September 5: 15^th Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 18 (Labor Day Weekend)

Isaiah 35:4-7a (Promise of recompense, salvation, healing and joy)

 Psalm 146 (God sets prisoners free, opens eyes of blind, lifts poor from the dust)

 James 2:1-10, 14-18 (Warning against partiality; faith without works is dead)

 Mark 7:24-37 (Syrophoenician woman’s faith; Jesus heals deaf man)

THE PRAYERS 

Trusting, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the goodness of our heavenly Father, let us pray in Jesus’ name for the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Father, thank you for the persistent faith of the Syrophoenician woman. Thank you for James’ blunt words about partiality and judgment, and about faith and works. Thank you for stretching our hearts, minds, and souls as you challenge and enlarge our faith in Jesus.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heal and restore your church, purchased with the precious blood of your Son. Drive from it all partiality and false teaching. Fill it with such faith in Jesus that all its words and deeds cause many to hear the Good News, turn to you, and receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give a spirit of trustfulness to your Church when it is persecuted for confessing Christ as Savior. Grant repentance and faith to its foes, until all hearts turn to you in adoration and praise.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give the people of this congregation such confidence in the love of Christ that they trust his holy Word, treasure his life-giving Sacraments, and constantly tell others of his great mercy.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Thank you for the dignity of work, the joy of relaxation, and the opportunity to create. Grant satisfaction and just reward for honest labor of hand and mind. Help us provide relief for those who cannot work, or whose businesses are struggling. Teach us to honor all work that is done with an upright heart.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You are Lord of all the nations. To you all the rulers of the earth shall bow down and give an account of their deeds. Teach them to act with wisdom and without partiality. Let them care for the widows, widowers, orphans, and destitute. Cause them to seek justice within and peace beyond their borders. Make them examples of integrity and compassion to their citizens.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Protect and guide our military and all who stand in harm’s way. Bring healing to the wounded and give strength and patience to their families. Use their skills, whether here or abroad, to establish the blessings of liberty, justice, and peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Grant that all who cry to you for help and healing; for forgiveness and restoration; or for guidance and comfort, may find your grace sufficient for their need. Especially we lift before you: {list}.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Father, we entrust to you all who clung to your promises in this life, and whose death we now mourn. Grant us hope in our Lord Jesus, so our sorrow turns to joy. Help us to encourage and assist each other. Bring us to your house, where we are fed not crumbs under the table, but the rich banquet fare of the Lamb’s high feast. By your gracious Spirit, let us, with all the redeemed, bless and adore you for the majesty and love which shines in the face of your dear Son.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Incline your ear to our prayers, dear Lord; and answer them according to your most gracious and holy will, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.  Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).

Wisdom is an applied combination of understanding, knowledge, and finesse.  Those around you do not want to be treated as objects, nor as idiots any more than you want to be treated by others this way.  Sharing the faith is a matter of sharing.  You are selling nothing.  Come then and live into the life that Christ gives you and be leaven in your community.  Live the faith and others will see that you live differently.

Lord, teach me not to be one who is pushing, nor selling, but humbly living the faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your example to be one hundred percent in, but also myself, loving others as You have loved me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by You in the hope You give me by grace.  Let the salt in me be salty always.

Lord Jesus, You told us to let our light so shine that others would see what we do and glorify the Father.  Guide me in the way of this hope and promise in order that I may live today doing just that.  Guide me to be consistent in all I do knowing that in You alone is all hope and the promise of eternal life.  In You, Lord, I have a future.  May You season my life with Your presence and purpose.  Amen.  

“Praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4).

Do you pray for the opportunity to share what you have received?  Do you consider the stranger next to you and whether or not they know the truth?  Yes, each of us the responsibility to love our neighbor, the stranger, enough to provide for their welfare.  May the Lord bring about all that is needed that you may care for others as others have cared for you.  Share with others because You have been given much.

Lord, guide me in the way of everlasting life, knowing that I too am one who has been sent. Lead me so that I may live my faith in the presence of others in order that they may know that You are the Lord of all.  In Your goodness Lord, help me now and always to see that You have equipped me with the truth and in that truth I should live, love, and share.  Help me learn how to do these things naturally.

Lord Jesus, Your life which You lived on earth was seamless. Yet all were able to know why You were here.  They may not have understood it, but they knew.  They may not have agreed, but they knew.  In that light, help me to live my life such that others will at least receive a testimony based upon how I live.  Guide me to live into this life of faith that You have given me so that I may be faithful always.  Amen.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2)

What is prayer but constant communication with the Lord?  What is obedience but listening to the one giving the instruction and doing what has been instructed.  Has not the Lord said that He came that He may teach us and that we will learn from Him and do as He has instructed?  Yes, listen to the Lord, be in constant communication, and do the will of the One who made you.

Lord, these simple things are between me and Thee.  Help me not excuse this away, for no one but You will know if I am a person of prayer.  Lead me to be whom You are making me to be and guide me according to Your purpose in the way I should go.  Through all things, help me to know, O Lord, that You alone are able to lead, for You alone know fully what is in my heart and where You are taking me.

Lord Jesus, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to have ears that are open to hear, eyes that are open to see, and a willingness to do what You give me to do.  Help me hear what the world says and see what the world shows so that I may in contrast hear and see more clearly what You are saying and showing.  In all things, by Your grace, continue to lead me so that I may be with You always.  Amen.

“Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).

We are each appointed to the place where we are.  The Lord gives to each according to His purpose.  Do not think you are something because you have a position of authority.  Instead, use the position to do justice, tempered with mercy.  In all things and with all people, be fair.  Is it not sad that doing these simple things is not what is normal but is considered extraordinary.?  Regardless, be just and fair to all.

Lord, where You have placed me in a position of authority, grant that I would be fair and just to all.  No matter the person or their circumstance, help me to treat others always as I would want to be treated.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to go and then help me go that way.  Now and always, lead me to be the kind of person You want me to be and the kind of person I will be in eternity.

Lord Jesus, You dealt with all people the same regardless of their circumstances.  Help me follow Your example and do what is right and fitting according to Your purpose.  Help me, O Lord, to see through the wickedness of this age and not follow its lead.  Instead, let me be known through what I do as one who is just and fair in all things.  Guide me, Lord, that I may follow You.  Amen.

“For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality” (Colossians 3:25).

I believe we sometimes think that we need to be caught before there is a punishment.  The truth is that whenever God’s law is broken, the consequence is built in.  We really do not get away with anything.  Do not be one who seeks to sneak, but one who is intentional and deliberate in all things.  Do what you do and do it the same no matter who is watching or no matter who it is for.

Lord, teach me to be always consistent.  Through all things, lead me in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always be guided by You.  Through these things, lead me to be consistent and impartial.  Help me to understand that You indeed love me, but that love is without partiality.  Teach me how to apply these things to my life so that I may grow in Your love and admonition.

Lord Jesus, You have loved each one of us impartially.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I may now and always live in that love and see that love flow through me and out to others.  In You alone can I become what You are making me to be.  Through You alone are these things possible.  Help me this day to live Your possibilities and grow in Your goodness and likeness by doing what is right.  Amen.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Do you remember the point where Jesus forgave sin.  By this, I mean that He forgives the sin of one against the other as if He were the One chiefly offended?  This is why He said: “forgive as you have been forgiven.”  Well, the reality is that those around you are not the chief point of existence; He is.  All things came in to being through Him and are for Him.  Learn to live this truth.

Lord, guide me in all truth.  You are Truth.  Help me see more clearly each day that in all I do, I am serving You.  Keep me from playing games even with myself so that I may be honest, direct and always truthful.  Guide me in this way of life that from the inside out in order that I may know that all I do matters in Your eyes.  You are the One whom I serve in and through all things.  Lead me to be genuine and true.

Lord Jesus, You have come in order that I may be guided into the truth of all life.  You have called me to go into the world and serve You when I serve others.  Wherever You send me, teach me how to serve You as You want to be served.  You first served me, now teach me how to serve You.  Guide me to do this with a gracious and thankful heart in all I do that I may honor You.  Amen.