PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Cycle C: 3^rd Sunday after Epiphany,
Proper 2, January 27, 2019

Let us draw near
to the Throne of Grace, offering prayer and supplication on behalf of the
Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Lord God, thank you for your Word, given to us as Holy
Scripture as the sure foundation for our life as your beloved community. Thank
you for your Word made flesh in your well-beloved and only Son, Jesus Christ.
Shape us more perfectly into his image. Send us with your Word of life to all
who are blinded by the distractions of life, deafened by the voices of pleasure
and power, lamed by the sufferings of life, imprisoned by sin, and impoverished
in body, mind, or spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Make your
Church a place where all your Word – Law and Gospel, lament and praise, history
and exhortation – are faithfully proclaimed, eagerly heard, and gladly heeded. We
pray also for our sisters and brothers who are persecuted for Jesus’ sake. Do
not let us despise or ignore their suffering or their testimony. Say to them,
“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Build up the
Body of Christ in this congregation. Help us to claim, develop and share the gifts
you have given each of us; to encourage and rejoice in the gifts of others,
whether those gifts seem small or great to us. Let all be done to glorify you
and to share your mercy with those around us.

Lord, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray, therefore,
on behalf of shut-ins, the physically and mentally challenged, the frail, and
all those of our congregation and acquaintance whose gifts are often overlooked
or despised, even by themselves. Grant that, following our Lord’s example, we
may honor them; and that we may rejoice together as fellow members of his Body.

Lord, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.

Teach your commandments and precepts to
all who take counsel for the nations; to our military; and to first responders.
Grant them wisdom, integrity, and common sense, so that their citizens may live
peacefully, work fruitfully, and enjoy the blessings of liberty, justice,
health, every other good thing you have provided for the benefit of all.

Lord, in your mercy, hear
our prayer.

Your Son came to proclaim healing, sight,
freedom and the good news of the Gospel to all who are in bondage to the powers
of sin, evil and death. We lift before you the needs of all who need to hear,
feel, and truly experience his strong saving love, including: {List}. Visit
them with your salvation; heal their bodies and revive their hearts; and let
them rejoice you.

Lord, in
your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for receiving
into your Kingdom those who died trusting in your Word – especially {List}.
Keep us close to your dear Son, that we may hear his Word of life, and feed on
it; that we may be filled with his Spirit, and share it; that we may be knit
into his Body, and rejoice in it. Keep us faithful unto death, and then say to
us, and to all your people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do
not mourn or weep, and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength, forevermore.”

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Graciously hear, and generously answer our
prayers, most holy Father, in accordance with your wisdom and mercy for us, and
in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Cycle C: 2^nd Sunday after Epiphany,
Proper 1, January 20, 2019

Let us draw near
to the Throne of Grace, offering prayer and supplication on behalf of the
Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Holy God, thank you for loving your people so passionately
that the best human analogy is that of a wedding, and of the love between a
bride and bridegroom. Forgive us when our brokenness and wrongheadedness
prevent us from rightly hearing these words! Thank you for the healing and
forgiveness – even of our bodies and relationships – that you bestow in Jesus.
Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who constantly forms us, body and soul, into
his image and his bride.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Adorn your
Church with faithful teaching and preaching; with deeds of mercy,
reconciliation, and generosity; and with worship that befits the adoration and
delight of a bride for her beloved. Overshadow your persecuted servants with
your Holy Spirit, so that they may bless the Name of Jesus their Lord, and so
that their tormentors turn away from cursing his Name.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give the
wedding-presents of joy and faithfulness, forbearance and forgiveness to all
married couples. Bring healing to homes fractured by sin and suffering. Gather
those who are single – by choice or circumstance – into your loving embrace.
Form us all into your big, boisterous, and blessed family.

Lord, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord, for
many of our congregations “we are family” is very literally true! Bind us
together with the cords of your love, and not merely our kinship ties and
traditions. Make this congregation a place where many are adopted into your
family, and where the bounties of your blessings are freely and lovingly shared
with all whom we invite to join us.

Lord, in
your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let your steadfast love and righteousness
dwell in the hearts of our elected and appointed leaders; in the minds of all
who take counsel for the nations; and in the actions of everyone in positions
of authority in our society. Give us grace to share the gifts and skills you have so generously
bestowed – especially with the poor and lonely, the suffering and the
sorrowing.

Lord, in your mercy, hear
our prayer.

We plead on behalf of everyone who
struggles with pain, grief, addiction, fear, remorse, doubt, and despair. We
lift before you this day the needs of: {List.} Give them the hope and courage
they need to cling to you in times of trouble. And give to those who care for
them a double portion of your compassionate and loving Spirit.

Lord, in
your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for all our
beloved dead who clung faithfully to your promise of salvation. Dry our tears
and ease our sorrow. Give us grace to live in faith toward you, and with
fervent love for one another. Then, by your great mercy, gather us, with all
whom your dear Son is pleased to call his bride and his beloved, at the table
of that marriage feast which has no end.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Graciously hear, and generously answer our
prayers, most holy Father, in accordance with your wisdom and mercy for us, and
in the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

“They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, and served their idols,which became a snare to them.” (Psalm 106:34-35)

Why does man continue to mix and mingle with that which he knows will bring about destruction? This has been his ways from the fall. We are told not to take in that which will pollute us and then go ahead and take it in. Yes, the company you keep does matter. Yes, you will be influenced by those around you. The Lord is after making you pure even as He is pure.

Lord, teach me the boundaries I need to have around my life knowing that You have also commanded me to love my neighbor. Place in me the gifts of Your Spirit that I may walk firmly amidst this divisive world in understanding.You have told me to learn to obey all that You have commanded. Guide me to do just this now and always that I may walk humbly with my God.

Lord Jesus, You who have come to rescue those who believe, guide me this day to abide in You and avoid those places where I will be tempted to compromise Your truth in my life. Help me to walk graciously, but firmly in the truth You have revealed. Through all things and in all circumstances, help me to hold fast to Your Word of truth which You have given to those who believe. Amen.

“They also provoked Him to wrath at the waters of Meribah, so that it
went hard with Moses on their account; because they were rebellious against His
Spirit, He spoke rashly with his lips.” (Psalm 106:32-33)

This world is filled with
contention. People speak and then, perhaps, they may think. The Lord, who knows
all things, knows what is in the heart of man. It is corrupt, but the Lord knows
it. Come into His presence and know that He who knows you, knows all that is
needed. Be guided by His purpose and presence and live into the life to which
You have been called by His Spirit.

Lord, many voices speak and I am often led astray by a smooth tongue. Guide
me, O Lord, to understand that You, the giver of life, are the only One who can
speak the Word of life. Open my ears to listen first to Your Word, then speak. Keep
me from being like the world which speaks first and then listens. Help me
through all of the noise to clearly hear Your Word of truth.

Word Incarnate, who has come down
to the aide of Your people, speak to me that I may speak truth. Fill my mind
with the truth of the ages that I may now and always think upon the truth of the
Word You have spoken. May I be found this day meditating upon Your Word knowing
that You have the Word of life, and there is nowhere nor no one else we can go
to in order to receive what You alone can give. Amen.

January 2019 Lutheran CORE Newsletter

“Then Phinehas stood up and interposed, and so the plague was stayed. And it was reckoned to him for righteousness, to all generations forever.” (Psalm 106:30-31)

The prayers of a righteous man are effective. The prayers of the unrighteous are heard, but not answered. Know that all things are in the Lord’s hands and He will lift up or bring down those whom He has chosen. Be guided not by the things of this world, but by the hand of the Almighty in whose hands you are placed. Walk in His ways and in the example of the righteous One.

Lord, this world, with all of its ups and downs, is filled with many choices. Or so it seems. Really, it is a matter of following You no matter the circumstances, or any other way. Lead me, O Lord, to see through the fog of this age that I may walk with the righteous. Guide me along Your path and for Your sake that I would now and always grow in the righteousness You give by grace.

Lord Jesus, You are righteousness incarnate. Raise me up to be with You that I may be where You are. Help me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may understand more this day than I have in days past. Help me through those things the world speaks, knowing the ungodly cannot understand the way, truth and life, for it is only in You that these things exist, and only by You are they given. Amen.

“They joined themselves also to Baal-peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead. Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds, and the plague broke out among them.” (Psalm 106:28-29)

Each generation is tempted into the old, old ways of those who are in rebellion. It does not matter what the particulars are, just that it is the same thing over and over again. The way of the Lord is unchanging and those who come into His presence are offered life as it was created to be lived. Come then into the Lord’s presence and reject the way of death the world offers.

Lord, You know all of the temptations that are before me. Lead me, O Lord, in Your way of life that I would now and always walk in the way of truth. Guide me away from the temptations of this world knowing that these things are the way of death. Do not cast me from Your presence because of my rebellion. Instead,bless me to walk with You all the days of my life.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have walked among us and abide with us still. Lead me in the narrow path You have established that I may live into the righteousness into which You call me. Guide me this day in Your Word of truth that I may be a witness of Your presence in this world. Cause me to flee from all unrighteousness and temptations of this world that come my way. Amen.

“Therefore He swore to them that He would cast them down in the wilderness, and that He would cast their seed among the nations and scatter them in the lands.” (Psalm 106:26-27)

The Lord has fulfilled His Word and all that He has spoken will come to pass as He has spoken it. Know that the Lord is able to accomplish all that He purposes. Come then into His promise and know that He who made you knows all that is before you. He has promised to be with you always even unto the end of the age. Be guided by His grace and mercy and live boldly in Him.

Lord, this world is incessantly talking and coming up with ideas they think are new. They repackage the old stuff. Help me shed myself of all of the garbage of this world and live according to Your Word of truth. You invented history and it is all in Your hands. Help me to live in the truth, knowing that this means that I am now and always in Your hands.

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for guiding my soul to You. Lead me this day and every day to walk according to the Word You have spoken through the prophets and apostles of old. Lead me into the righteousness to which I have been called by grace, and accept in faith. Help me to know that in walking with You, I am walking the path to which I have been called. Lead me today, O Lord. Amen.

“Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe in His word, but grumbled in their tents; they did not listen to the voice of the Lord.” (Psalm 106:23-25)

This world listens to its own voice and does not heed the Word of the Lord. You do not need to look far to see that even amongst those who call themselves faithful, there is grumbling and discontent. It should not be so among the ones called by grace through faith to walk in the way of the Lord. He lifts up and tears down. He alone is able to sustain life and to lead the faithful.

Lord, I have become like those of old who do not heed Your Word. Lead me away from the temptation of going along to get along. Help me to not be contentious, but committed to Your Word of truth and to live in it all the days of my life. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of salvation that my life may be a witness to the truth that You are now and forever present in me as I am in You.

Lord Jesus, the Word made flesh,You are the light shining in the darkness of this world. Help me, I pray, to see You more clearly each day that I may walk the path You set before me. Let me not grumble about my circumstances, but give You praise and thanks, knowing that You are with me and before me always. Lead me to become faithful as You have always been faithful. May I praise God, from Whom all blessings flow, this and every day. Amen.

“Thus they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,wonders in the land of Ham and awesome things by the Red Sea.” (Psalm 106:20-22)

The world calls for us to worship the creation. Even the modern man worships his environment, surroundings and his circumstances. This call keeps us from coming into the truth that God is the Sovereign Creator of all things. He has done great things for all and only in Him will life be understood for the gift from Him that it is. Come into the Lord’s presence as the center of all life.

Lord, I do become comfortable in my circumstances and do not even think about You being behind the existence of all things. Help me, I pray, to come to a place where my mind is clear that I may forever hold fast to the truth that You are God and above all things which You have created. Help me today to see the wonder of Your hand in this creation that I may learn to praise You above all things.

Lord Jesus, You were clear in Your instruction to place the Father at the center in our lives. There are many temptations that come along to distract us from the truth, so help me walk through these valleys of distraction to see clearly the call You have placed upon my life. Lead me, O Lord, that I may walk the path of salvation that You have placed before me now and forever. Amen.