Prayers—1st Draft
Alan L. Joplin/June1,2001
Gracious God, we thank you for calling us here today to refresh ourselves in your presence - to grow strong in your praises and wise in your counsels. We ask that your radiance penetrate any darkness that may be upon our hearts at this time and that you would grant peace to us as we meditate upon your word. This is the Sabbath that you have made, O Lord, we would rejoice and be glad in it and give glory unto your name. Blow through this place with the power of your everlasting Spirit and lift up your people.
Gracious Creator and Redeemer, we thank for this day of your grace, for this Sabbath in which we celebrate your love and remember the victory won for us by Jesus Christ your only Son, our Saviour. Bless us, we pray, with your presence this day in your sanctuary - help us commit ourselves anew to the work of your Kingdom, and draw us closer to one another in the power of your Holy Spirit as we worship you. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Holy and Awesome God, creator of heaven and earth - as we come before you today we are aware of our imperfect understanding of your ways and of our deep need for your presence in our lives. We thank you for granting to us a family in which to grow, a people with whom we can mature. We praise you for accepting us as we are and for struggling with us to make us what we can be. Bless, we pray, this time when your people gather to worship you and call on your name. Grant to us insight into the mind of Christ and a deep love for you and for all whom you have made. As we lift our song to you - come down and visit our souls. We ask it in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, our brother, and our friend.
Loving God, meet us here and make your word live in us. Remind us, O Lord, of the cloud of witnesses that surround us and help us to follow their example. Help us to lay aside every weight, and the sin that clings so closely, and run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Make us, like all the saints before us - a people who are eager to share your love with those that are far off and those that are near. Guide us, we pray, by the power of your Holy Spirit as we worship and serve you -- both in this hour, and in all the hours to come. We ask it in the name of Christ Jesus - our brother and our Lord.
Loving Father and Mother, we come before you with humble and penitent hearts. We are conscious of how we have offended thee. Our sins are ever before us. Forgive us for our carelessness with the gospel of Jesus Christ, for our assumption that the neglect of your holy word does not matter. Where we have overlooked the needs of others and where we have proven insensible to the feelings of those around us, we ask your pardon. Forgive us for dwelling on the things that are wrong in this world and overlooking the good that is being done all around us. Where we have been negative and destroyed the hopes of others and where we forgotten the comfort and strength of your arms, we ask your pardon. Merciful God, hear our prayer
Lord God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, hear our prayer. We confess to you, and to all the company of heaven, and to one another, that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and by omission - through our fault, our own grievous fault. Search our hearts, O Lord, and help us to truly repent. Lord Jesus, Father Almighty, before you we must stand in judgement. Heal the blindness of our eyes and melt the coldness of our hearts so we may hear your cries and respond to your distress in our world. Touch us and make us whole.
Almighty God, source of every blessing, your generous goodness comes to us anew every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience. Indeed we pray you to pour out your Holy Spirit upon us - your Spirit of joy and laughter - of comfort and of strength - that we might celebrate with you and you with us, as we offer our worship and ourselves to you this day; through Christ our Lord.
"You Are God" We praise you, O God; we acknowledge you to be the Lord. All creation worships you, the father everlasting. To you all angels cry aloud, the heavens and the powers therein. To you the cherubim and seraphim sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise you. The noble army of martyrs praise thee. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you: Father of infinite majesty; your true and only son, worthy of all worship; and the Holy Spirit, our comforter. You, Christ, are the King of Glory. You are the eternal Son of the Father. When you became a man to set us free, you did not shun a maiden's womb. When you overcame the sharpness of death, you opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are the seated at the right hand of God in glory. We believe that you will come again and be our judge. We pray to you - help your servants, bought with your precious blood. Bring us with your saint to glory everlasting. Amen.
DEPARTING PRAYER: Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion. Bless, O Lord, the nation in which we dwell; guide and protect her leaders, inspire her citizens, and make the land one that is hospitable and good for all people. We ask it for the sake of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and for your eternal glory, both now and for ever.
Prayer
Lord God, loving creator - tender redeemer and compassionate judge - we pray that you would guide us and lead us in holiness all our days - help us we pray to be mindful of the example we are to follow through your son Jesus. We pray you touch those in our midst who suffer from the infirmity of their bodies and minds this day.... Lord hear our prayer
Father and Mother of us all, Fill us Lord with your light that we might be a light to others. Grace your church so that all in it might be an example of goodness and mercy to those who are seeking righteousness. Bless your church so that its deeds might nourish the hungry, encourage the despairing, and bring hope to those who live in fear.
Saviour, as we consider the need this day for a just sharing of the food that this earth affords, we pray for those who are forced to grow cocoa instead of grain, for those who must destroy surplus crops instead of sharing them, and for all who are oppressed by the economics of large corporations and governments. Empower your church around the world to speak out against waste and greed, and grace all those who care and share despite the cost.... Lord hear our prayer
Holy God, we acknowledge our divine calling, our calling to live as children of light and love, and of joy and peace all the days of lives. We thank you for this calling and for the power you grant us through the Holy Spirit to be what you call us to be. Amen
