August 13: 11^th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14)

Job 38:4-18 (Where were you when I laid out the foundations of the earth?!)

            (ELW, 1 Kings 19:9-18, Elijah encounters God as still small voice)

Psalm 18:1-16 (“His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

 and dark is his path on the wings of the storm!”)

            (ELW, Psalm 85:8-13, God will speak peace to his people;

righteousness and peace have kissed)

Romans 10:5-17 (Righteousness of faith comes through hearing the Gospel preached)

Matthew 14:22-33 (Jesus and Peter take a watery walk on the sea)

Let us pray for the church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence is kept.

Holy Father, we bow in adoration before your majesty. We stand in awe of your wisdom, power, and goodness. And we thank you for your strong saving love, made real for us in your dear Son. Send us your Spirit, so we boldly obey his commands and humbly crave his mercy.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Send your Church into every corner of the world to preach the Gospel of salvation through Christ alone. By your Spirit, give it humility, faith, and courage to proclaim your holy Word with faithful clarity and winsome charity.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Give such endurance and faith to all who are persecuted for being Christians, that even their tormentors might repent, call upon your name, and be saved.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Protect this congregation from storms of contention, controversy, and confusion. Shelter us, and help us trust you. Help us to say in word and deed, “I love you, O Lord my strength, O Lord my stronghold, my crag, and my haven. My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise!”

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Look kindly upon those who are overwhelmed by winds and waves of grief and suffering. We know they sometimes feel abandoned by others – and even by you. Help us to encourage, strengthen, and aid them. Help us to take their hand and walk with them across their stormy seas, towards the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, who alone can lift them up and save them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Shield us from natural disasters and from human malice and stupidity. Come down, O Lord, on the wings of wind. Scatter our enemies and deliver us from our anguish! Speak your word of peace upon the troubled earth and every human heart; and reign undisturbed as King and Lord of all.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Clothe with righteousness and wisdom all your servants who risk their lives in defense of life and liberty. Be their stronghold, shield, and refuge. Make them models of justice, integrity, and service.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Many people can say with the Psalmist, “The breakers of death rolled over me, and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.” We lift them before you – including: {List}. Save them from everything that threatens to undo them. Lead them to a place of shelter, healing, and hope. Bless everyone who cares for them in any way.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Thank you, dear Father, for your servants who now rest from their earthly labors – especially those whose death touches us most closely. Give to us, who still sail life’s stormy seas, faith to call upon you in confidence and hope. Give us love to encourage and help our neighbor in distress. And give us hope, that clinging to your Son for dear life, we come safely into your embrace. Grant that we, with all whom you have redeemed, may sing with joy and worship you forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Hear our prayer, O Father, and grant all that glorifies you and builds up your people. This we ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

August 6: 10^th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13)

Isaiah 55:1-5 (Buy wine and milk without money; don’t spend for bread that doesn’t satisfy)

Psalm 136:1-26 (God’s mercy endures forever!)

            (ELW, Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21, God is gracious and merciful, opens his hand,

feeds every living thing)

Romans 9:1-13 (Paul’s anguish for fellow Jews who do not have faith in Christ)

            (ELW, Romans 9:1-5)

Matthew 14:13-21 (Miracle of feeding 5000)

Let us pray for the church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence is kept.

Heavenly Father, thank you for daily bread that nourishes soul and body. Thank you for the Bread of Life, Jesus your Son. Give us this bread always. Help us share with those who are famished.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Feed your Church with the Bread of Heaven. Refresh it with living water. Heal it with the wine of forgiveness. Nourish it with the milk of your kindness. Then, send the Church into the world, to invite those who do not yet know you to drink from the waters of salvation and feast on the bread of life.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray for Christians around the world who are imprisoned and killed because they name Jesus as Lord. Bestow on them your steadfast love and, so that they may be bold, faithful, and gracious in their witness to their Savior. Help us to serve, defend and provide for them however we can.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Make the people of this congregation hungry for your truth and thirsty for your mercy. Let us feast upon Jesus in Word and Sacrament. And then, make us overflow with holy love, so we eagerly share him with those who need it most.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

There are so many hungry people! Bless every food pantry, community garden, meal program, and aid organization that feeds the hungry. Help us to endow poor communities with skills and resources, to feed themselves and be a blessing to many others.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Teach the leaders of the nations to incline their ears to you; to rightly lead their people; and to seek that good which endures. Give them the desire and the means to provide food, jobs, education, and safety for those entrusted to their care. And grant to all people those good things which sustain life and hope.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Jesus’ disciples learned his power by obeying his command to feed the people. We are his disciples, too. We’re sometimes overwhelmed by the size of the task, or daunted by our puny resources. Give us the obedient hearts of the first disciples. Help to follow Jesus by little steps. Remind us that Jesus will take, break, and bless our small gifts, and use them to feed a world starved for him.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant refreshment, strength, and healing to everyone who struggles with any sort of adversity. Especially we lift before you the needs of: {List}. Give compassion and competence to all who care for them. Hasten the day when they may joyfully say, “You remembered us in our low estate, for your mercy endures forever; and delivered us from our enemies, for your mercy endures forever.”

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, keep in your care all who have died trusting in your promises. Turn our sorrow into joy, and our tears to laughter. Have compassion on us. Nourish, sustain, guide, and protect us. Teach us to care for each other. Gather us around your Son. Let him lead us, and all your people, to the banquet you have prepared. There may we eat and drink and gaze upon him, our heart’s desire, forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Hear our prayer, O Father, and grant all that glorifies you and builds up your people. This we ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth” (Revelation 12:1-2).

Knowing these things, what kind of people ought we to be?  We know that the Lord is creating a people to be His in eternity.  Are we to build earthy kingdoms?  Are we to focus on being a great church?  We are called by the Lord, and we belong to Him.  He will gather us as He wills.  The real question is, “How is your walk with Jesus?”  Of course, there is pain amidst the birthing process.

Lord, I know the pain and I am often confused.  What do I do with the injustice around me?  But then You say to me, “Come, follow me.”  Help the direction of my steps to be that which follows You.  Where I am wrong, correct my path.  Even if that means my turning around, help me to be faithful to the direction You set.  When I complain and cry out for justice and mercy, remind me to look at the cross.

Lord Jesus, You have paid the price for sin in the world.  You are reconciling those who see the light, hear Your voice, and live in the call You have given them.  Keep me firmly planted in the will of the Father and help me to learn what it means to take up my cross and follow You.  Keep me focused upon You and not all the pain that is happening because of the birthing process of Your eternal bride.  Amen.

“And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm” (Revelation 11:19).

The promises of God which were made on Mount Sinai are just as valid today as the day they were made.  Although we may not be sure where the ark is, the Lord knows. It will appear at the right time.  The Creator of all things has given His word and He is not slow as many count slowness.  The earth is His, for He made it, and He who made all things will bring all things unto Himself.

Lord. I am startled at things that You do and I do not know why.  Of course, You are in control of the earth and guide the things that happen here.  Earthquakes and lightning?  What is that to You who made them?  You are the One in whom all things have their being.  Apart from You is nothingness.  Through the salvation You give, those who are in You live in hope of the promise that is forever.

Lord, in the mystery of life, I often find myself not comprehending things as they truly are.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may be found following You.  If calamity comes, what is it but a momentary diversion.  If my life here ends, what is that but the shortest way home.  The attitude toward You is what is important.  Let that be unmoved by circumstance.

Lord, You know my fears.  A bit of turbulence and I fear death.  Why?  I am in You and I know nothing can happen that will thwart Your will.  Lead me to the place where my trust in You is greater than my fears.  Guide me according to Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and the only true future worth living.  Keep me focused on You, Lord, according to Your purposes.  Amen.

“And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth” (Revelation 11:18).

The day of reckoning is before us all.  We shall all stand before the Lord.  Some who say they know the lord will be cast out; some will enter into their rest.  What is the difference?  In one sense it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with Him.  Are you in a loving relationship with the Lord.  There is the base.  If you love Him, you will do as He commands.

I say I know You, Lord, but I wander far away from You.  You know the state of my heart and where I am.  I know the Father desires that none would be lost, but help me to not be indifferent, or to cheapen Your grace by living as though I do not care.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may stand in front of You in the hope that You will include me as one of Your own.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed this day for me to humbly walk in Your presence.  Build me up in the relationship we have so that I walk with You now and always.  If You ask me to give a cold drink to another, help me to understand so that I may be found to be obedient to Your call.  Open the eyes of my heart to see more clearly.  I do fear judgement, for I want to be found faithful to You.  Help me to be faithful.  Amen.

“And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God,  saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign” (Revelation 11:16-17).

Two of the disciples asked Jesus if they could be on His right and left.  Do not look to what you shall be, for we cannot know, but give thanks that you are included amongst the redeemed.  This world strives for position and power.  That all belongs to our Lord.  Learn how to worship the Lord in all circumstances and be thankful that He has opened your eyes to see and your ears to hear.

Lord, in this crazy world I am often tossed about by the prevailing words of men.  Guide me, Lord, to look to You who shall reign forever and ever.  Guide me to know that in Your hands alone is the future.  You have already overcome, and You await the ending of all who will come to You, to come to You.  In the meantime, lead me according to Your Word and help me to follow You always.

Lord Jesus, I not only need You to redeem me; I need You to help me learn all that I need to learn in order to become like You.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Show me the will of the Father.  Lead me as You know I need to be led.  In all things, help me to overcome the temptations of this world that I may consistently and humbly praise You throughout all that will come in my life.  Amen.

“Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15)

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  The day will come when the nightmare of this age will be over.  The Lord Jesus will step forward and His reign shall go on forever.  But we are not there now.  We must contend with this wicked world and the ongoing battles that rage around us.  Each has their part.  Each of us has been called to be faithful to the One who redeemed us with His shed blood on the cross.

Lord, you know the difference between what kind of person I will be when Your forever-reign begins and the kind of person I am now.  Lead me toward what I will be in You.  Keep me from wandering around this world without a goal, for You have set one before me.  Lead me the way I need to go and help me to get there.  I may not know all that is needed, but You do.

King Jesus, You have taken time for one such as me.  You have redeemed me and called me to walk humbly with You.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way of life I need to live and help me to walk step by step with You.  You, Lord, are my hope.  You hold my future.  In You, Lord, is life.  Guide me in all Your ways and do not let me rest until I am with You in Your eternal kingdom.  Amen.

“The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly” (Revelation 11:14).

The Lord does not let us linger in the sinfulness of this world.  These things come and then go.  Do not look at the world with eyes focused only on the moment.  Do see the sweep of human history.  Things come and go.  Only the Lord is forever.  He invites you and me into forever by His grace.  Come then and hope for a future where there is no more of these evil things, but only peace in and with Him.

Lord, this world does go through seasons.  You have been there all along, giving hope to the hopeless.  This world does seem to be getting crazier with each round.  Sin seems to be on the increase.  I need Your help to help me keep my focus between the rounds of evil that hit us.  My head knows these things, Lord, but my heart is tossed around with every gust of this world’s sinful wind.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.  I want that and yet, reading what will happen when that time comes, what I really want is a life of peace.  But I know that will not happen until I am with You in eternity.  Lord, calm my spirit and help me to humbly live the life You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all the hope I need to cope in this age.  Help me to abide with You always.  Amen.

“And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13).

What does it take?  Too many things happen in this world and the Lord is blamed.  Could He stop things?  That is the wrong question.  How many things happen because of our sinfulness?  If the Lord stopped you from sinning, what would be your attitude?  You have freedom as everyone else does.  When will they, you, turn to the Lord in praise in all seasons?  Learn to love the Lord.

Lord, I am guilty of wanting You to control others while I keep my freedom.  I do not know the ripples of effects when I sin but I know they are there.  This world is filled with trauma.  Sin abounds.  No matter what happens Lord, help me to love You.  We all shall die.  Some in traumatic events.  Yet, those who love You shall live.  Count me among those who love You so that I may live in You.

Lord Jesus, You shared in our trauma.  You were killed upon the cross.  Guide me in living life with praise and thanksgiving.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I may humbly walk alongside You, knowing that in You alone there is hope.  Remove all terror from me and give me the peace that surpasses all understanding through all that comes.  This world will shake with rage, but Your word has already proclaimed a future of peace and hope in You.  Amen.

“And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them” (Revelation 11:12).

We shall all stand before the Maker of heaven and earth.  It is He who commands and no one else.  Do not be led by those who enforce their way, but by the One who will accomplish all that He has promised.  The Lord is Lord of all.  He who created you has called you into His presence.  Will you go in fear of condemnation or in the joy of the hope of salvation which is yours in Jesus?

Lord, I either bow before You because You are Lord and Savior or else play the games of this world.  Help me to be rid of games so that I may humbly walk with You, my Savior and God.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that only in You is there hope and a future.  Lead me, Lord, and help me to follow.  Guide me, Lord, and help me to learn.  Let me see and understand the way You have placed before me.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the world.  One day I shall stand before You and You will judge me.  I know there are so many failings I have and many more of which I am unaware.  I need what You have done to be true for me.  I need Your grace and mercy.  Lead me, Lord, so that I may truly be humble and accept that my life has always been in Your hands.  Guide me to live as You would have me live here, now, and forever.  Amen.