Prayer for November 25-December 1, 2012

Sermon Text: John 18:33-37

That we may pursue and declare your truth with courage

God of all, we rejoice that in Christ Jesus we encounter Truth that is personal and persuasive.  Through Jesus, we come to realize, more fully, that your ways are not our ways, your thoughts are not our thoughts.  In Jesus, we are summoned to absolute allegiance to You and enduring service of your sovereign reign among us. 

Enable us to practice humble, courageous, disciplined obedience that is full of gladness from knowing You and living in your presence.

Forgive us when we settle for cynicism, when we close our minds to truth and refuse to acknowledge your presence with us and your demand upon us.

Energize us for courageous pursuit of and courageous declaration of the truth we have come to know in Christ Jesus.  Let us be truthful in all of our ways.  Amen.

Prayer for November 18-24, 2012 

Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 1:4-2:10

That we may find you faithful in our grief

Listening God, sometimes when life seems arrayed against us, we are so troubled that all we are able to do is pour out the grief of our hearts in prayer that is drenched with tears.  We turn to You with just a shred of hope.  We pledge ourselves to You, pledge even the gifts we seek from You, if You will answer our anguished cries with generosity.

Answering One, how often we have found You faithful!  You have heard our cries.  You have given generous gifts.  You have renewed our spirit and filled us with your joy and peace.  You have enabled us to worship You with glad hearts.

Even when we keep the vows we make to You, it is because You have given us the desire and the discipline to do so.  Your unmatched faithfulness energizes our faithfulness.  May we trust and praise You without ceasing.  Amen.

Prayer for November 11-17, 2012 

Sermon Text: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17

That we may bear your promise to many neighbors

Generous God, the wise ways by which You direct us are often surprising to us.  The means by which You provide for us are marvelous and unexpected.  When our resources seem inadequate, You provide more than enough.

You take away our loneliness by providing family and friends who remind us of your presence.  You take away our bitterness by bringing new life among us.  You elicit our praise by redeeming and sustaining our lives.

God, we rejoice in You.  We rejoice that in some measure our lives are a sign of your love and your faithfulness.  We rejoice that by your wisdom and creativity, You are able to bring your promises to fulfillment in and through us.

May we be bearers of your promise to many of our neighbors.  Amen.

A Prayer for Election Day - November 6, 2012 

(As always, feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested)

Today, God of all creation, as I add my vote to those of many millions of citizens throughout the nation, guide me by your wisdom.  Though your ways are not my ways, and your thoughts are not my thoughts, let my vote be consistent with your intentions as they have been revealed through your people Israel, and in Christ Jesus.

May my vote not be cast in ignorance, apathy, fear, hatred, greed, or narrow self interest.

May my vote be cast as an expression of your love that casts a wide net in order to draw all the world to yourself.

May my vote be cast as an expression of your passionate welcome that spreads arms wide to embrace children, runs to meet the returning prodigal, touches those with fearful diseases, welcomes the foreigner into the fullness of community, and suffers for your enemies.

May it be cast in concern for your justice – for the generous and sufficient distribution of resources so that all people may participate in and benefit from communal life without shame.

May my vote be cast in remembrance of your delight in your creation, and your intention to heal all of creation, so that all things in heaven and earth are reconciled to you in Christ Jesus.            

God, my vote is only one vote, but enable me to cast it in faithfulness to you.  Whether the candidates I vote for win or lose, enable me to be an agent of your love, your welcome, your justice, and your healing in the days ahead.  Amen.

Prayer for November 4-10, 2012 

Recommended sermon text: Ruth 1:1-18; Psalm 146

(note: I was on vacation and did not preach Sunday)

That we may trust You wherever You lead

You who are faithful forever, we rejoice that You are a God of justice and compassion:

You advocate for the oppressed;

You feed the hungry;

You liberate prisoners;

You give sight to the blind;

You lift those who have been abased;

You watch over foreigners, like Ruth, who left her homeland to accompany Naomi.

You sustain orphans and widows, like Naomi, who thought she had lost everything.

In your mercy, You expand our circle of family and friends with whom we may walk and delight in your presence.

Even when our lives seem to fall apart—even when it seems that all is lost—You lead us and accompany us and bless us on our way.

We rejoice in your presence and trust You fully.  Amen.

Prayer for October 28-November 3, 2012 

Sermon Text: (Mark 10:46-52)

That we may hear and respond to cries for help

Jesus, amid all the clamor and commotion of life, we rejoice that You hear the voice that cries to You from the crowd.  You hear the voice that others rebuke and silence.  You hear the voice of anxiety and anguish and desperation.  And You respond.

You give audience to those who are often cast aside.  You listen to those who have stopped expecting anyone to listen to them.  You ask those who cannot help themselves what they would have You do for them.

When You have listened, You heal, restore, and liberate.  You generate new life that exceeds the thin hopes of those who cry to You.

Jesus, we rejoice that You have heard our cries.  We rejoice that You have turned to us and heard our requests and acted to heal and liberate us.  We rejoice that You have led us beyond anxiety and desperation into your peace and joy.  How gladly we follow You! 

Enable us to hear and respond to others as You have heard and responded to us.  Amen.

Prayer for October 21-27, 2012 

Sermon Text: Mark 10:35-45

That we may have the wisdom and patience to serve one another

God of all, we rejoice that You know us fully.  You know all of our subtle and not so subtle strategies for trying to gain an advantage over our neighbors, even over our brothers and sisters in faith.  You know that many of us would rather be served by others than offer ourselves to them in service. 

Forgive us when we jockey for position and compete with one another.  Forgive us when we fail to take to heart Jesus’ instruction and call that we follow him by serving others. 

Give us wisdom and patience to serve our sisters and brothers in ways that strengthen and encourage them.  Enable us to serve without being overly concerned about the recognition or reward that we might receive.  Give us the heart and mind of Christ Jesus that we may honor You in humble obedience.  Amen.