Prayer for November 28-December 4, 2021
Sermon Text: Luke 21:25-36

That we may stand on the day when Christ comes with "power and great glory"

God, we hope in You! We await the return of your Anointed One. And like many generations of Christians before us, we are inclined to see signs of fulfillment in the anguish-causing chaos around us. In our anxiety, we often contribute to the chaos by rash choices that we believe will protect us and conserve the well-being of our individual lives and our communities. Or we turn to the calculating efforts of those who read the Bible’s mysterious language of the end of things as though it had a one-to-one correspondence with events or trends that we observe.

Jesus, we see many signs, but perhaps we don’t see the right signs, or see them in the right light. Perhaps we fail to see as Jesus saw and as Jesus attempted to train his disciples.

Forgive us for allowing anxiety to weigh us down and control us. Forgive us for failing to observe and address life with sobriety. Forgive us for expecting salvation only for us or those whom we perceive to be most like us. Transform us into disciples who follow Jesus with courage and hope. Enable us to stand on the day of his return, when he comes with “power and great glory.” Amen.

Prayer for November 21-27, 2021
Sermon Text: John 18:28-37

That we may follow your example of compassionate and courageous service

Jesus, many of us claim to want justice, but we have little taste for the difficult truths that we must hear to open a space for justice in our own hearts. We have little desire to change our minds, or to repent in brokenness and sorrow. We have little desire to make reparations to those whom we have defrauded and dehumanized by our acts of greed.

Like Pilate, we deny the availability of truth and its claim upon our lives. But we know that your instruction is wise and true. We know that your Spirit frees us by convincing and convicting us of the truth that You embodied among us.

Enable us to see that You, as Sovereign among us, have called and commanded us to practice neighbor love, not just for our brothers, sisters, and neighbors, but for those whom we define as enemies. Enable us to recognize your wise instruction and leadership, and follow your example of compassionate and courageous service, in order to fulfill the purpose of our creation and redemption. Amen.

Prayer for November 14-20, 2021
Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 1:3-20, 2:1-10

That we may trust fully in You as we act with compassion and generosity toward our neighbors

God of creation, we rejoice in You! We rejoice that You are alert to the cries of your people. You hear the anguished voices of those who are worn down, distraught, defeated, and shamed by their circumstances. You see the needs of the oppressed and the arrogance of their oppressors.

We rejoice that You have the ability to alter our lives. You are able to lift the oppressed to places of unexpected joy. You raise from death to new life. You nourish and give strength. You remove shame and give honor.

God of creation, we rejoice that You are also God of justice. We find both hope and warning in that. Do not let us oppress our neighbor in arrogance. Do not let us take refuge in wealth and assume that it will protect us from all threats. Enable us to trust fully in You and act with compassion and generosity toward our neighbors, so that we may all, together, celebrate your generous presence among us. Amen.

Prayer for November 7-13, 2021
Sermon Text: Ruth 3:1-6, 4:13-17

That we may see You working through the trials and tragedies of our lives

God of all, we rejoice in You. We rejoice that You are often working in unseen ways behind the trials and tragedies of our lives in order to bring blessing and joy.

You have created friendships when we had lost those who were most significant to us.

You have created new homes for us when we were exiled or forced to migrate in order to escape danger or receive our daily bread.

You have surrounded us with generous people who have watched over and guarded us in the midst of our struggles.

When we perceive that You have made our lives bitter, You act in new ways to set our hearts rejoicing.

We rejoice in your life-giving ability and in your many gifts. We receive them with gladness, and join your people in praise. Amen.

Prayer for October 31-November 6, 2021
Sermon Text: Ruth 1:1-18

That the love You have created in us will give us courage to walk together in solidarity

God of all, we rejoice in You! We worship You as the One who loves and who generates love within people whose hearts are open and responsive to You.

We rejoice that the love You pour into human hearts may flow freely from one person to another. And we rejoice that the love You create between people may grow into deep love and enduring commitment to You.

Compassionate God, give us the courage to walk together in solidarity through deprivation, loss, grief, and other trials, because of the love You have created in us.

Generous God, give us voice to express our thanksgiving and praise when You have acted in unforeseen ways to bless us and to make us a source of blessing. We pray in the name of the One who lived in full solidarity with us and gave himself completely for us. Amen.

Prayer for October 24-30, 2021
Sermon Text: Mark 10:46-52

That your healing touch may allow us to follow You with new vision

Jesus, although our needs are many, we often fail to perceive which parts of our life need your healing touch most desperately. Enable us to see our need clearly. Give us courage to cry to You from that place of need, even when others would try to silence or scold us.

We know that You are able to heal us. We know, in particular, that You are able to give us new sight. You enable us to see the truth about who You are, about who we are, and about our deep and abiding need for your provision and intervention in our lives.

We need your mercy! We need your healing touch! We cry to You in hope because we know that You are able to act in unexpected ways to rescue and generate wholeness.

Enable us to trust You completely. Then, when we experience healing, give us the energy and courage to follow You on the road You have called us to travel. Amen.

Prayer for October 17-23, 2021

Sermon Text: Mark 10:35-45

Through acts of service, may we give all for God's glory

Jesus, give us a heart for service that follows after your own heart.

Enable us to put all of the resources we have been given into whole-hearted service for God’s reign and into compassionate service for the many neighbors with whom God has surrounded us.

Draw our thoughts away from gaining glory and honor for ourselves. Draw our focus away from competing with one another and controlling one another.

Jesus, it’s clear that most of us are not yet ready to endure the kind of suffering and death that You experienced and to which You called us as your disciples. Enable us to set aside every hope, every desire, that is not linked to the fullest expression of God’s reign and God’s glory among us. Through acts of service, may we give all for God’s glory, as You did. Amen.