Prayers of the Church

Prayers of the Church, 2.5.12

2012-02-03T20:04:00.000-05:00

The glory of God is upon us. The majesty of the Lord shows all around us. You, O God, are love, a love so intense, a love so blindingly radiant that it can sear away the ugliness of our souls.

We come before you in prayer, Lord. We thank you that you hear us. We thank you that you desire a relationship with each of your children. As children often are, we can be timid. Let us never be afraid to come to you. Let us never fear that we are too unworthy to approach you. Let us never worry that you will reject us.

We know that Jesus was in constant communication with you. We know that he cherished the relationship he had with you. Lord, remind us that our prayers are not just about finding answers, not just about guidance. Remind us that our prayers should also be about building our relationship with you.

Forgive us when we forget, when we are too lazy, when we are too busy to pray. Help us be like Jesus and be in constant communication with you. Help us remember that we can’t live without you….that life without you isn’t life at all.

Help us remember that our prayers can’t always be about us. As we pray, help us focus on doing your will and on being a blessing to others.

Help us feel your presence, Lord; engender in us the knowledge that you will never leave us alone, never leave us to our own devices, never forsake us.

We come to you now in the silence, our defenses down; we come to you now in the silence, our importance of no consequence; we come to you now in the silence, our souls laid bare. Turn your face toward us, Father. Look upon us with your grace, hearing our petitions…and speak to us.

Help us always remember to pray for our enemies.

Glory be to you, O great and wondrous Lord.

We ask your special blessings today Father, on those who minister in our churches, specifically Aaron, Ryan, Anna, and Greg, but also all those around the world who minister in the name of the risen Lord. Give them the grace of the Savior. Help us support them and their families as they strive to spread the Good News to all people.

And now, we pray together the prayer that Jesus Christ taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.1.12

2011-12-31T16:40:00.001-05:00

Loving God, as we enter a new year, we have the opportunity to be aware and to be grateful for all the gifts you have bestowed upon us. While our lives are not perfect, and we can focus on the negative, there is much for us to be thankful for. As we survey our surroundings, we see your wonders, the majesty of the mountains, the bright colors of light through the stained glass, the laughs and smiles of the happy children as they learn and they play, the warm handshake or embrace of a brother or sister in Jesus Christ – you, O Lord, have richly blessed us.

And, as we look around, we can also see those for whom 2012 is not starting out well – for those in hospice, for those who are sick, for those who don’t have a roof over their heads, for those who have lost a loved one or will soon, for those who are suffering a loss of relationship, for those who are suffering a crisis of faith, for those we may consider enemies. You have laid before us many who can use our support – a kind word, a thoughtful note, a timely visit, a listening ear, a heartfelt prayer.

From whom much is given, much is required.

As we pass over this milestone, you give us yet another chance to start over, to be better than we’ve been before – to be more empathetic, to be more nurturing, to be more helpful. Bless our efforts to make 2012 our best year – our best offering to you of ourselves and our best offering to our fellow human beings regardless of their religion, their race, their status or their lovability.

As we contemplate the incarnation and what it meant to the Father, what it meant to the Son, and what it means to us, instill in us your grace, your peace, and a greater understanding of what it means to be a child of God.

We are grateful, Father, that you hear our prayers. Turn your face toward us as we bring to you our own personal joys and sorrows, our own celebrations and fears.

Thanks be to you, O God.

We ask your special blessings today, Father, on the Veals: Warren, Julie, and their family, as they serve you in Mozambique as a part of Mission Aviation Fellowship. Guide them, direct them, and cover them in your love as they share the Good News of Jesus Christ to isolated people, helping them become physically and spiritually transformed.

And now we pray together as Jesus Christ our Lord taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 11.26.11

2011-11-26T21:38:00.000-05:00

O, Great and wondrous God. O, magnificent creator. O highest of most high, the mountains quake at your presence, the nations tremble when they sense your majesty and aura. Your children gather at your feet and call you Father.

We come before you as grateful servants, grateful that you love us so much that you did not leave us to drown in the depths of our sins and iniquities. We know your love toward us has no end for when we were yet sinners without strength, you sent what was most precious to you as a ransom for our souls.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down…manifesting yourself in an earthly form and dwelling among us…as one of us.

We anticipate your coming; we long for your return, the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, gathering his children from the four winds. You will deliver your people ultimately and finally from a sinful world.

Even as we anticipate your reappearance, we know you call on us to do much for your kingdom. Even as we yearn to be united with you, we know we must be strong Christians, eager and willing to act in the name of God.

Help us to be people of action. Let us act on your behalf. Help us stand up for the cause of the Christ. Keep us ever vigilant, not only for your return but against the temptations of sloth, worldliness, and the love of comfort.

Now we come to you in the quiet, each one of us sharing our fears and our sorrows, our joys and our thanksgiving. Turn you face toward us, Father, and hear our prayers:

Thanks be to you, O God, most high for your steadfast goodness and love.

We ask your special blessings today Lord on the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Guide and direct their leaders and workers to be sensitive and supportive, while at the same time firm and forthright. Help IHN’s clients as they work to keep their families together and find their way to financial stability and emotional strength. Help us at Grandview be warm and welcoming, a blessing to our guests.

And now we pray together as Jesus Christ our Lord taught us:

Prayers of the Church, 11.13.11

2011-11-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

Praise be to you, O God, as we contemplate your greatness. Praise be to you, Lord, as we bask in your endless love. Praise be to you, Father, as we bring our cares, our joys, our sorrows before you in the silence.

As we strive always to be your faithful servants, we call on you for aid. We call on you to keep us centered and grounded in the truth, shown through the life of faithful saints and even more so though the life of our savior, Jesus Christ.

Open our minds to your scriptures. Provide in us a hunger for your word, a passion to understand and to share. Help us to live lives that are firmly anchored in your teachings. Enable us to see how you have used your ordinary, flawed children to do great things for your kingdom and how you can use us, as well.

Open our hearts to the gravity of the cross. Help us understand that the path we have to eternal life with you runs through Golgotha. Help us understand while we are free to accept or reject your love, it is the depth of that love that made the cross so costly for you.

Open our spirits to your command to share the truth of Jesus Christ to all the corners of the earth. Clothe us with power from on high to overcome the fear of being open and sharing your love with others. Clothe us with power from on high to overcome our reluctance to invest in the work you lay before us. Clothe us with power from on high to overcome our ambivalence and sometimes even our neglect as we focus on ourselves instead of on serving you through serving others.

Focus us, as Jesus focused his disciples, to spread his teachings: to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Praise be to you, O God.

We ask your blessings today, Lord, on Higher Ministries. Guide them as they work to empower Christian leaders and the people they serve with a sense of purpose.

And now, we pray together as our savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 7.31.11

2011-07-30T16:40:00.000-04:00

As we come before you in prayer, Oh Lord, we are full of gratitude. We are grateful for your love, we are grateful for one another, we are grateful for this congregation - for our staff and volunteers, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve each other and the world around us. We are grateful to be your children.

We are grateful for your Grace, O God, a grace so beautiful that it saved our souls; a grace so terrible that it caused you to sacrifice your beloved son for us. We are grateful for your grace, Father, a grace often so easy for us that we barely recognize it, while so terribly expensive for you.

We are grateful for the Grace of Jesus Christ; a grace so painful for Him; a grace that allowed the cup to stop in front of him, the grace that allowed him to be tortured for our sakes, the grace that allowed him to take on the sins of not one, but many – in fact the sins of the whole world; a grace so freely given that we have the freedom to ignore it. Thank you for that grace.

We are grateful for the Grace of fellow Christians – a grace so wonderful that it sometimes causes us to give with abandon, love without seeking return, share to the point where possessions mean nothing.

Help us remember that to be generous, to be gracious, means to put ourselves aside.

We ask you to shower upon us the gift of a generous spirit, Father:

Give us the generosity of spirit when we worship
Give us the generosity of spirit when we pray
Give us the generosity of spirit when we share and serve
Give us the generosity of spirit even when we don’t feel like it.
Give us the grace to never give up on each other.

Allow the grace of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit to be shown to those around us, those we would call family, those we would call friend, those we would call stranger, and those we would call enemy.

So often, silence is our enemy, too. We are too busy for the quiet. We are too wrapped up in our lives to pause even for a few moments. Help us empty our minds of all our clutter as we embrace the quiet and share our prayers with you, Father.

We ask your special blessings today, Lord, for Milligan College and for their new president, our brother, Bill Greer. We pray that your grace, your wisdom, your love enfolds him - guides him - as he represents the school and represents you.

And now we pray together as Jesus Christ, our Savior, our redeemer, our king, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 7.16.11

2011-07-16T16:28:00.000-04:00

As we humbly bow before you today, O God, we are grateful. We are grateful for your love. We are grateful for our lives. We are grateful for our blessings. We are grateful for the chance to serve you.

Help us remember, Father, that we were bought with a price. Help us remember the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Help us remember the scourge, the pierced side, the crown of thorns. Help us remember your beloved son as the sins of the world fell on his shoulders and crushed him…all for our sakes. We didn’t earn this gift. We can never repay this love shown to us. We can never be worthy except by the grace that comes through the burial and resurrection of our savior.

Help us remember our lives are not our own. Place these words ever before us so that we never forget. Help us remember that we are children of the King and we belong to you. Help us be aware and act with that awareness toward our fellow human beings.

Help us remember our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. You have called us to shun evil, to separate ourselves from it while we work to bless others in this world. Help us remember that our actions have consequences even when no one else sees them, because you do. Help us remember that where our minds are, so go our bodies and our spirits. Help us be aware and act with that awareness.

Help us remember that our enemies are not necessarily yours. Please bless our enemies, Lord.

While we have no problem remembering our needs and woes before you, we can often forget to praise you for your goodness. Help us remember to praise you. In the silence, hear our needs and our praises to you.

Lord, we often bring Interfaith Hospitality Network before you in our prayers. We ask that you bless them as they work to keep families together while these families struggle to move forward in their lives. We ask your special blessings on Brian Rosecrans and the board as they search for a team member to replace Patsy Glover. We also pray for Grandview's role in this ministry and ask that you raise up leaders within our church who can help IHN be even a greater blessing to our community.

And now we pray together as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 7.10.11

2011-07-10T00:10:00.000-04:00

Most wonderful God; most majestic king; praise be your name for your greatness. You, oh Yahweh, are our sovereign, and we will worship you all the days of our lives. We are your creation. We are your people, your children. We look to you for our sustenance. We look to you for your approval and love. Turn your face toward us, Father and make it shine upon us for you are our king, you are our maker, you are our redeemer.

In the silence, hear our words of praise, thanksgiving, and honor. In the quiet, we bring before you our troubles, our fears, our needs.

Our enemies are your creation, your children, and you love them. Bless them, Lord.

Help us know our proper place in your world, Father. Help us to realize and adjust our lives so they are focused on you and your kingdom.

Help us be humble in your sight, Father. Let us not be boastful in your presence or in the world around us other than to boast of your greatness and of your love for all.

You are the highest of the high, Lord. No words or images can aptly capture your majesty. While we are tempted to try to exalt you with big words and beautiful imagery, let us focus on the simple yet powerful message of Jesus Christ and him crucified.

We need faith to follow, O God. We need faith to stand fast against the world. Please bless our faith that it might not rest on what passes for truth on the earth, but on your truth, found in your Word.

We need wisdom, O most high. There are so many around us who would love us to cling to their wisdom, to the wisdom that focuses on self instead of the wisdom grounded in blessing others. Bathe us in your spirit, O God, so that we may understand the gifts you have bestowed on us.

Try as we might to see otherwise, Lord, our only hope for meaningful life and meaningful service is through you. All praise and honor to you, gracious God.

We ask your special blessings on Higher Ministries. We ask you furnish them the tools and the wisdom ask they provide counseling and support for ministers, their families and the churches they serve.

Now, we honor the command of Jesus and pray as he taught us:

Prayers of the Church, 7.3.11

2011-07-01T18:52:00.004-04:00

We will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in our mouths. Our souls make their boasts in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Let us look to him and be radiant so our faces shall never be ashamed.

God of all, you have given us so much. You have given us dominion over the earth and sea. You have given us riches beyond our wildest imagination. You have given us your Word. You have offered us salvation through your son, Jesus. You have given us life and life everlasting.

And you have given us freedom, Lord. As human beings, we have the freedom to accept or reject you. As human beings, we have the freedom to lift up or crush. As human beings, we have the freedom to love or hate.

Help us to realize that as human beings, we are flawed. We are sinful. We are often selfish and self-serving. Left to our own devices we can be dangerous: dangerous to others, to ourselves, to our world, to the cause of the Christ. Help us not place the love of freedom over the love for you.

Liberate in us the freedom to loose our shackles from love of sinful things, love of indulgence, love of self. Draw us close to the freedom that is found as servants of the King. Help us revel in the joy that comes from lifting others up rather than tearing them down. Bless our enemies…and bless us, as we work to sort our differences.

When we are focused on you, we can become more in tune with your desires. At our best moments, we work to be Christ-like. Help our best moments be the moments we exhibit most.

We thank you for this great land and the opportunities it brings. Thank you for the generations that have worked so hard to make it a blessing to so many. Help us put our love for country in its proper place in our lives.

In the silence, hear our words of supplication. We are in fear. We are in pain. In the silence, hear our words of praise. We are grateful. We are humble.

You are our God and we are your children. Smile upon us, Father.

We ask intercessory prayer for Gabe and Melissa Hillman, missionaries in Bulgaria serving the nation’s youth. Guide, direct, and strengthen their efforts as they continue their mission. We ask special blessings on the family as Melissa seeks medical help in the US for their son, Jonah.

Now, we pray together as Christ Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 3.27.11

2011-03-26T14:53:00.003-04:00

To you, O Lord, we lift up our eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us.

We ask, Father, that you give us the hearts of servants, people who give freely of ourselves. Give us hearts that welcome each other in the Lord as is fitting for the saints. Give us hearts to help others in whatever way they may require for we are all focused on the same goal, all working toward a common mission: sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all those in need, near and far.

Humble us, Father. Take the ambition that we may feel for the things of this world and focus it instead on service toward you. Help us revel in the success of others. Help us bloom where we’re planted, rooted firm in the knowledge that our desires for greatness are normal, but spiritually immature and misguided. Instead, keep us ever mindful that we who would be first must be last.

Thank you, Lord, for the steadfast work of those who risk their livelihoods for the gospel. Comfort and strengthen them with the knowledge and faith that you will provide for them, as you provide for all of us. Give them -- and us -- hearts like Priscilla and Aquila, hearts full of love for you and your commandments.

Forgive of us our sins, O God, for they are many. Hear our words of penitence. Rejoice with us, Father, in the blessings of life that you provide. We come to you in the silence.

There is no room in your kingdom for enemies. Bless those who we might call enemies and give us the gifts of understanding, tolerance, and love so that we might love our friends and enemies, alike.

We rejoice with Milligan College as they move forward in their mission to send educated Christians into the world to serve your kingdom. We ask your blessings on the school’s leadership, and especially on their president-elect and our brother, Bill Greer.

And now we pray together, as Jesus the Christ, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 3.13.11

2011-03-11T22:46:00.004-05:00

Our souls magnify the Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior, for you have looked with favor on the lowliness of your servants. Surely from now on all generations will call us blessed.

Give us the devotion to respond to your favor, O Lord.

Give us the faith of Mary, Father. Give us the faith of the young girl, the young girl who was called upon by you, whose world was turned upside down when you chose her to be our Lord’s earthly mother. Give us the faith to say, “Here am I, Lord”.

Give us the courage of the midwives, who stood up to the Pharaoh; who loved and feared you. When evil is before us, give us the courage to stand up, to act, to respond with love, a love that may not always be easy to manifest. Give us the courage to say no to oppression, give us the courage to say no to injustice, give us the courage to turn our backs on the world’s approval. Give us the courage, Lord, to faithfully follow your word, regardless of the cost.

Give us the compassion of the Christ, who called upon his followers to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit to the sick, to comfort the lonely. Give us the compassion, the dedication, and the love to minister to the least of these.

Bless our enemies, Father. It is not enough for us to say “We love you, God”, when we do not love our neighbors. It is not enough to say, “We love you, God”, when we do not love our enemies. Give us a love so deep that we, from our hearts, bless our enemies. Give us a love so deep that we “put on Christ” for all those in our lives regardless of the state of our relationships.

Steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. In the silence hear us rejoice because of your grace. In the silence, hear our prayers as we come to you and share our pain.

Evil surrounds us on this earth, Father. We pray for those whose lives have been devastated by the recent tsunami. We also pray for those whose lives are just as desperate and upon whom the world’s light has never shined.

Lord, please bless the Interfaith Hospitality Network. We pray that you help the mission in its efforts to keep families together while they are being taught how to succeed and overcome adversity. We thank you for the selfless service of the staff and volunteers and ask that you bless their spirits and their efforts.

And now, O God, we pray together as our savior, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 3.6.11

2011-03-05T21:30:00.001-05:00

Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of the enemy because the Lord our God goes with us. You, O God, will never fail or forsake us.

You, O Lord, are our helper – Your help surrounds us in the scriptures, the lessons of Jesus and his disciples. Your help surrounds us in the Christian servants with whom we worship, serve, and live. Your help surrounds us in the form of your spirit, a spirit that never forsakes us.

Many of us, Father, have spent countless days and hours learning to be good Christians. Some of us have spent practically our entire lives learning the love of Jesus Christ. We know the words.

We know what to say and we know what to do. Our failing so often comes when we are called to put our Christian knowledge into action.

God, make us Christian people of action. When we see a need among our friends and family, give us the inclination, give us the wherewithal to act, to support, to assist.

Inside our families, among our friends, inside this congregation, we must think and act like a body, knowing that we are all your creation, all your children. Then we must act with hospitality to strangers, not just friends. Help us be a blessing to all those who come into our lives, individually and collectively.

You are the Lord of our enemies. Bless them, Father, and help us bless them, too, with our thoughts, words, and actions.

You, O Lord, are our rock and our strength – Give us the strength to stand fast against the lure of the world. Give us the strength to be content with what possessions we have, and to not covet what eludes us whether it be wealth, power, influence, physical beauty, fame.

Help us stand solid in our efforts to overcome weakness, to overcome our sin. Forgive us when we call on you to save us from the sins we wish to waive, the sins we wish to ignore.

You, O Lord, are our light – Your spirit shines on our path; guides us on our way. But so often you do not reveal the entire path, but a few steps. Give us the spiritual maturity, give us the faith, to follow you when we can only see a step or two in front of us for we know that you will care for us.

In the silence, hear our prayers of penitence, our words of praise for your help, strength, light:

We pray your blessings on Higher Ministries, Lord. Guide them as they support healthy church leadership, leadership which can help their congregations be a blessing to their communities.

And now, WE can say with confidence “The Lord is our shepherd. We will not be afraid. With the same confidence, we pray as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 7.18.10

2010-07-17T16:26:00.001-04:00

Great and wondrous are you, most high of most high. It is you who have made us and not we ourselves. We are your people and the sheep of your pastures. Your blessings rain down upon us every day of our lives and we dwell with you and among you as your children.

Among your many gifts, Lord, you have blessed us with the greatest gift that anyone or any group could ever possess: the grace that comes only through the blood of the Lamb. Of all the creatures on the earth, we are the richest because of your great gift. Just as you have blessed us, so you expect us to bless those around us, friend or foe, beloved or scorned because they are your creations and you care for all of them.

Even though you have forgiven us and blessed us repeatedly, even though you command us to love one another, we often do not regard those around us with even an iota of the same grace.

Idiot! Worthless! Slacker! Disappointment! How easy it is to cover those we hate AND those we love with such hurtful, despicable monikers. The words can slip off our tongues before we even know what we’ve said. Even when we realize what we’ve done, we often leave it to those we hurt to “get over it”.

You put us on this earth to bless others in the name of the risen king. You put us on this earth to serve others with our whole beings. How can we accomplish your wishes if we cannot control our tongues?

Just as we can so easily wound those around us, at times we seem so easily insulted and hurt, almost as if we’re waiting to be offended. Then, once offended, we open our bag of excuses and allow the body of Jesus Christ to be damaged because of our sensitivities, our pettiness, our self-righteousness.

We so easily forget the sufferings of our Savior, our beloved Lord: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

If the pure and blameless savior could endure the brutality that the sinful world had to offer, how can we not clothes ourselves with at least a little thicker skins, and choose to give the benefit of the doubt to those with whom we live, work, and worship?

Help us, Father, to cover those around us with blessings instead of heaping them with curses. Help us be mature Christians, people who look at the good in others, instead of looking to be insulted or put upon.

Bless our enemies, Lord. Forgive us when our curses are the reason they are against us. Help us to restore relationships instead of burning bridges with our negative words and deeds.

In the Silence, Oh God, allow us to repent of the curses, insults, and harshness we have cast upon the people around us. Help us redouble our efforts to bless, encourage and lift up those with whom we live. Too, Father, we bring our supplications for relief from our afflictions. Remove from us what you will and help us to cheerfully bear the ones which remain.

Praise be to you, Lord, for loving us in spite of our weaknesses and blemishes. We lift up our faces in thanksgiving.

Now we ask that you bless the Ghana Christian Mission and its leaders, Enoch and Lydia Nyador. We thank you for their ministry and ask that you bring them health and keep them well so they can continue to do your work among the people around them.

And now, we pray together as Jesus Christ taught us to pray: `

Prayers of the Church, 7.11.10

2010-07-10T16:51:00.003-04:00

God of all time, you bring light to your earth, warmth to all of your creation. All that happens and does not happen is under your control. When life goes well for your people, you are often forgotten amidst celebration of the peoples’ perceived greatness. When life is harsh, when times are bad, your people often wonder where you are and why you have forsaken them. That is when your people call on you to intervene and to save them. No matter what humans choose to believe or at what time they choose to believe it, you are a constant on this planet; you impact all your children’s lives.

God of the Old Testament, creator of heaven and earth—when your children cried out to you, you always heard them and often chose to deliver them. When your people angered you, you did not hesitate to punish them; you did not hesitate to make them pay for their transgressions even unto death. You called upon them to make sacrifices to you, to make atonement for their sins. You called upon them to live righteous lives and to worship you, yet they failed time and again. Still you never turned away from your chosen ones.

God of the New Testament, ageless and enduring -- your people loved you, but they still strayed. As far as they had progressed over many generations, they continued to sin against each other and against you. Even when they worshipped, they often misplaced their adoration to you with the love of idols, the love of the law, the love of being your chosen. Yet, because of your endless love for your people, instead of striking them down as in the days of old, instead of turning them to stone, instead of calling forth floods or pestilence, you brought forth the Messiah, the Savior who had been prophesied.

Praise be to you, most gracious God, for the deliverance that you provided to your people in the sacrifice of your only Son. Praise be to you, Oh Lord, for the salvation that is found through the Light of the world. Thank you for the cleansing of sins. Thank you for the promise of heaven. Thank you for the opportunity that your people have to share the Good News to all who will hear so that they, too, can experience the life that is only found in blood of the Lamb.

Help your children use what you have taught them over the ages to bless their enemies. Further, Lord, it is your children’s plea that you bless their enemies, too, just as they have received your favor.

In the silence, hear your peoples’ words of adoration and thanksgiving just as prayers of intercession and deliverance are laid at your feet.

Father of all nations, unite your people in the cause of the Christ. Unite your children in lives of worship, obedience and service. Specifically, Lord, blessings are sought for the Salvation Army. Guide their leaders, staff, volunteers, and supporters. Provide for them during these times of want, just as you provide for those the Salvation Army serves.

And now, your people, your loving children join together in the prayer of the ages:

Prayers of the Church, 7.4.10

2010-07-01T22:45:00.001-04:00

O God, you are our God; we seek you, our souls thirst for you; our flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So we have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, our lips will praise you. So we will bless you as long as we live; we will lift up our hands and call on your name. Our souls are satisfied as with a rich feast, and our mouths praise you with joyful lips for you have been our help, and in the shadow of your wings we sing for joy. Our souls cling to you; your right hand upholds us. We are your good and faithful servants.

We love you, Lord, with our whole hearts. We praise your name. We worship you. We follow your precepts. We serve. We share. We give.

And we sometimes stand in the way of those who seek to unite and reunite with you, putting our conditions on a salvation that is so perfect as to make it almost more than we can understand.

Sometimes our brothers and sisters have strayed, while we have stayed steadfast. We witness sins, we witness faithless living, we witness actions totally in contrast to your word: flawed, flawed people who were once in our midst, and who now wish to be reunited with us and more importantly, with you.

Your love is so vast and deep that you celebrate every soul that comes to you. How can we do less? How can we fail to celebrate whenever any soul searches for you whether in the form we find pleasing or not? You find it pleasing to have your children returned to you, your babies reconciled to you. Why else would you sacrifice your most beloved, Jesus Christ?

Let us not conditionally accept our brothers and sisters back while we wait to see if they will fall again...for they will, just as we will. Instead, let us joyfully, honestly throw open our gates, throw open our doors to welcome in anyone who calls you Father, anyone who asks forgiveness, anyone who wishes to be reunited with you.

You invite us to the party. You invite us to celebrate the victory of every soul reunited with you. Help us show that joy to the world around us so others may see at least a glimpse of your promise.

Bless our enemies. They are many. We may proclaim that we value all your creation. Help it be truly that way in our hearts.

And now, in the silence, let us praise your name for a grace so deep that it has room for all who ask, while at the same time we bring to you our pain, sorrow, fear, and hunger.

Bless be your kingdom, Oh Lord, a kingdom that has room for all who proclaim you Lord.

We pray your blessings on Milligan College, Lord, the staff, faculty, and administration, as they work to teach and develop educated Christians. Bless the students as they use the basin and the towel to serve your kingdom.

And now, we pray together, as a united family, the words that Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 5.30.10

2010-05-29T19:43:00.002-04:00

The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity.
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!

We are your creation, made in your likeness. Your plans, your grand designs, were perfection. Yet you loved your people so much that you gave them…you gave us, the ability to think, choose, and decide for ourselves, what to believe in and how to act. You gave us the gift and responsibility of free will.

In our weakness and in our sin, we moved away from you and your teachings. In our weakness and in our sin, we let evil take root in our lives.

Even as ugly and vile as we, your children, became, you never stopped loving us. So great was your love that you gave us the chance to be reconciled with you. You offered atonement. You offered the chance of salvation from our inequities and you were willing to sacrifice what you loved most…for us.

Your son cried out on the cross, as the sins of the world rained down upon him, as the sins of the world engulfed him, as the sins of the world buried him.

By the blood of the Lamb, you cleanse us.
By the blood of the Lamb, you make us righteous.
By the blood of the Lamb, you return us to you, purified and whole.

Forgive us when we turn to the wisdom of the world. Forgive us when we don’t think we need reconciling. Forgive us when we think we can overcome wickedness and evil by our sheer will or even extreme goodness. We don’t have the strength.

Instead, God, shine the light of goodness on us, and help us work to bring your peace, fullness, and abundance to all of creation. Show us the way.

Bless our enemies, Lord, those who despise us, but even more, those whom we despise. Give us the maturity to seek reconciliation.

In the silence, Lord, hear our words of penitence, hear our words of joy. In the silence, Father, hear our cries of pain and sadness. Hear our words of wonder and thanksgiving at the grace you shower upon us.

Father, we ask your blessing on Higher Ministries. Guide them as they provide counseling and support for ministers, their families, and the churches they serve. Thank you, Lord, that you healed their founder and our brother, John Marr, in his recent battle with leukemia.

And now, we pray together as Jesus, our atonement, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 3.14.10

2010-03-12T23:34:00.003-05:00

Come, let us return to the Lord.

Loving God, your appearing is as sure as the dawn; you will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth. Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. You do not desire mere sacrifice from us, but mercy. You desire mercy.

Come, let us return to the Lord.

We so often speak grandly about our righteousness, when, instead of being filled with the Holy Spirit, we are content to offer mindless sacrifices. Reject our attempts to just “get by” as Christians. Reject our efforts to sit around the table of the Lord, crowding out our enemies, those who we do not see fit to be filled with your blessings. You call us to share our possessions with those in need. You call us to share our time and talents to bring the Good News to life in the lives of others. You call us to share the sacrifice of our Lord with the wretched, the dispossessed, the downtrodden, and build them up in the spirit of the living God.

Come, let us return to the Lord.

When we fail to be loyal to one another, we break your covenants. When we fail to share your blessings, we break your covenants. When we ignore those who are suffering, we break your covenants.

Come, let us return to the Lord.

Forgive us when we throw money at a problem instead of getting involved, instead of making ourselves vulnerable to the needs of others, instead of going out on a limb and sharing your love with the lost.

Come, let us return to the Lord.

Strengthen us against the lures of Satan who tempts us to gather for ourselves at the cost of others. Engender in us the love of family and let us see that the family we must love is your entire world, your entire kingdom.

Open our arms to strangers, open our arms to those who are searching, open our arms to those who are different. Open our arms just as Jesus welcomes us sinners around his table. The table is large. It has room for all who are hungry, for all who wish to serve.

Now, we take a moment to silently share our prayers of thanksgiving and joy while we also lay at your feet our prayers of repentance and loss. Hear us, Lord.

We ask your special blessings today, Father, on Agape Women's Services. Bless their efforts as they provide Biblical counsel and support to women facing crisis pregnancies. Bless their efforts as they offer training on how to be good parents.

And now, we pray together, as a family, the prayer that Jesus, the savior of all, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 2.28.10

2010-02-28T00:27:00.001-05:00

Hear our prayers, O Lord. Give ear to our supplications in your faithfulness; answer us in your righteousness. Do not enter into judgment with your servants, for no one living is righteous before you.

We thank you for the gift that is the priesthood of all believers, for in this belief you give us freedom…freedom to serve and freedom to share. With our freedom -- our privilege -- comes responsibility.

Give us the maturity and the desire to embrace the privilege of being active Christians. Help us understand the gravity of our positions as your envoys. Give us the strength to stand fast in the face of personal and community adversity, in the face of evil. Remove the fear, the timidity, the self-consciousness that keep us from acting in your name.

Give our leaders the confidence and humility to share the priesthood of the church throughout the Christian community. Show them ways to teach, to enlighten, and to mentor those servants who are willing to take more active roles in Christian service.

Individually, we are weak and frail, but when we act as a body of believers, we glorify you more than we ever could alone. Strengthen us with a sense of community. Strengthen us with a sense of kinship. Help us to look to our brothers and sisters on our right and on our left and revel in the knowledge that we all serve the risen King, that we all have the same goals of furthering your kingdom on earth, and that we are much stronger when we work together.

Bless our enemies, Lord. Give us the interest and the insight to understand the rifts between us so we may learn to work, live, and serve together, under the banner of the risen King.

Forgive us our sins, Father, for they are many. Thank you for the grace that washes them away and makes us whole again, in your name.

The needs of our world and the challenges of your children are often more than we can bear alone. Yet, there is so much for which to be joyful, so much for which to be thankful. We take, but a moment of silence, to share some of the concerns as well as the joys that are in our hearts.

We pray your blessings on those around our world who suffer and continue to suffer from natural disasters like in Haiti, in Chile, and even in our own country. We ask that you motivate us to help as we can and that you give those who are afflicted the peace that only you can provide.

We bring before you now, God, the Ghana Christian Mission and its leaders, Enoch & Lydia Nyador. Bless their medical and physical needs, as well as their mission of sharing the gospel and providing medical care to the Ghanaian people around them.

And now we pray together as Jesus, the risen King, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.31.10

2010-01-28T20:00:00.002-05:00

Glory be to you, Lord God, Father of all. You are our King. You are our Father. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea roar and all that fills it. Let the fields exult and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord. For great is the Lord and great is his love for all his children.

God of light -- through your great love for humanity, you give us all free will. You give us the opportunity and ability to choose. We have chosen to follow you. Let us exalt in this decision. Allow others to see the joy we experience as we learn, grow, and bloom in the faith. Let our light shine before others so that they may see the love that you have for us and how much we love you.

God of action -- Turn the love we have for you into deeds. Let us be bold in the name of Jesus. When we see opportunities to serve, give us the desire, the maturity and the faith to stand up and be counted. Give our words of comfort and support the strength of our actions, providing us the power to push manmade roadblocks out of our way, put Satan’s call to self behind us, and strike out in faith as we change lives in the name of your son, Jesus, who never shrank away from his calling.

God of humility -- As we work to do your will, help us ensure the focus of our efforts is firmly on you. Fortify our control so that our own egos and humanly love of self remain in check. Give us holy pride, not the earthly pride that so fits us like a glove. Let us herald your greatness and love as we share your blessings with those in need. Allow all our works to glorify you and your kingdom.

Glory be to you, Lord God, Father of all.

Bless our enemies, Father. Remove the chasms that separate us, Lord, and unite us through the grace of the Father, unite us through the light of the Son, unite us through the Spirit of love.

In the silence, dear God, let us speak our requests and then be silent, listening for your guidance and hearing your call.

We ask your blessings of safety, community, and love on Warren and Julie Veal and their family as they serve you with the Missionary Aviation Fellowship in Mozambique. Strengthen them as they work to actively serve you and serve others in the name of risen Lord.

And now we pray together as Jesus, light of the world, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.24.10

2010-01-21T18:06:00.001-05:00

All hail and glory to you, great and wondrous God. All around us, through your creation, is evidence of your great love. All around us is evidence of your great deeds of power. Through your creation is revealed a power which no human can match -- a power that made people throughout the ages gasp in surprise and awe as they beheld it and which still makes us gasp when we realize the greatness of the power revealed. The vastness and complexity together are more than we can fully contemplate or appreciate.

As we attempt to contemplate your entire creation, we cannot fail to be amazed by your most precious of gifts: humankind. We are also often perplexed by the mysteries of human emotion and reasoning. They are more powerful than we know how to harness…or control.

You, O Lord, love us all as your children. You do not play favorites among us, but instead value every life as each one is a gift from you. Through our frailty, however, we are often not encumbered by your example. We look at those who are different from us, different in language or dialect, different in sex, in race, in stature, in wealth…and we begin to draw lines.

How can we, as heirs to the promise, as followers of Jesus, treat each other in ways that are so inconsistent with the gospel? How can we think of others as somehow of less value, of less import to the rest of the world and to you? This is nothing other than absolute abomination to the beauty of the creation you placed around us. Forgive us, Lord. Forgive us.

Loving God, you made us all to be your children.

Gracious Lord, you call us all to be one in Christ Jesus.

Father, we ask your blessings on our enemies. Forgive those who hate us because we’re different from them. Even more, Lord, forgive us when we hate those who are not like us.

In the silence, we come before you. We come before you with penitent hearts. We come before you with praises for answered prayer. We come before you as one family united in our love for you and your endless grace. Hear us.

We ask your blessings, God, on our neighbors at Pine Oaks Assisted Living Center. We ask health, comfort, and peace for the residents. We ask talent, wisdom, and compassion for the caregivers. We ask that we, and the local Christian community, see fit to be an active part in supporting the ministry at Pine Oaks and that all of these efforts please you.

And now, we pray together as Jesus, the great uniter, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.17.10

2010-01-15T17:10:00.001-05:00

Glory be to you, O Lord. Great is your name among all your people. We bow in awe to your majesty. We bow in awe of your wondrous love. Your love is as high as the highest mountain and deep as the deepest sea. Your love for your people knows no bounds. You meet our needs, you walk with us in our trials, you support us with the love of Christian families, friends, and churches. We are your children and you are our God.

Just as you care for even the sparrows, make us ever mindful, Father, of the distress around us, not just during times of privation and disaster, but as a part of our very lives looking at needs, being empathetic toward those who are struggling and suffering, and taking those concerns and translating them into action for that is what you call us to be – people of action, those who do not merely acknowledge evil and suffering, but those who actively work to overcome them in the name of Jesus.

In the wake of tragedies like our Haitian brothers and sisters are experiencing, let us not gawk and stare, let us not just speak of our sorrow in their despair, but instead liberate in us the desire to give, not as long as it’s comfortable, but to give with sacrificial spirits, spirits anchored in the knowledge that you will always care for us.

In a world so advanced and educated, there are still a staggering number of people who do not know you, who do not call you Lord. Make in us the belief that this fact is not acceptable and embolden us to use every opportunity to show your love and share the truth of the Gospel, tying the two together in ways that make you real in the examples of our lives.

Jesus spoke. Jesus taught. Jesus healed. Gives us the gifts to follow his example.

Father, we ask your blessings on our enemies. Give us the strength to overcome our fears, to overcome our egos, to overcome our hurt feelings and reach out in the name of the risen Savior.

In the silence, Lord, hear our prayers of mercy and forgiveness for our sins. Hear our prayers of supplication for those in need, close to home and around the world. Hear our praises of heartfelt thanksgiving that you are our loving God.

We bring before you now, God, the Ghana Christian Mission and its leaders, Enoch & Lydia Nyador. Bless their medical and physical needs, as well as their mission of sharing the gospel to the Ghanaian people around them.

And now, we pray together as Jesus, our savior in word and deed, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.10.10

2010-01-09T10:41:00.004-05:00

To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls. O God, in you we trust; Make us to know your ways, O Lord; teach us your paths. Our eyes are ever toward the Lord. Turn to us and be gracious to us for we long for you.

God of the past: History speaks of your greatness. The scriptures illuminate your omnipotence. We know of the majesty of your Son: True God from true God. Lead us in your truth, and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation; for you we wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

God of the future: Though we don’t know the future, we know the ultimate reward. You promise your love. You promise never to forsake us. All your paths are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep your covenant and decrees.

God of the present:

You call on us to learn from the past and look forward to the future.
You call on us to be obedient to you and your commandments, especially the teachings of our Lord Jesus.
You call on us to be your people of action, stepping out faithfully in the name of the Christ and living our lives, knowledgeable that they are wonderful gifts from you.
You call on us to be observant and mindful of the imperfect world around us and to actively engage it.
You call on us to feed the poor and shelter the afflicted.
You call on us to give freely and with abandon of our riches – money, time, and talent.
You call on us to stand up for righteousness and turn away from wickedness.
You call on us to be your hands and your feet, showing your love to all people.
And you call us to share the gospel to all who will hear.
You call on us, Father, to be your present-day disciples.

Good and upright are you, Lord; You lead the humble in what is right, and teach the humble your way.

Loving God, bless our enemies of the past and present. Bless our efforts, as we move forward, to bridge divides that keep us from becoming brothers and sisters in righteousness.

In the silence, Lord, hear us as we come to you for we are sinners. Forgive us for our transgressions against you and your kingdom. Hear, also, our prayers of thanksgiving and joy as we revel in the knowledge that we are your children.

Shower your Blessings on Milligan College, gracious God. It has a rich tradition of service; a rich tradition of providing educated Christians to face the challenges of the world and to champion the name of Jesus around the globe. Strengthen and guide their efforts as they work to serve you and your kingdom.

And now, we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.3.10

2009-12-31T22:16:00.001-05:00

Lord, God most High, we praise your name. History belongs to you, all that was and has ever been recorded. The future is your canvas. While we can only guess how it will look, you, Father, will determine the end result. Regardless, we know you judge the world with righteousness and judge your people with equity.

You bless us with many gifts, Lord: physical wealth and health, intelligence and talent, friends and family.

We don’t always recognize what you’ve given us. And, like so many other people on this earth, we cast our nets daily. Yet, often what we are casting our nets for are things that are pleasing to us, personally: fame, fortune, comfort, solitude…freedom from want and fear, freedom from the needs of the world.

As we move with trepidation and with hope for the new year, we contemplate the past while wrestling with thoughts of the future. We ask your presence as we reflect on our gifts and our responsibilities. Give us the wisdom and discernment regarding what to cast off and what to strengthen…what to walk away from and what we have that we can use for you.

We belong in your service. We belong in the service of the King.

Help us…give us the desire…to leave the comforts of our lives and follow you, to unstick ourselves and follow you…with abandon.

In the silence, Father, hear our voices raised in praise for your great gifts. Also hear our pleas for mercy, healing, and sustenance…for ourselves and those around us. Let our thoughts be pleasing to you.

Bless our enemies, Father. Often our impulse is to heap coals upon them. Help us, instead, to follow your example and bless them, too.

As we focus on your call to share the Good News with all people, we ask your blessings on Nathan, Erin, and Elsa McDade as they serve your Kingdom as Campus Ministers in Puebla, Mexico with GlobalScope. Bless their efforts with the college students in that community and guide them as they prepare and plan for our youth to join them this summer for a short term mission.

And now, Father, we pray together as Jesus, Savior of the Ages, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.25.09

2009-10-23T18:38:00.000-04:00

We give thanks to you, O Lord with our whole hearts; we will tell of all your wonderful deeds. We will be glad and exult in you; we will sing praise to your name, O Most High. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. We sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. We declare his deeds among the peoples.

Lord, we are your servants and we sometimes live confusing lives. Our goal is to live righteously, worthy of you and the sacrifice of the lamb, Jesus Christ. Yet we throw so many roadblocks in front of that goal. We like to collect riches, whether money itself, or the things that money can buy. We like the feeling that power, or wealth or stature or education gives us. We like the freedom to care about just ourselves. Then we turn our eyes to you and we like the comfort of being your children.

You call upon us to choose: choose the power of man or choose the power of God. Having both is not an option. You make it very clear to us and yet we try our best to juggle it all.

Set us free from worldly greed and avarice. Our intentions are mostly pure. Money and riches are not the root of all evil, but instead our inability to see them for what they are and how they should be used along with all of your other gifts.

Give us the vision to comprehend the weight and the promise of the gifts you have given to us. WE ARE SAVED. Help us understand the great power we possess, the resources you have placed in our charge. WE ARE FORGIVEN. Whether we are rich or poor by our society’s standards, let us see the great riches you have bestowed upon us. WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN. Give us the wisdom and the restraint and the love to use your riches in a way that glorifies you. PRAISE BE TO YOU, O GOD.

Allow us to view your world through the lens of the gospel. Give us the patience and the understanding to love our fellow humans like Jesus loves us. Allow us to respond to our world with liberality and generosity. Give us the courage and the grace to share the fullness of the Gospel to all who will hear.

Bless our enemies, Father.

We come to you in silence, thankful for your great love and beseeching your intervention in the challenges of our lives.

We ask your blessings on Milligan College, especially as they celebrate another homecoming of students from past years. Guide the professors as they share their knowledge. Support the administrators, as they work to keep Milligan functioning and flourishing. Bless the students as they take what they learn and the experiences they gather, to go forth in Christian service.

And now we pray together as Jesus, the son of God, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.18.09

2009-10-16T22:02:00.000-04:00

O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When we look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; 4what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?

Yet, you do care for us, Father, each and every one of us. You are the God of the entire world, of all who live on this planet. We speak these words. We speak of how we are brothers and sisters with every human being. Too often, though, we look at our Christian family as those who are like us, those we relate to…in our denomination, in our institutes of higher learning, in our congregation, in our hour of worship.

We focus on our families and our friends in the faith. We unite in fellowship, we work and teach together, we have fun with each other. We know we are to live Godly lives. We know we are to lift each other up. Unfortunately, we often see “living the Gospel” as just taking care of those we are already close to, those in our local Christian family.

Give us the faith, Father, to step back from the familiar. Give us the faith to look outside of our families, and see the whole world, all your children, around us.

Help us experience the Gospel and remember that it wasn’t given just to us. Give us the realization of what your commandments really are. Align us to the Jesus who asked “who are my mother and my brothers”? Give us the strength to challenge the stereotypes that give us understanding and comfort. Help us experience the Gospel by sharing it with those who are not a part of us, those who hunger for a relationship with God, but don’t see a way. Help us experience the Gospel by spreading your Good News even to those who do not realize what they’re missing.

Glory be to God, the Father; the creator and master of all things.

In the silence, Lord, hear our prayers of concern and distress and our praises for the blessings you have placed in our lives.

We ask your loving touch, O God, on those who mourn and grieve. Help them feel your presence and give them your peace.

Bless our enemies, Father, and show us ways that we can bless them, too.

We now ask special blessings on Steve and Carol Jackson and their family as they prepare to step out on faith and serve you in Zambia. Keep them safe, Father, and help them as they work to spread the truth of Jesus to another part of your family.

And now, we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.11.09

2009-10-09T16:58:00.001-04:00

Great and Wondrous God, through the abundance of your steadfast love, we enter your house, we bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you. Let all who take refuge in you rejoice, let us ever sing for joy because you are our rock and our redeemer.

You shower us with grace upon grace, Father. Through your limitless love and the blood of the Lamb, our sins are forgiven, our souls are cleansed, and we are made whole.

We can never repay you for your great gifts, your great love, and you do not command repayment. What you do command us is to respond, to follow the words of Jesus: that we love one another like he has loved us and that we take up our crosses and follow him. You call on us to commit our lives to you, not a portion, but our entire lives so that all we think, all we say, and all we do serve to glorify you and your kingdom.

Free us, Lord. Free us to follow you. When we worry about our lives, turn our eyes toward you. When we fear evil, give us the strength to cast the devil away. When we focus on our pleasures instead of your will, call on our Christian brothers and sisters to set us straight. When our earthly plans get in the way of serving your kingdom, remind us of the empty cross.

Free us from our earthly clutter, Father. Teach us, gird us, focus us, strengthen us…to take on the full armor of God and serve you like our lives depended on it.

Forgive us when we fail you. Help us not lose heart, but redouble our efforts to please you. Bless us as we work through the process of commitment and recommitment to you.

We ask your blessings, Lord, on those who are sick or in need, whatever the need may be.

In the silence, hear us as we share our joys and our sorrows, our pain and our thanksgiving.

Bless our enemies, Father. Have mercy on them as you do on us.

We ask special prayers today, gracious Lord, for Dennis and Fabienne Freeland and their family as they serve with other missionaries in Cameroon to spread your word in their part of the world. Bless them and keep them, especially Dennis and the other pilots, as they support operations in western Africa.

And now we pray together as Jesus, our rock and our redeemer, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.4.09

2009-10-02T19:14:00.003-04:00

You, O Lord are our light and salvation. Whom shall we fear? You, Father, are the stronghold of our lives. Of whom should we be afraid? Our souls praise you and are not silent. O Lord our God, we will give thanks to you forever.

Wondrous God, you shower us with blessing upon blessing. In your kindness, you invite us to your table, the King’s table. You bid us to partake with you, we who are sinners, we who are so unclean, we who are as worthy as dead dogs. You are not ashamed because we are your children. You love us and have promised us that we may always eat at your table.

Glory be to God.

During times like this, during moments of lucidity, we understand what an awesome gift you have given us, to join around the table of the Lord, as a community of believers, as your beloved children.

Yet, so very often, instead of realizing your gifts, instead of realizing what it means to be a child of the King, we focus on what is wrong in our lives, on what we’re missing, on what we don’t have. Instead of praising your name for our salvation through Jesus Christ, instead of shouting to the rooftops of your great goodness, instead of proclaiming the Gospel to all the earth, we blame you for our circumstance. We ask each other why you, O Lord, let bad things happen to us, why you have forsaken us.

Thank you for your forgiving our stupidity and self-centeredness, Father. Thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for the gift of Jesus, whose death, burial and resurrection we celebrate each week…around your table.

Bless our enemies, Lord. Help us forgive their trespasses, as you have forgiven ours.

In the silence, Father, allow us a few moments of clarity in which to understand your great gifts and to fathom your wonderful grace. Hear us as we lay our burdens at your feet and as we whisper our joys of thanksgiving to you.

As we gather in communities around the world to celebrate and commemorate the heritage of our Christian movement today, we ask your grace and blessings on our communion partner, the North Turramurra Church of Christ in Sydney, Australia. Let us be connected with one another and with the other churches in our movement as we seek to glorify you this day.

We now ask your special care and blessings for Don and Peggy Orth, as well as Michelle Ramsaran, as they work to serve your children in Guatemala through their dental ministry. Keep them safe and allow your light to shine through them.

Now we pray together as Jesus, our Savior, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 9.6.09

2009-09-04T20:12:00.000-04:00

Loving and gracious God, we fall down before you, in awe and wonder. We are in awe of your omnipotence. We wonder at your limitless forgiveness. We try to contemplate the deep meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice, how it continues to change the world. We struggle with our response to your many blessings and work to serve you every day.

Teach us, O Lord, the way of your statutes. Fill us with your Holy Spirit. Give us the gifts of discernment and wisdom as we seek to comprehend your will for us, not just on the surface, but deep in our hearts and minds. Help us translate your desires into real, concrete actions, for surely the Gospel is not an earthly story written to guide us to our own selfish gain, but instead a challenging road map of truth for us to follow.

Give us understanding that we may live as you would have us live, sharing your love with the wretched, the dispossessed, the cast-off people of the world. As we meet their physical and mental needs, Lord, let us share the Good News, so they all will know that you are Lord and it is you who provides for them.

Lead us in the path of your commandments, working to live right lives, lives pleasing to you. Lead us especially, as we strive to follow our commandment from Jesus: to love one another as he loves us.

Turn our hearts toward you and away from vanities, O God. The world calls to us. On the surface it’s so beautiful and it plays to our pride and our ego…pressing us, pushing us to the notion of us as the center of the universe. On our own, we cannot resist its allure. We are too weak; we are too immature. Lift us up out of the muck and land us firmly on the rock, the rock that is your truth. Turn our hearts toward the selfless nature of the Gospel.

Bless our enemies, Father. Give us strength as your servants, to bridge chasms, to reach out in the name of Jesus, and share with your love with everyone…the love that can turn enemy into brother.

Father, you open your arms and beckon to us; we run to you, eager to share our joys as well as our sorrows. In the silence, Lord, hear us as we lay before you what is in our hearts and on our minds.

Praise be to you, gracious God, and to your son, the risen savior.

We ask your blessings, Lord, on Philokalia Ministries and the Headen Family as they work to express your love to outcasts of our societies. Not only do the Headens preach the gospel, but they share your unconditional love with HIV patients, helping them understand they have a home in your kingdom and helping them remain productive members of their community even as their health and strength slip away in the ravages of their disease. Strengthen the Headens and members of the ministry as they share your love in the midst of death.

Now, loving Father, we pray together as Jesus, the Christ, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 8.9.09

2009-08-07T17:57:00.004-04:00

Wonderful God, we rise up and cry in a loud voice, “Hosannah, The day of the Lord is here. Now is the day of Salvation!”

In the silence, Father, hear our prayers of joy that you saw fit to send your son, Jesus Christ, to earth to initiate your plan of redemption.

God of forgiveness: You see us totally; you see us naked; and try as we might to hide from you, you see us ugly. You hear us beg for forgiveness because of so many transgressions, so many shortcomings. You could so rightly turn away from us. We plead for you to turn your face toward us. “Don’t abandon us to our own devices. We will surely perish.” We sin against you, yet you choose to clothe us in your righteousness. Because you love us so very much, you cannot stand to have us apart from you. Regardless of our actions, you remain ever faithful.

God of reconciliation: we are a new creation; reconciled to you through the Christ. We are clean, we are pure, washed in the blood of the lamb. And we have been given a mission, a ministry: to be Christ-like ambassadors; to share the message of reconciliation to all the world. Prepare our hearts, Lord, prepare our minds. Help us as we work to spread the Good News of salvation to all your children.

God of grace: bless our enemies. Your grace covers us all who call you Father. Blessed be God, the Father.

We live by faith, not by sight. We have died and risen because of the empty cross and we join with the rest of your kingdom on earth to live a life of faith and participation in the work of Jesus.

We ask your abundant blessings on the Interfaith Hospitality Network and its staff. In particular, we lift up Brian Rosecrans, the director. Strengthen IHN and its support churches as they strive to serve their guests who are experiencing difficult times. Bless the families who come to IHN and let them see Jesus in the faces of the IHN servants.

Now, we pray together as Jesus Christ, the Messiah, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 8.2.09

2009-07-31T17:22:00.002-04:00

Praise be to the God of goodness and mercy, the one true God who loves us and cares for us despite our failings, despite our weakness. Praise be to the God of grace who showers us with forgiveness and never forsakes us no matter the circumstance.

We thank you so much for your great love, Lord, because we so often fail you, the God we call Father. We live with the illusion that we have control of the world around us. You have given us the responsibility to care for your world, but in our failed reasoning, we have determined this planet belongs to us and that we can do as we will with it. We see ourselves as great, as creators. Our civilizations have evolved at an ever increasing pace and we think we are at the helm. We do not see fit to acknowledge you; instead, we pat ourselves on the back and crow about how wonderful we are.

How wonderful…the words are so hollow, so empty. Without you we can be the vilest creatures. We have murdered, raped, pillaged, lied, cheated, coveted. Our ability to perpetuate evil knows no bounds. Many times we have committed these sins in your name which is nothing less than pure abomination.

In our meager attempts to “control” our world, we often point our fingers at those who we see falter, failing to realize we are mired in the same transgressions. There is no friend or enemy when it comes to sin. Give us merciful and empathetic spirits. Give us the strength, God, to recognize our sins and work steadfastly to live lives in the image of Jesus Christ, never flagging in our efforts to be the Christians you intend us to be.

We humans have made such a mess of your world. When we do experience moments of clarity regarding our mistakes, we often make matter worse by our ineffectual efforts to untangle the many messes we have made. One solution begets another mess and the cycle continues. Praise be to the God who is ultimately in charge of this world and can protect it from the likes of us.

Regardless of our weakness, regardless of our failings, we live in hope because of the risen savior. We live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us. Because of this great love, we have hope. Praise be to the God of hope.

In the silence, we repent of our sins to you. We ask your help in leaving them behind and moving forward in faith and service.

We ask your blessings, merciful God, on the Veals: Warren, Julie, and their family as they serve with Missionary Aviation Fellowship in Mozambique. Thank you for their strong faith and devotion to you and your kingdom as they serve the indigenous people and tribes by providing transportation and assistance to other missionaries as well as supporting medical efforts, community development, training development, and disaster relief. Be with the MAF missionary pilots and their families. Keep them safe and help them feel our love and backing as they do your will in a very remote part of the world.

And now we pray together as Jesus Christ taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 7.19.09

2009-07-17T20:36:00.005-04:00

Today is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! You, Lord God, formed us from the dust of the ground and breathed life into our nostrils. You saw fit to place us humans on this earth and you called it good. You surrounded us with such great beauty. You created all the majesty before us, from the highest mountain to the deepest sea. You continue your creation as we may behold, but often do not notice. Your kingdom reflects the exuberance of life and joy that we imagine you must feel as you look upon that which you hold so dear.

Thanks be to you Father, that not only did you choose to create the world, but you also chose to save the world.

Thanks be to you, Father, for our savior, Jesus Christ. The invisible image of God, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the body. In him all things in heaven and on earth were created and through him you were pleased to reconcile yourself with all things…with us…through the peace manifested in the blood of the cross. There is no other name under heaven by which to be saved.

We fall on our faces before you in worship and adoration…for your great love and faithfulness.

As we contemplate the purpose of your creation, we cannot but help to ponder the purpose of our being on this earth. We are your children, most certainly, but we are also your tools, your servants. We are undeservedly privileged to be servants of the king. We are grateful, but we cannot sit back and enjoy the great privilege in a vacuum…because with great privilege comes great responsibility. You set heavenly tasks before us: that all may know and worship you...that your kingdom on earth reflects your love…as we await the Savior’s return. Thankfully you do not leave us alone in these endeavors…you love your kingdom and us too much to create a world such as this and then just walk away.

In the silence, Lord, help us contemplate the enormity of your creation as we try to fathom the depth of your love.

You created us, Father, and you created those we call our enemies. You did not make us enemies, Lord; we did that ourselves. Bless our enemies and bless us…that your love will overcome the chasm that is between us and we can live like you intend.

We ask your blessings, Lord, on Philokalia Ministries and the Headen Family as they work to express your love to outcasts of our societies. Not only do the Headens preach the gospel, but they share your unconditional love with HIV patients, helping them understand they have a home in your kingdom and helping them remain productive members of their community even as their health and strength slip away in the ravages of their disease. Strengthen the Headens and members of the ministry as they share your love in the midst of death.

And now we pray together as the firstborn of all creation, Jesus Christ, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 7.12.09

2009-07-10T11:43:00.004-04:00

As the deer long for flowing streams, so our souls long for you, O God. Our souls thirst for you, the living God. When shall we behold your face? We search for you, yet we don’t see. We look so hard, but we are focused on ourselves and the details of our lives and how you fit into them instead of how we fit into your kingdom. We can’t see the forest from the trees and even when we step back, we still see only trees. Our vision and our minds are polluted with all the clutter and minutia of our lives turned inward. Frustration and emptiness surround us.

We want to belong to something bigger and better than our current situations. We want our lives to mean something, to matter. Still, because we are focused on ourselves, we bounce around trying to decide what’s right for us, what true for us. We search and we pray to every god we can count, ever longing, ever seeking. First money is the answer, then self-indulgences, then fame. Everything we try eventually fails us and leaves us empty…still wanting, still searching.

But you, gentle God, never falter, never waiver. You continue to love us and wait patiently for our eyes to open, for our minds to grasp your presence. You send your servants to immerse us in your word, to help get our minds right, to teach us your love. As we begin to listen, as we begin to see…you are here, right in front of us all the time. You surround us with your beauty, true beauty; with your love, true love the only things that can completely satisfy us.

We experience you manifested in the life of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for the world and we have hope. We have hope in the word of the Lord. We have hope in the pierced hands and the torn side. We have hope in the empty tomb. We have hope in the risen savior.

-- Praise be to you, O God, for your steadfast love and goodness. --

In the silence, Father, hear our prayers of hope; amidst all our troubles and pain and joy and thanksgiving, hear our hope:

Bless our enemies, Father. Bless them and let them see you. Forgive us when we fail to show your love through us.

Bless our brothers and sisters in the Salvation Army. Lord, these people, the workers and volunteers, walk in the footsteps of Jesus, serving those whose lives are often so desperate. We raise them and those they serve before you. Strengthen and guide them as they do your will and care for your children.

And now we pray as the light of the world, the risen Savior, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church 7.5.09

2009-07-03T20:23:00.002-04:00

You, O Lord, are God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who executes justice for the orphan and widow and who loves the strangers. The heaven of the heavens belongs to you, the earth and all that is in it. You are our praise, wondrous God, and have done great and majestic things for us. You have called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light. We fear you, Lord and you alone will we worship, to you we hold fast.

You bless us and bless us again. Our Father, you have sent us a living stone, Jesus Christ. Though rejected by mortals, he is chosen and precious in your sight. He is our cornerstone; he is our redeemer.

We are yours, God’s own people. Through the light of the Messiah, you have called us out of darkness and into your marvelous light.

Though you call us your chosen, let us not suppose for ourselves any sense of lofty existence…because when you called us, you called us to a life of service. You handed us the basin and the towel and put us to work. You said to us, “though you are my children, this is not about you; it is about my kingdom.”

Father, you called us to be a holy priesthood, to be your offering…an extension of the savior, your emissaries on earth. Help us to respond according to your call. Through us, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to you.

Precious God, when we begin to forget our place as your servants, put into our minds the Son of Man, washing the feet of your people, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, sacrificing and bleeding for the wretched of the world…for us.

Our enemies deserve your love no less than we do. Bless them and turn their eyes, along with ours, toward you.

In the silence, help us contemplate your great gifts, your great love, and our responsibility to you:

Father, not only have you blessed us by making us your own, but while we are on this earth, you have allowed us to live in a wonderful land, one of hope and promise, one that is build on human freedom and opportunity. Bless our leaders and those who work for the common good. Give them wisdom and discernment and true humility.

In all this, we still know our only true freedom is the salvation offered through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And now, we pray together as the Prince of Peace taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church 6.7.09

2009-06-05T20:18:00.000-04:00

God of hope, God of grace, God of the risen savior, smile down upon us. You have given us life, you have given us minds and bodies, you have given us resources with which to worship you and serve your kingdom. For these great gifts, we thank you.

Have mercy on us, Father, because so many times we have not used your gifts in the ways you have intended. We have sinned against you. We have focused on ourselves. We have turned our backs on our neighbors, on our own brothers and sisters. Sometimes we have lifted our hands against them and sometimes we have just stood by and watched as they suffered and we did nothing.

We cry in agony before you because we know our own iniquities. We can call them by name. We have wrapped our arms around them and made them our own. We have often so ingrained them in our lives that we convince ourselves our transgressions are good, they are justified, they are proper.

As we stand before you, we know we have no excuses. We have done what is evil in your sight and know that you are justified in any judgment we receive. We cry out in agony waiting for our punishment. We plead, do not cast us away from your presence and do not take your Holy Spirit from us.

And you hear our cries, Father. Amidst all of our weakness, selfishness and greed, you placed the empty cross. You have not turned your back upon us. Washing us with the blood of the lamb, you have blotted out our iniquities. Through your abundant mercy, Lord, you have set us free.

Put a new and right spirit within us, O God. Sustain it in us so that we may experience you more closely and better understand you and how we can serve you more fully.

Teach us wisdom, Father, so that we may know when our weakness approaches, so that we may cloak ourselves in your word and draw close to you, our refuge and our salvation.

Bless our enemies, Lord, and let them see your mercy through the expressions of our Christian hearts.

In the silence, most gracious God, hear our sinful confessions and our heartfelt thanks for your forgiveness.

God of light, we ask your blessings on Milligan College and the servants they are educating to spread the gospel in word and deed. Bless them as they begin their capital campaign this fall and always as they seek to do your will.

And now we pray together as Jesus, the lamb of God, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 5.3.09

2009-06-05T10:55:00.000-04:00

Praise be to the Lord, to God, Our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

Thank you, Father, for your great love. Thank you, Father, for your great commitment – a commitment so great that you made us in your own image; a commitment so great that you sent your beloved Son to die for us; a commitment so great that you promised eternal life for those who believe.

When we ponder your great commitment to us, it can take our breath away, it can bring us to our knees, it can make us cry out, “Oh Great and wondrous Lord”.

Even more, it can turn us to commit to you.

We commit our hearts to you, Father, that we may be examples of your love; soften our hearts to others and give us true charity; cleanse our hearts, Lord, of sinful desire and replace it with the desire to serve you.

We commit our souls to you, Father, that we may be dynamic, vibrant sowers of your Word. Let us not content ourselves with abstaining from evil-doing, but rather commit ourselves to well-doing, to active service in the name of Jesus. When our brothers and sisters cry out in anguish, let us be there to mend them, let us be there to support them, let us be there to love them in the name of the risen savior.

We commit our minds to you, Father, and step out in faith, faith that can move mountains. Help us refrain from rationalizing our lives in service of self. Help us fight against the earthly logic of personal pleasure at the expense of the world around us. Help us use the intelligence you have given us that all may know you and all experience the peaceful beauty of this world because of your great love.

We commit ourselves to you, Father, all of our beings. Use us in your service. Use us to further your kingdom.

Bless those who hate us for our faults and those who love us in spite of them. Remake us that they may see you and your goodness in us.

In the silence, God, hear our personal prayers of despair, of thanksgiving, of pain, of praise:

We ask special prayers today, gracious Lord, for Dennis and Fabienne Freeland and their family as they serve with others in Cameroon to spread your word around the globe. Bless them and keep them.

We pray also for Crossroads Christian Church and their minister, Clint Andrews. Bless them as they work to strengthen your kingdom in the local area as well as other parts of the world that they support.

And now we pray together as Jesus Christ taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church 4.19.09

2009-06-05T10:51:00.000-04:00

Father in heaven, we come before you of one heart and one soul, brought together by the desire to worship you and serve your creation, brought together in awe of the resurrected savior.

This time after Easter is so important because death has been conquered and a new day is at hand.

We should be happy. We should be joyous. Nothing should stand in our way of fulfilling our mission, our destiny. But we are confused. Our savior has been taken from us, the earthly king, surely the son of God, but still a man of flesh. And he is no longer among us. Through the scriptures and our teachings, we have watched him grow, to teach, to serve, to sacrifice. All of a sudden, our weaknesses, our fears, begin to overtake us. Where are you Lord? Those around us remind us that seeing is believing. We need to see you, we need to feel you. Without you in our lives, we are like the disciples huddled behind locked doors.

Then, thankfully, the gospel smacks us in the face – “love one another just as I have loved you”. Slowly but surely, we see you. We see you in the likes of the servants around us locally and globally. We see you inside the Grandview Community. We see you in area churches like the Embryville Church of Christ. We see you on the mission field in places like Ghana.

We see…we know…our faith is restored. Just like Thomas, in the face of the revelation of the living Lord, all of our objections -- from even the most cynical of us, the most skeptical of us -- are washed away, and all we can do is confess “my lord and my God”.

We have the desire, dear Lord. We have been rejuvenated. We have been inspired all over again. You have set us free. And this freedom allows us to give totally of ourselves because of your gift, your promise.

Bestow your great grace upon all of us, Lord.

Help us love our enemies, Father; and help them love us.

In the silence, let us reflect on the resurrection body of Jesus:

Bless those who serve in your name; we remember specifically the Embryville Church of Christ and their minister, Phillip Rogers, as well as Enoch & Lydia Nyador who minister for you in Ghana. Keep them and strengthen them.

And now we pray together as Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church 4.12.09

2009-06-05T10:49:00.002-04:00

God Incarnate, our hearts swell with joy as we contemplate your great love, love represented in the empty cross. Our minds race with wonder as we strain to realize the magnificence of your faithfulness to us, your lowly servants. Keep us and strengthen us.

God of the baby boy…the Christ-child – hope and light; pride of his fathers; symbol of purity; image of innocence; lowly born, but true king of kings; keep us and strengthen us.

God of the teacher – ever modeling; defining consistency; a rock of immovable stability; never failing in his words unlike worldly teachers; showing us the way to heaven; keep us and strengthen us.

God of the healer – humble provider; compassionate yet powerful touch; restorer of sight, making the crippled to walk, bringing the dead to life, confident in your power over all; keep us and strengthen us.

God of the Shepherd – provides us green pastures; protects us from danger; feeds us bountifully; never forsakes his mindless sheep; calm and reassuring; ever ready to lay his life down for his flock; fierce in his protection of even the least of his ward; fearless in the righteousness of God; keep us and strengthen us.

God of the slaughtered lamb – servant king; sacrificed for our sakes; body beaten and torn; our way to you, Lord, splattered with his blood; keep us and strengthen us.

God of the empty tomb – the risen savior; Lion of Judah; conqueror of death; triumphant over all things, seated at your right hand; keep us and strengthen us.

Father, let us embrace the silence and contemplate your wondrous gifts.

Forgive us. Accept our meager gifts, our pitiful efforts, our heart-felt thanks.

Bless our enemies, for they, too, are your children.

May Jesus Christ, who for our sake became obedient unto death, even death on the cross, keep us and strengthen us this Easter Day and forever more.

And now, we pray together as Jesus, the risen Savior, taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church 2.22.09

2009-06-05T10:47:00.002-04:00

God of all, fill us with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.

God of Hope, we cling to you. This life is so temporary. This life is so fleeting. Relationships come and go, Careers come and go, health is a temporary matter. You, O Lord, remain our one constant. We are here for the shortest time.

Even with our transient passing through this universe, a lot goes on with us. We build lives, we have families, we give or take from this earth. We have plenty of time for immature behavior. We have plenty of time for sin. Hell is what we deserve…and not by accident, but by our active wickedness, our overt disobedience. But you, o God, but you stepped in. You are more loving and merciful than we could ever hope. The last word is not our sin, but your grace—“where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more”.

God of Hope, you give us a reason to believe. Through the resurrection of the Son, we know we will return to the Father. When we are reminded of this great gift, our hope burns bright. But then we are weighed down by the problems of the world, the problems of our lives. Sin is heavy, too. It pulls us down, it changes us. We let our focus slip, we let our zeal fade, and we become one with the world again.

Strengthen us Father. Give us resolve. Through the power of your word, through the example of your son, through the strength of our brothers and sisters in Christ, help us grow and become mature. And as we grow in our Christian maturity, help us nurture that mature hope. Help us keep it crystal clear in our minds.

Bless our enemies, Lord. Let them experience your mercy and be changed by it.

We pray now in silence -- give us the maturity of hope -- that we seek you desperately, that we long for you fervently, that we serve you completely, that we know one day we’ll be reunited with you and the faithful before us in your heavenly kingdom.

Bless the Appalachian Christian Camp as they work with local youth to develop Godly principles and values in a way that challenges them.

We pray for Dennis and Fabienne Freeland and their family as they serve you and the growing Christian community in Cameroon and the surrounding area.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 2.15.09

2009-06-05T10:45:00.001-04:00

We come before you, Lord God, looking for an anchor in a stormy world. All around us the world is busy, the world is chaotic, the world is beautiful and ugly at the same time. We are bombarded by temptations, by sin. We are surrounded by danger. Want and need are everywhere we look. The poor and the despised, the ugly and the infirm, cry out for help. Trust in the world and we are lost. You are our rock, you are our strength, you are our redeemer. In you, we find our peace. We rest upon your unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, our anchor holds within the veil.

In you we find our peace, but it’s often on our own terms. We like you Lord, the way we like you. It’s almost like we have our own religion that we need you to fit into. Clear our minds, Lord. Make us right. Help us see you are the God of everything and that you’re with all your followers, all your servants. Forgive us when we put you in a box, forgive us when we pull you out and dust you off and try to wind you up like a toy to please us. Forgive us.

We want to serve you, Lord. We want to do your will and we often try very hard to spread the Good News to every nation. But we also often see one way to accomplish your tasks. We often see OUR way of reaching your goals. When things stand in our way, we lose focus, we get frustrated, we sometimes even give up. God, don’t let us get sidetracked by the world, by our own desires, by well-meaning people, by our fears and phobias. Just as Jesus kept his eyes upon you and his purpose, so help us to remain steadfast to your design.

Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and his righteousness. We know, Father, that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Thank you for the cleansing blood of the Lamb. Thank you for your limitless grace.

Forgive our enemies and let them be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb just as we are.

In the silence hear our prayers of despair and of hope, of sadness and of joy…of thanksgiving:

We pray for Agape Women’s Services and their mission here in the community. Bless them as they show your unconditional love for the people they serve.

We also pray for Greg and Allison Coley and the entire Globalscope team serving at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. Help them build the relationships, help them share your love with the students, and help them stay focused on your will.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 2.8.09

2009-06-05T10:42:00.001-04:00

Lord of all, we bow down before you in prayer. You are our God and we are your people.

God of Power, you control all that we know and do not know; all that we see and do not see. You make the sun shine, you make the rain fall. You make the fields green. You calm the seas. You quiet the winds. You lift up the righteous and punish the wicked. You have conquered all manner of evil. Demons cower before you. Satan is powerless against you. You are God omnipotent.

God of Healing, you take us, battered and broken by myriad ills and you repair us. By your healing touch, you can make our minds and our bodies, our spirits and our flesh, whole again.

God of Truth, through your word, you share with us the meaning of life. You teach us how to live; you teach us how to witness. Give us the excitement to proclaim your kingdom to all corners of the earth, to all peoples.

God of Sacrifice, through the example of your son, Jesus Christ, you teach us that living a Godly life, living a Christian life does not include the spotlight being turned on us. Sacrifice, true selflessness is focused on others, improving their lives in your name.

God of compassion, you lift us up. We sin and repent, time and again, and you cover us with your grace. Grace upon grace, your love envelops and purifies against even the most disgusting of our actions.

You are our God and we are your people. You are our Father and we are your children and your love is limitless.

Bless our enemies, Lord, and let them feel your power.

Now, in silence, we come before you. We clear our minds of the clutter around us. We focus ourselves on you and we pray. We pray for those who need healing, we pray for those who need comfort, we pray for new life – both physical and spiritual, we pray that although we will always fall short, we remain steadfast, we persevere, we persist because our ultimate goal is to serve you and love you in the same way you, through Jesus Christ, love us.

Help us every day, Father, to model ourselves after the sacrificial lamb, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Focus our attentions, not inwardly toward ourselves like the world tells us to do, but outwardly toward your creation spreading the good news of the risen savior.

Bless the Community Groups around the area that we support. Bless their workers, their leadership, their volunteers and their efforts. Help us give them the aid they need.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 2.1.09

2009-06-05T10:40:00.001-04:00

God of peace, God of creation, you control all. The sun that shines upon us, the cold that makes us bundle up, the wind that makes us seek shelter, the rain that falls on each of us, they are your creation and we are in the middle of it all.

We thank you for the Holy Scriptures, words of life, words of truth. In them Jesus speaks with authority, personal authority, Godly authority, and he acts swiftly, strongly, he knows what is right and addresses evil with the power of your name.

This is how we want to be, too. We want to be like Jesus. We want to be righteous. Our hearts aren’t pure by any means, but our intentions are often good, often lofty, often selfless. Our intentions…so often we talk a good game, but when it comes time to stand up against evil, we shrink away. When it comes time to acknowledge you and your kingdom, we find excuses, we are busy, we have other priorities…sometimes even inside the church.

Satan, himself, recognizes your greatness. Demons shriek and cry in your presence. They know where the true power lies, but we fool ourselves. We say that we follow you and then we go off like little children and focus on us.

Thanks be to You, O God. Thank you for your love, your forgiveness, that when we go off, you wait eagerly for our return. Thank you for your Son, Jesus the Christ, whose perfection was manifested in both word and deed. Thank you for his teachings, thank you for his strength, thank you for his compassion and his grace. His life and teachings continue to bless us daily. Help us become mature Christians, loving God, let our words and our deeds reflect each other. Let our words and deeds reflect Jesus Christ. Help us be people of action, people who know you and know your will and allow it to guide us.

Bless our enemies, Lord. Let them see your strength and power. Let them feel your love.

Turn your face toward us, Father. In the silence, we bring to you our Thanksgivings for you are a mighty God; we bring you our sorrows because you are a gentle God; we bring you our weaknesses and failings because you are a loving God; we lay before you our sins, because you are a merciful God.

Thank you for the mature Christians who serve your kingdom here and around the world. Bless the Downtown Christian Church. Bless them as they seek to serve you in word and deed. Bless their leaders and bless their ministries. Shine your light upon our missionaries, Lord, and let them know you are with them through their trials and joys. Allow your love to shine on them through us.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 1.4.09

2009-06-05T10:38:00.001-04:00

We come before you, most honored Lord, in deep appreciation for what you have done for us, what you have done for the entire world. You are our Creator, you are our provider. You have given us life. You have given us each other. All we have is from you, our possessions, our friends and family, our very lives. Blessed be your name.

Father, You loved us so much that You offered us salvation through your glorious grace, the glorious grace and truth found in our savior, Jesus Christ. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.

And as we have accepted You, you have adopted us into your family, the family of God…now we are not just one of your creation, but one of your children. We are not alone. We are not left to our own devices. Instead, we are part of something bigger than ourselves. Through the blood of the Lamb, you give us the opportunity to matter. Through your unconditional love, we can share the joy of being a part of your family.

Being one of your children is a privilege, not a right and we know can’t earn it. We also know that with privilege comes responsibility, the responsibility to live right lives, the responsibility to take care of your resources, the responsibility of caring for our brothers and sisters here and around the world, the responsibility of spreading the Good News to all the reaches of the earth so that all might live for the praise of his glory.

Forgive us of our sins. Forgive us when we fail you and thank you for your grace upon grace.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the silence, hear our prayers of penitence, our prayers of hope, our prayers for those in need:

We pray for 2009 with all the possibilities it holds. We pray for peace. We pray for reconciliation. We pray for tolerance. We pray that Godly goodness prevails, Give our leaders, our president and other world leaders as well as our local leaders the wisdom of restraint, the wisdom of discernment.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 12.28.08

2009-06-05T10:35:00.001-04:00

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed…. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.

Loving God, You sent us the baby Jesus, the little Christ child, so soft, so meek, so mild…the Lamb of God brought to earth as a baby. We thank You for this Advent season, the time of anticipation; it is a great tradition, and it culminates in the remembrance and celebration of this great event of God in the form of man. Thank You, Father, for the Christmas Story.

Most of us feel so good during the Christmas season. We reconnect with friends and family, we exchange gifts, we take time off from work to relax. We read beautiful scripture, listen to some of the most beautiful songs and sing some of the best carols ever written. We honor You as we honor the Christ-child. But then the Christmas season is over and Advent winds down. We put away the holiday trappings and look to a new year. We make resolutions and once again face the challenge of the gospel.

Tell us, Father, is the gospel easy or is it hard? Surely, through the blood of the lamb, You have put salvation in our grasp. You offer eternal life through Jesus Christ and we accept. Thank You for the grace that allows this simple, but meaningful exchange to occur.

Accepting You seems so easy, but living the Gospel, the gospel of the lamb led to the slaughter, the savior oppressed and afflicted for our namesake, seems so very hard; the path is sure, but it is uneven… Satan seeks to undo us at every opportunity. We often fail, but we must never give up. We fight, get beat, and strengthened by You, rise and fight again. Give us the dedication, wisdom, and endurance needed to live the life, to follow Your word, to stand up.

We can’t predict the future, Lord; we don’t know what will happen today, tomorrow or next year. What we do not doubt is Your endless love. Thank You for that love and help it engender in us the strength to commit our total lives, our complete beings, our minds, bodies, and souls to share the peace that only You can bring, to work tirelessly doing good, not for ourselves and our own recognition but to glorify You, to help others hear the good news and share in the joy known only by Your people.

Bless our enemies, Father, and let them know Your love.

In the silence, we contemplate the Christ-child, recognize Your gifts, try to fathom our responsibilities and thank You for Your constant care in good times and bad:

We remember before You those who do not find this holiday season to be a pleasant time in their lives – our brothers and sisters who are in pain, in mourning, estranged from family, separated from loved ones. Comfort them, God, and let them know the peace only You can give.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 12.21.08

2009-06-05T10:32:00.000-04:00

God of peace, You are firmly in control of our universe. You are so almighty that You need not concern Yourself with Your earthly creation, yet You trouble Yourself with the birds of the air. You are so firmly in control that You give us the freedom to turn our backs on You. You are so loving that You wait patiently for us to return to You each and every time we stray.

Forgive us.
Help us be faithful.
Help us be righteous.
Help us seek out good.

God of peace, we regularly experience problems in our walk with You. Sometimes when faced with weighty matters, we wonder what to do, just like Joseph must have done. Sometimes our problem isn’t that we don’t know what to do, but that we just don’t have the strength do it. Sometimes our problem is that we doubt You care, doubt You are involved, doubt that we matter to You…perhaps even doubt You exist.

Thank You for the gif t of doubt. Thank You also for the gift of faith because we really can’t truly have one without the other.

There are so many things, so many gods, so many ideas that we can believe in, but there is only one true God, not a distant, remote God, but THE God who so loved us that he sent his son to save us.

Help us to focus on what You would have us do. Help us seek out wisdom revealed to us through Your Holy Word. Help us seek out wisdom shared with Godly friends and family, perhaps even Godly strangers.

Give us the Faith of Joseph. Give us the strength to make the leap to faith…some call it folly while others call it a virtue…Let us call it a gift.

Bless our enemies.

In the silence, we offer our thanks, we lift up our concerns, we call You God Almighty:

We pray for those organizations in our community that address the needs of Your people. Bless Agape Women's Services, Appalachian Christian Camp, Higher Ministries, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Friends at John Sevier, the Salvation Army.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 12.14.08

2009-06-05T10:30:00.001-04:00

Loving God, we come before You full of anticipation…anticipation of this child, who has been born the King of the Jews. We are full of anticipation for the prince of peace whose star the wise men observed at its rising. We are full of anticipation for the Son of Man whose incarnation did not involve the subtraction of deity, but the addition of humanity. We are filled with joy as we prepare for the coming of the Christ-child, the child to whom the wise men presented their gifts.

But what can we offer You, dear God….what could we have that You would want? We obey Your Word and offer You our love, our adoration, our obedience, our service to Your people, to the least of these.

We come before You Lord, with anticipation of better lives…better lives rooted in the Good News…better lives directed toward others and not ourselves…better lives focused on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We love You, Father.

We look ahead with anticipation to the arrival of the Baby Jesus, the little holy one, so meek and mild, so perfect in his plain settings….God incarnate, yet fully human. We adore You, Father.

We brighten up in anticipation of Your blessings, blessings not of worldly riches, but spiritual gifts…wisdom, discernment, empathy, love. We honor You, Father.

We anticipate the 2nd coming, our reuniting with You in perfection known only because of Your grace. We long to hear You breathe the words “well done, good and faithful servant”; we relish the thought of Your delighting in us and with us. We lay our lives down before You, Father.

Use us.

Use us to bless our enemies…to remove the barriers that keep them from knowing You, from experiencing Your grace.

And now, in the silence, our prayers turn to a multitude of different thoughts from sadness to joy, from conflict to peace, from trouble to calm:

We pray Your blessings on our missionaries, Your emissaries in foreign lands. Bless the Coleys, the Freelands, the Headens, the Hillmans, the Nyadors, the Veals, and the Orths. Refresh the McDades in their time with us. We also remember before You the Jacksons and the Colemans as You prepare then to follow Your call.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 12.7.08

2009-06-05T10:28:00.001-04:00

Loving God, our souls magnify You, our spirits rejoice in You, our savior. You have looked upon us with favor, we, Your lowly servants.

This is how we come before You, Father. But do we mean it outside this gathering; do we mean it outside this room? We often act like we don’t need You, we often speak like we don’t honor You, we often even serve like You are not involved…because it’s about us and we are in control:

We, the mighty
We, the strong
We, the proud
We, the powerful
We, the arrogant

And it’s total delusion. Forgive us, Lord, for our sins. Forgive us, Lord. Give us awareness. Plant us firmly in reality…Your reality.

Make us as the lowly and lift us up. Fill our souls with good things: love, mercy, Godly service. Continue to walk with us, Lord and shower Your grace upon us.
Despite all, You, O Mighty One, have done great things for us. You have shown limitless mercy…journeyed with us, hurt with us, blessed us….waited for us to return to you.

From generation to generation You are the same. Be our Rock and our redeemer. Holy is Your name.

Fill us with the Good news. Help us keep Jesus the Lord of our lives when we work, when we play, even when we sleep.

Forgive our enemies, Lord, and bless them just as You bless us.

In the silence, Father, hear our prayers of intercession for those we hold most dear in our hearts:

Bless the Community Concerns and Missions groups we support including Agape Women’s Services, Appalachian Christian Camp, ETSU Christian Student Fellowship, Higher Ministries, Interfaith Hospitality Network, the Salvation Army, and Adult Education in Johnson City. We lift them all up before You.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 11.2.08

2009-06-05T10:26:00.000-04:00

We come before You, Father, praising Your name and worshipping You with all our hearts. We love You, Lord. You are our rock, You are our redeemer, You are our Father, Mother, Creator. Regardless of how we act, regardless of what we say, regardless of how inadequate our efforts, You never forsake us. When our lives are good, You are present, when our lives are bad, You are there. You are our God and we are Your people.

We know all good things come from You. We know You will always provide. We know that. Still, we want so badly to feel in control of our lives and our world. When we see a problem, when we see an issue, we have to fix it…right away. We don’t trust You.

Time; we don’t have enough. We want more. We cram as many things into it as we can. One more thing, we just have one more thing to do. There’s so much to do. We fill our days, we labor…hard. Labor is good, but labor that betrays a lack of trust in Your ability to provide is simply a waste of time.

Give us the wisdom of balance. Assist us as we strive to be obedient to You, to trust in Your awesome power.

Help us make time, O Lord, time for You. Time for the things You love. Time for raising up our Christian families, time for serving the poor and downtrodden, time for prayer.

We are here today and gone tomorrow, but Your kingdom defies time…Your kingdom lasts forever.

Help us take time with our enemies. Bless them, Father and help us turn them into friends.

In the silence, Lord, hear our prayers of thanksgiving for the faithful in our past, those who have positively shaped our lives:

We pray for those who dedicate themselves to others. We ask Your blessings on emergency responders, home healthcare givers, medical professionals, educators. Bless our missionaries and those who serve in the military. Bless all those who put others first, especially in Your name.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.26.08

2009-06-05T10:23:00.000-04:00

Most wonderful God, You provide for Your creation in a seemingly simple, yet complex way. You combine basic elements, swirl them together and You provide for the things You love. You feed the least of Your creatures. You clothe the lilies of the field. And You care of us. Your greatness, power and majesty are unmatched.

We witness Your creation, but still we worry…about our lives, our futures. So, while we worship You, we’re building our fortunes. We try to argue and cajole, finesse and rationalize a way to love our mammon and still be true to You. We often think we do a pretty good job of it. What we really succeed at is convincing ourselves that we’ve pulled it off. We might even think we’re as smart as You, tearing down our barns and putting up bigger ones to store our riches, cleverly squirreling them all away.

Some of us have better success with money; others with fame. But time is the great equalizer and, therefore, one of our greatest treasures. We guard our time like we guard our money, behind barriers as strong as steel.

Help us, O Lord. Our idea of riches is so shallow. Our idea of security is so juvenile. We can think we’ve protected ourselves and our treasures up until the very night they are demanded of us. Then there is no escape.

Instead of investing in ourselves and our riches, Father, help us invest in our one sure thing – YOU – by investing in Your kingdom. Instead of building up barns for our riches, help us build up others in fellowship and Godly service. Instead of guarding our time, help us be free with it; free to invest it on others, in serving them, in lifting them up. When we build up each other in the name of Jesus, our true riches are revealed.

And now in the silence, Father, hear our prayers…our petitions on behalf of others and ourselves:

We pray Your blessings on our missionaries, Your emissaries in foreign lands. Bless the Coleys, the Freelands, the Headens, the Hillmans, the Nyadors, the Veals, and the Orths. Refresh the McDades in their time with us. We also remember before You the Jacksons and the Colemans as You prepare then to follow Your call.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.19.08

2009-06-05T10:22:00.000-04:00

God of peace, you shower your blessings down on us. You are all mighty, all powerful, all knowing, all seeing. You know our minds, You know our hearts, yet You love us anyway.

You are our God and we praise Your name.

Lord, we come before you, all prisoners of one sort or another. Alone we cannot break free of our bonds, of our shackles, of our desires, of our sin. In good times and bad, seasons of plenty and shades of want, our only proper place for trust lies in You. Through the presence of Your Spirit, through the majesty of the Christ, You make us strong. And the strength You give us, in Jesus name, allows us to do all things.

Father, true contentment is not a human achievement. It is a divine gift. Bless us with us with this most cherished of gifts…contentment without complacency; contentment knowing we are doing Your will brought about in serving You by serving Your kingdom, serving others, giving sacrificially of ourselves. Help us be content with what we have and what we don’t have. Help us live true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing and commendable lives. Allow Your contentment to free us from earthly shackles of greed and hubris, of selfish desire. Liberate us to give with abandon, a level of contentment only found from being a member of your family. Engender in us a sense of joy, that we need to give so much that we look for every opportunity to do so, knowing it is pleasing to you and nourishes the soul, mind, body.

Bless our enemies, Father. Give us the grace to give them our blessings, too.

We raise up to You our brother in Jesus Christ, Earl Stuckenbruck. A more utterly decent, humble loving servant, full of Christ-like grace never walked this earth. Gather him up in your arms and give him his rest.

And now in the silence, Father, hear our prayers…of want, of plenty, of emptiness, of joy:

Bless your Church, Holy God. Bless it with Christian servants around the world...from mountains of China to the deserts of Iraq to the shores of Africa to the rain forests of South America to the streets of Europe and here at home. Bless the churches in East Tennessee. And Bless Grandview Christian Church. We are Your children and You are our God.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.12.08

2009-06-05T10:20:00.002-04:00

Father, we gather before You of our own free will. While there are many reasons that we may be here today, to mourn, to celebrate, to serve, because of guilt, out of habit, we still made a choice to be here. Thank You for giving us that ability to make choices. Thank You for loving us so much that You let us decide whether or not to accept You, whether or not to serve You, whether or not to worship You. It is only in this way that we can truly love You.

We make decisions most of our waking moments, many of them mundane and made with practically no thought. Sometimes we make weighty physical choices like who to marry, where to work, whether to pay our bills, where to send our children to school. Sometimes we are faced with the most thoughtful of choices, choosing whether or not to pray, to forgive, to share. Sadly, unfortunately, so many of our choices are made without You being involved. Even more than all of this, none of us has truly chosen to give all for Your sake and for the sake of the good news. Many times our choices simply fail You. Forgive us for leaving you out of our choices, out of our decision-making. Forgive our thoughtlessness.

But You have never forsaken us. You made Jesus earthly so that his worldly choices mattered. He chose to stand up against the religious leaders of the day. He chose the poor and wretched, the unclean and the sick. He chose to turn away from the devil’s temptations. He chose to accept pain, pierced for our transgressions, yet He did not open his mouth, and He chose to suffer for our iniquities.

Jesus chose to honor You and to save us.

Help us make Godly choices. Help us choose You and the service of Your kingdom, not because we have to, but because we want to.

Bless our enemies, Father and help us choose to treat them with mercy.

In the silence, Father, hear our prayers…of praise, of pain, of fear, of thanks:

Bless those mission organizations we support: Agape Womenʼs Services, Appalachian Christian Camp, Christian Student Fellowship at ETSU, Emmanuel School of Religion, European Evangelistic Society, Higher Ministries, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Milligan College, Friends at John Sevier, and the Salvation Army.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 10.5.08

2009-06-05T10:16:00.001-04:00

Father, God we adore your giving spirit. We adore your love and covet your blessings. You give us our sustenance. You give us life. You cleave us to you and we don’t want you to let go.

Still we want what we want. We want it all, everything we can get…for ourselves. Our level of selfishness, our love of self, of what’s ours…can at times be of staggering proportions. Take, take, take is often our mantra. Our hearts are hard…wedged full of all the stuff we can cram in them. When our hearts are closed we are no better than a brood of vipers looking to warm ourselves in the sun that is meant for more than just us.

Redeem us, Lord. Set our minds right. In your scriptures, you show us the folly of our egos, the folly of our greed. You show us how the unredeemable can be touched, touched by the love of the Father, the example of the Son and infected with the Holy Spirit. Give us the strength to be as holy as the tax collectors who were bowed down before the Christ, seeking salvation and asking what they could do.

We are takers at our worst (and most) and true givers at our best. But our best is so inconsistent. Help us to be our best every day. It’s what your world and YOU deserve from us. We are members of one another, members of your human race, even as diverse and strange as we may be to each other. We are your family.

We pray for our enemies, Lord, asking that you bless them. And may we be an extension of your blessings to them.

In the silence, Father, hear our prayers…of joy, of anguish, of desperation, of thanksgiving:

Bless our missionaries, those who overtly give of themselves to others, working to spread your love and your word to all peoples. Specifically, God, we ask your strength, health, wisdom, and passion on the the Coleys, the Freelands, the Headens, the Hillmans, the Nyadors, the Veals, and the McDades. Bless the organizations and individuals who support them in Your name.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 9.28.08

2009-06-05T10:09:00.003-04:00

God of light, you bring us the seasons so that we may know your glory, so that we may feel the warmth of the sun on our backs and experience the pallet of colors that is autumn; we marvel at our mountains and at the sky; we marvel at your creation. You bring us the sun and the rain and we know it falls on the just and the unjust, the happy and the sad, the healthy and the ailing. Your love falls on all of us.

Great minds and talented hands are given by you. The minds you give us to dream, to design, the hands to create, to build…we are surrounded here by wood and metal created by your inspiration; we pray to you inside this structure built to glorify you, a house of prayer for all nations where we, your people do pray.

We confess that, like the money changers, we have strayed from your designs. We have put the love of things before your calling. We have put the love of things before the service of others. We have put the love of things before our love for you. Forgive us for forgetting your teachings; forgive us for our greed, our selfishness, our love of self over others.

Thank you for Your Son – for His strength and passion, His righteous anger. We thank you also for the strength of grace given freely to us through the Christ.

Lord, there are ideals and causes worth fighting for…and against. We ask your strength to stand up, to hold fast, to persevere against evil in the name of Your kingdom.

Bless those organizations that care for those in need like World Vision, Christian Children’s Fund, Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army, Haven of Mercy, and for secular organizations as well – the Red Cross, CARE, doctors without borders. Bless the sacrifices of their workers and volunteers, of their administrators and their donors.
Bless our enemies, Father. When we want to ignore, think ill, or do even worse to those who oppose us, give us the strength and desire to love, to help, to serve even those we once despised.

Lord, in the silence, hear the requests and praises that we bring to your throne:

The world revolves around wealth, good money and bad. We wrap ourselves up in happiness and fear based on what takes place with money and to money. People will suffer because of money woes…some of us only with discomfort while with others suffering may be much greater. There are those who will go hungry because there’s not enough money to go around. Some will even die. Focus our hearts on serving you and not coin and paper…focus us on those in real material and spiritual need.

And now we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

Prayers of the Church, 9.21.08

2009-06-05T10:04:00.004-04:00

Lord, we gather together with delight. We delight in your kindness. We delight in your mercy and grace. We delight in the information for living that you gave to us in the flesh; in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Thank you for showing us the difference between what the world calls “love” and what you call “love.” Thank you for showing us what tools we should, and should not, use when hating what is evil. Thank you for showing us what it means to give mutual respect, to not grow weary of hard work, to be alive in the spirit, to work as slaves, to celebrate our hope, to be patient when suffering, to give constant energy to prayer, to contribute to the needs of others, to welcome strangers, to bless those who persecute us, to mourn and celebrate together, to be humble, and to repay evil with good.

Thank you for showing us what truth is, what truth looks like when it is lived in a particular and place in a particular time. Thank you for showing us what truth looks like when enemies attack, when in the presence of people bowed down by the power of sin and hunger, and when in the presence of friends.

You are worthy of imitating. Send your Spirit to animate our desire to be like your Son.

Forgive us our sins. They are many. They are more than we know, and more damaging than we realize, sometimes traveling from person-to-person, sometimes traveling from generation-to-generation. Forgive us for only remembering individual sins while ignoring the sins of our church or of our nation. Help us to live graciously, justly, and righteously in our communities.

You know the needs in our community better than we do. You know how limited our prayer list is, and yet we remember all of these before you, asking for healing, strength, comfort, joy, peace, patience, and protection.

Lord, in the silence, hear the requests and praises that we bring to your throne:

Be with your missionaries. Pour out your spirit and kindness on the Coleys, Freelands, Headens, Hillmans, Nyadors, Veals, and Orths as they serve you. Refresh the McDades in their time with us. And bless the Jacksons and the Colemans as you prepare then to follow your call. Bless them with the spiritual and financial resources they need.

Lastly, Lord, we ask that you help us to become the kinds of Christians Paul envisions in his letter to the church in Rome; Christians who conquer evil with good.

And now, we pray together as Jesus taught us to pray:

What is this all about?

2009-05-24T17:42:00.000-04:00

Hi -- back in the fall of 2008 the minister from my church, Grandview Christian Church, asked me to be one of the presiders of congregational prayer during the 11 am worship service (one of Grandview's 3 services). He did this because he was having to preach twice during the 11 am hour and didn't have time to pray because he was heading to another room to give his sermon again to a different crowd.

At first he offered to write the prayers, but then we realized it would save him a lot of time during the week if I would write the ones I was praying.

Therefore, I have more than a dozen prayers I have written (because I alternate months with others in the service). As I work on my prayers, it has been very helpful to visit web sites and blogs where others have shared their work. I am hopeful my words might be helpful to others in the same boat as me.

Praise be to God.

Bob