PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Cycle C: Transfiguration of Our Lord, February 27, 2022

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Cycle C: Transfiguration of Our Lord, February 27, 2022

 

Deuteronomy 34:1-12: (The death of Moses after God shows him the Promised Land; no one has arisen like Moses, whom God spoke to as a friend, face to face)

       RCL/ELW: Exodus 34:29-35: (The shining face of Moses)

 

Psalm 99: (Extol the Lord, who spoke to his servants Moses and Aaron in a pillar of cloud. You, Lord, love justice and establish equity; you forgive sin and avenge wrongdoing)

 

Hebrews 3:1-6: (Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house. Jesus is faithful as the Son)

       RCL/ELW: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2: (We look upon the Lord with unveiled faces. Being transfigured from glory unto glory, we put aside shameful practices, commend selves to everyone in the sight of God)

 

Luke 9:28-36: (The Transfiguration of our Lord)

 

*******

 

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

A brief silence

Father, today we kneel in adoration before the majesty your Son, revealed in his Transfiguration. But sometimes, our devotion grows cold. Sometimes our prayers and worship become half-hearted and routine. Sometimes we treat Jesus like a buddy we can call on if we need something from him. Kindle our hearts, minds, and spirits always to worship and obey him with holy fear, deep joy, and fervent love.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

 

O God beyond all praising, we worship you and adore your glory, revealed in the face of your beloved Son. Grant that your Church listens to his word and holds fast to him in its heavenly calling. Make it bold to preach Christ alone as the way of salvation. Let it proclaim to the whole world his blessings without number and his mercy without end.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Grant to your persecuted people confidence and hope, established through the steadfast obedience of Christ their Lord. Give them grace to triumph through their sufferings and rise to serve you even in the presence of those who trouble them.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Let the radiance of our Beautiful Savior fill the hearts and sanctify the ministries of this congregation. Make our worship into a joyful duty, and our service into a sacrifice of praise. Use us to lead others to Jesus, that with us, they may worship, honor, bless and adore him.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

You have appointed your Son as King of creation and Lord of the nations. Teach our leaders to praise your name; to love justice and righteousness; and to seek those things that make for peace. Come to the help of those whose lives are troubled by sorrow and hardship; and draw all people into the glorious and gentle rule of Christ their Savior.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift our hearts to you on behalf of all whose lives are clouded by any sort of affliction or sorrow, including: {List}. Let the light of Jesus’ countenance heal and cheer them. Let all who care for them do so with tenderness and compassion; and grant that together we may praise you for your unending mercies.

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

O Lord, our Beautiful Savior, those who have died trusting in you now see you face to face. Thank you for that final, best gift! Continue, we pray, to show to us your amazing love. Though we are your unworthy servants, bless us with such good gifts as will sustain us and others in this life. Bring us, in your good time, into the joy you have prepared for all whom you have redeemed. Give us voices there to sing unceasingly, “Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine!”

 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For all these things, dear Father, and for whatever else you desire for us in your wisdom and compassion, we pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior, Lord, and King. Amen.




Devotion for Thursday, January 27, 2022

“He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4b-5).

There are those who love to stir the pot.  Always seeking to be excited about something, they do not settle for what the Lord has given them.  These are the signs.  Do not ignore them, but realize they are symptoms of the disease of sin.  Inoculate them with the love of Jesus as a doctor would with a physical disease.  Do not allow the cancer of sin to grow.  Many congregations have allowed the cancer to grow and then wonder why they have failed.

Lord, help me to be bold in seeing things for what they are.  Let me always be gracious, but also willing to stand the right ground against the sins of those who would hurt Your body.  Guide me, Lord, to know when to stand and when to sit down.  Guide me to know the difference between a tough love that says no, and an even tougher love that sees but does not yet act.  You know what is necessary.  Guide me.

Lord Jesus, how hard it is for You to always walk this line with us sinners.  You walk it so that those who will come to know You will have the grace to reach the right place.  Help me to be like You so that I do not battle with others but love them enough to bring them to where they need to be.  Help me in and through all things to be led by You and to do things as You direct them to be done.  Amen.