THE PRAYERS,

Transfiguration of Our Lord, Cycle A (February 23, 2020)

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Holy Lord, Holy and Mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us! In the transfiguration of Jesus, we see your glory. And we see what a human being, immersed in you, will look like. Thank you for this “doubled vision.” Thank you for showing us that Jesus truly is all in all. Thank you for his suffering and death, which transfigures our own. Thank you for the vision of his holy glory, which he so lovingly pours upon all who cling to him in faith.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Transfigure your Church. Make it a lamp, radiating the splendor of your beloved Son’s light and life. Make it a place where poor sinful mortals may eat and drink in your presence, and live. Make it a place where cleverly devised myths are confounded by the glorious truth of the Gospel. Make it a place where all may come, and be fashioned into the very image and likeness of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Transfigure this congregation: its people and programs; its decisions and vision; its worship, service, and fellowship. Make our every word and action like clear crystal, through which the radiance of Jesus’ love shines unimpeded upon everyone we meet.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Transfigure the suffering of your persecuted Church, by uniting it to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Give it grace to speak truth and offer forgiveness to its enemies. Transfigure the ministries of seminaries, missionaries, and sister congregations and synods, that all they say and do points to Jesus and his strong saving love.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

 Transfigure this world, so that the sacrifices of those who stand in harm’s way to protect us may not be in vain. Let their actions shine with valor and honor; and grant them healing when they fall, and joy when they return home.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Transfigure this death-shadowed world; its people; and its leaders. Enlighten minds to seek your truth, and purify hearts to delight in doing your will. Turn us from being enemies of you, of one another, and of our own eternal good. Transfigure us into your loyal subjects, sisters and brothers to one another, wise stewards of creation, and lovers of your Beloved.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Transfigure the lives of all who sit in the shadows of suffering and sorrow – especially: {List}. Grant that Christ, the Sun of Righteousness, may rise upon them with healing in his wings. Let sorrow be turned to joy; fear into hope; and despair into faith in your love.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, we entrust our beloved dead into your care, knowing that you have transfigured their death into life, their sin and brokenness into holiness, and their limits into unbounded delight in your infinite wisdom and goodness. We humbly beseech you to transfigure each of us into the likeness of Christ. Speed the coming of that day when he shall be all in all. Grant that when we look upon the face of any whom you have redeemed through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we see his love alone, shining in their eyes.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE PRAYERS,

6^th Sunday after Epiphany, Proper 6, Cycle A (February 16, 2020)

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Dear Father, you set a high bar before us! You want us to look, act, and be like Jesus. Thank you for promising us that, in our Baptism, we are joined to him. Thank you that he has “cleared the bar” – and help us to not dangle lazy arms or drag objecting feet, as he carries us over that bar with him! By your Spirit, grant that all that Jesus has done for us is made manifest in us, to your glory and for the benefit of your people.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Build the Church into a holy temple, filled with your Spirit, with Christ as the cornerstone. Give it faithful pastors, bishops, theologians, teachers, and other leaders.  Help them plant and water the seed of faith, to which you alone give growth. Make the Church set before the world the way of life; and grant that many should choose it.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Cause quarrels, angry words, and hurt feelings to cease in this congregation. Unite us in a common purpose: planting and tending the seed of faith in one another, in our children and grandchildren, and in our friends, neighbors, and community.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Jesus spoke hard words about anger, adultery and divorce. Help us take them to heart. Bring your forgiveness and healing to those wounded by hurtful words and deeds. Give each of us wisdom and grace to comfort, challenge, and encourage loved ones who strive to remain faithful; who struggle to repent of offenses they have caused; and who agonize over how to forgive those who have betrayed their trust.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray for our sisters and brothers in the faith who suffer persecution and death on account of Jesus. Set before us their example of faithful obedience to your Word. Help us to assist and defend them. Turn their tormentors from the paths of death and toward your light and life.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Set before the rulers of nations the path of life and of death; and give them the desire and the strength to choose life for themselves and for the people in their care. Conform each of us to your will, so that we may rightly and peacefully live together as your people.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We lift before you the needs of everyone who is afflicted by suffering, sin, or sorrow, especially: {List}. Deliver them from evil; grant them refreshment, hope and healing; and restore them to fellowship with all who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Dear Father, keep in your tender care all who have died trusting in your promises, especially those whose loss we grieve most deeply. Give us grace to comfort one another; to abound in gentleness, forbearance, self-control, faithfulness and compassion; and to choose those good things which you mean for our eternal life. Grant us the joy of joining the whole company of the redeemed in praising, worshipping, glorifying and adoring you forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE PRAYERS,

5^th Sunday after Epiphany, Proper 5, Cycle A (February 9, 2020)

Let us pray that the light of Christ may shine upon the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, your Word is challenge, command, and marching orders for us. How often we stumble, fall short, or go AWOL in fulfilling it! Justice, generosity, holiness, mercy – we break your Word, your heart, and the hearts of people most in need of those good things. Thank you for Jesus, who fulfilled your Word among us, and who IS your Word. Thank you for setting his unquenchable light and holiness, mercy and obedience within our hearts. For his sake, make us like him: salt and light, hope and holiness, so others may turn to him and live.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant that the Church should constantly preach Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sin unto everlasting life. Keep it from being conformed to the desires and whims of the world.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless the people and ministries of this congregation. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, so everything we say and do glorifies you and helps our neighbor, especially the poor, lonely, hurting, and distressed people in our community.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Father, being a disciple means being a student of Jesus. Give us teachable hearts and minds! Lead your “apprentices” in paths of personal devotion and holiness. Form them into “journeymen” who walk with those whose path is hard and lonely, and who bring hope, encouragement, and your dear Son’s love to those who need it most.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We remember before you our persecuted sisters and brothers. Make them into lamps shining in dark places. Bring them justice and deliverance. Soften the hearts of their enemies so they may turn to you and live.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Cause the rulers of all nations, especially our own, to heed the words of the prophet: to do justice tempered with mercy, and to care for the poor. We pray that they – and we! – not only refrain from evil, but actively pursue righteousness, and strive to live in peace.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bring healing and hope, justice and mercy to everyone burdened by sin, sorrow, and suffering. Especially we lift before you the needs of: {List}. Shine the light of Christ upon them, and upon all who care for them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, we entrust into your care all our beloved dead, especially those who were salt and light in our lives. Keep us also in your care throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Kindle your kindly Spirit within us, so that we constantly encourage and help one another along life’s way. And for the sake of your beloved Son, who gave himself for us, bring us into your eternal Kingdom, where with all whom he had redeemed, we may gaze upon his face and adore you for your goodness forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you see that we need, grant to us, dear Father, for the sake of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

“But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she
has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to
spare you.  But this I say, brethren, the
time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as
though they had none;” (1 Corinthians 7:28-29)

Looking at life and its meaning, our view is often of the day and the circumstance. Paul is calling for us to look at the age and its reality. Recognize that each path will carry with it burdens and these should not be taken on lightly.  Walk therefor with intentionality and seek to see things from the perspective of eternity.

Lord open my eyes to see beyond the immediate.  I am in this moment and I should not leave
it, but help me to live in this moment knowing what You have promised and how
things shall be after this age.  Holding
these two things together, teach me how to walk in the way of salvation.  Guide me to make choices that will enable me
to walk boldly in faith.  Teach me
faithfulness.

Come Holy Spirit and amidst the
confusion of this age show me a clear path that You would have me walk.  Guide me moment by moment and teach me about
the eternal perspective.  Let my heart be
free in You, but guarded from the wiles of this world.  In all things, teach me to live wholly in the
grace I have been given knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Lead me always!  Amen.