable us to tell the story in ways that connect with the real lives of the people we know. Enable us to persevere when we face resistance. Enable us to forgive when we are injured. Let every word we speak, especially those that challenge others the most, be full of your love. Amen.
That we may boldly tell the story of Jesus
God of compassion and mercy, we rejoice that You have raised up and sent bold witnesses throughout the centuries of your history with Israel and the Church. Without such witnesses, we would not know the name of Jesus. Without such witnesses, we would live still in the futility of our own understanding. Without such witnesses, we would have no hope of participating in the resurrection life of Jesus.
We rejoice in You! And we rejoice that you enabled your witnesses to persevere in the face of bitter and brutal opposition even when it cost them their lives. You gave faith, hope, even joy, in the midst of the most challenging circumstances. Because of the tenderness and tenacity of your witnesses, our lives have been opened to You, to your truth and your love.
Source of all that we have and all that we are, give us a full measure of courage to tell the story of Jesus to others. Enable us to tell the story in ways that connect with the real lives of the people we know. Enable us to persevere when we face resistance. Enable us to forgive when we are injured. Let every word we speak, especially those that challenge others the most, be full of your love. Amen.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Prayer for May 15-21, 2011
Sermon Text: Acts 2:42-47
That we may commit ourselves to You as one
You who formed the church with Christ Jesus as its head, we too commit ourselves to the teaching of the apostles. Let their words of witness and instruction, through which we hear your word for us, root deeply in the soil of our minds, so that we are transformed and made fruitful in character, good works, and witness.
We too commit ourselves to the community that has been called together by Jesus and energized by your Spirit. Enable us to combine our diverse resources in order to provide for each other, nurture each other, and rouse each one to courageous acts of faith. Enable us to work together and witness as one to Jesus whom You have raised to life as Sovereign of all.
We too commit our lives to the breaking of bread, the communion in which our hearts are open to You and thereby opened to each other. Like the travelers to Emmaus on that first Easter, let us see Christ’s presence when we eat together. Enable us to affirm and live fully the unity for which You have created a sure foundation.
We too commit ourselves to pray together. Give us faith to pray boldly. Give us perseverance to pray when there seems to be no answer to our prayer. Let your Spirit guide our prayer so that it is aligned with your good will for us.
Wondrous God, may all of our commitments express our delight in your presence, and may many be drawn to You because they have seen You through our lives. Amen.
That we may commit ourselves to You as one
You who formed the church with Christ Jesus as its head, we too commit ourselves to the teaching of the apostles. Let their words of witness and instruction, through which we hear your word for us, root deeply in the soil of our minds, so that we are transformed and made fruitful in character, good works, and witness.
We too commit ourselves to the community that has been called together by Jesus and energized by your Spirit. Enable us to combine our diverse resources in order to provide for each other, nurture each other, and rouse each one to courageous acts of faith. Enable us to work together and witness as one to Jesus whom You have raised to life as Sovereign of all.
We too commit our lives to the breaking of bread, the communion in which our hearts are open to You and thereby opened to each other. Like the travelers to Emmaus on that first Easter, let us see Christ’s presence when we eat together. Enable us to affirm and live fully the unity for which You have created a sure foundation.
We too commit ourselves to pray together. Give us faith to pray boldly. Give us perseverance to pray when there seems to be no answer to our prayer. Let your Spirit guide our prayer so that it is aligned with your good will for us.
Wondrous God, may all of our commitments express our delight in your presence, and may many be drawn to You because they have seen You through our lives. Amen.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Prayer for May 8-14, 2011
Sermon Text: Luke 24:13-35
That our eyes may be opened and our hearts set on fire
Creator and Giver of life, we rejoice that You raised Jesus from the dead, and that he lives in unity with You, and with your Spirit, one God, reigning forever over all things.
We thank You for walking with us in the midst of our confusion and sorrow. We thank You for instructing us in your word, even though we are often foolish and slow to understand. We thank You for revealing yourself to us in the bread and wine of communion, but also in many other ways.
Forgive us when we are too foolish or stubborn to learn from You. Forgive us when we do not recognize your presence behind the many gifts You bestow upon us, and in the many signs of new life that You show us. Forgive us for being slow to believe.
Open our eyes. Set our hearts on fire in your presence. Give us quick feet and tongues to tell others that Jesus is alive and has met us on our journey and has filled us with delight. Amen.
That our eyes may be opened and our hearts set on fire
Creator and Giver of life, we rejoice that You raised Jesus from the dead, and that he lives in unity with You, and with your Spirit, one God, reigning forever over all things.
We thank You for walking with us in the midst of our confusion and sorrow. We thank You for instructing us in your word, even though we are often foolish and slow to understand. We thank You for revealing yourself to us in the bread and wine of communion, but also in many other ways.
Forgive us when we are too foolish or stubborn to learn from You. Forgive us when we do not recognize your presence behind the many gifts You bestow upon us, and in the many signs of new life that You show us. Forgive us for being slow to believe.
Open our eyes. Set our hearts on fire in your presence. Give us quick feet and tongues to tell others that Jesus is alive and has met us on our journey and has filled us with delight. Amen.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Prayer for May 1-7, 2011
Sermon Text: John 20:19-31
That we may acclaim You as our Sovereign God
Christ Jesus, what a jumble of emotions your followers must have experienced when You appeared among them after your resurrection, proclaimed peace, displayed your wounds, imparted your Spirit, and authorized them to forgive sins or to withhold forgiveness.
We have known something of this jumble of dread and delight when You have met us through your word. At times we fear the unexpected and fear your judgment. But today we are overwhelmed with joy as we recognize that You are alive and powerful among us.
We rejoice that You have given your Spirit to us. We rejoice that You have authorized us to be agents of your forgiveness. We rejoice that by your grace we have been able to acclaim You as our Sovereign God.
We praise You for opening our eyes and enabling us to believe in You. Because of You, we are deeply blessed and full of hope. Hallelujah! We worship and adore You as our Risen Savior. Amen.
That we may acclaim You as our Sovereign God
Christ Jesus, what a jumble of emotions your followers must have experienced when You appeared among them after your resurrection, proclaimed peace, displayed your wounds, imparted your Spirit, and authorized them to forgive sins or to withhold forgiveness.
We have known something of this jumble of dread and delight when You have met us through your word. At times we fear the unexpected and fear your judgment. But today we are overwhelmed with joy as we recognize that You are alive and powerful among us.
We rejoice that You have given your Spirit to us. We rejoice that You have authorized us to be agents of your forgiveness. We rejoice that by your grace we have been able to acclaim You as our Sovereign God.
We praise You for opening our eyes and enabling us to believe in You. Because of You, we are deeply blessed and full of hope. Hallelujah! We worship and adore You as our Risen Savior. Amen.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Prayer for April 24-30, 2011
Sermon Text: Matthew 28:1-20
That we will accomplish your purpose in your power
God of resurrection, You shattered every expectation by raising Jesus from the dead. You defeated death by your unimaginable power. You amaze us! You give us new hope. You fill us with expectation of our own resurrection with Christ Jesus. We praise You! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! You alone are worthy of Praise! Amen!
We rejoice that You gave your Resurrected One authority over all things. We gladly submit our lives to Christ Jesus for obedient service. We will follow wherever the Spirit of Christ leads us, and we will invite others to follow and teach them all that Christ has taught us.
Give us courage and energy to live as resurrection people. May we accomplish your desire for us by your own power and gifts. Let us join with multitudes who serve and praise you with abundant joy. Amen.
That we will accomplish your purpose in your power
God of resurrection, You shattered every expectation by raising Jesus from the dead. You defeated death by your unimaginable power. You amaze us! You give us new hope. You fill us with expectation of our own resurrection with Christ Jesus. We praise You! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! You alone are worthy of Praise! Amen!
We rejoice that You gave your Resurrected One authority over all things. We gladly submit our lives to Christ Jesus for obedient service. We will follow wherever the Spirit of Christ leads us, and we will invite others to follow and teach them all that Christ has taught us.
Give us courage and energy to live as resurrection people. May we accomplish your desire for us by your own power and gifts. Let us join with multitudes who serve and praise you with abundant joy. Amen.
Prayer for Good Friday - April 22, 2011
This prayer is based on Jesus' encounters with various forms of deceit in the final hours leading up to his death.
Sermon text: John 18:1 - 19:42
Responsive Prayer
Leader:True and Trustworthy God, we rejoice that You sent Jesus
among us as the bearer of your grace and truth.
People:We rejoice that Jesus has invited us to worship You in
spirit and truth and that by your Spirit, Jesus enables our
worship.
Leader:We thank You for Jesus’ teaching that guides us as we live
as your true children.
People:And we praise You that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and
the Life for all people, including us.
Leader:O God, while we celebrate Jesus Christ as Living Truth, we
acknowledge that he encountered lies and deceit in many
forms,
All: and admit that we have been deceitful too often.
Leader:We cringe to think of the response of Judas and Peter to
Jesus,
All: but we admit that we, too, have betrayed Jesus, we too
have denied our own identity as Jesus’ followers when
telling the truth seemed threatening.
Leader:Forgive us for our betrayals.
People:Forgive us for our denials.
Leader:We too have resisted and opposed the truth spoken by
Jesus.
People:We too have spoken cynically and questioned whether
truth was available to us.
Leader:Forgive us for our cynicism.
People:Forgive us for resisting the truth.
Leader:O God, we too have seen the truth clearly then chose to
act against the truth in order to save face, or curry favor,
or protect ourselves.
All: Forgive us for being too fearful to live the truth we know!
Leader:By your Spirit, O God, align our lives fully with your truth –
the Truth we meet in Christ Jesus.
People:Heal and transform us!
All: Enable us to follow Jesus in truth, no matter what the
cost may be. Amen.
Sermon text: John 18:1 - 19:42
Responsive Prayer
Leader:True and Trustworthy God, we rejoice that You sent Jesus
among us as the bearer of your grace and truth.
People:We rejoice that Jesus has invited us to worship You in
spirit and truth and that by your Spirit, Jesus enables our
worship.
Leader:We thank You for Jesus’ teaching that guides us as we live
as your true children.
People:And we praise You that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and
the Life for all people, including us.
Leader:O God, while we celebrate Jesus Christ as Living Truth, we
acknowledge that he encountered lies and deceit in many
forms,
All: and admit that we have been deceitful too often.
Leader:We cringe to think of the response of Judas and Peter to
Jesus,
All: but we admit that we, too, have betrayed Jesus, we too
have denied our own identity as Jesus’ followers when
telling the truth seemed threatening.
Leader:Forgive us for our betrayals.
People:Forgive us for our denials.
Leader:We too have resisted and opposed the truth spoken by
Jesus.
People:We too have spoken cynically and questioned whether
truth was available to us.
Leader:Forgive us for our cynicism.
People:Forgive us for resisting the truth.
Leader:O God, we too have seen the truth clearly then chose to
act against the truth in order to save face, or curry favor,
or protect ourselves.
All: Forgive us for being too fearful to live the truth we know!
Leader:By your Spirit, O God, align our lives fully with your truth –
the Truth we meet in Christ Jesus.
People:Heal and transform us!
All: Enable us to follow Jesus in truth, no matter what the
cost may be. Amen.
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