“Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?  Or the son of man, that You are mindful of
him?  Man is like a breath; his days are
like a passing shadow.”  (Psalm 144:3-4)

People think all kinds of things
about who they are, but compared to the Lord, they are here for a moment and
then gone.  The Lord is forever.  He invites those who are His to come to Him
and know that in Him is true and eternal life. 
Come then to the Lord and walk with the One who made You, knowing that
He knows You.  Who are you?  One of the Lord’s created ones.

Lord, guide me away from the arrogance of this age.  Help me to see that I am like a wisp of wind
that blows by.  Guide me to live life as
You know life should be lived.  Guide me
to be the kind of person that loves You with all my being.  Lead me in the way of life that is
everlasting.  Help me now and always to
keep my focus upon those things which are right and good.

Lord Jesus, You have come in the
frailty of human life and lived among us. 
You came with purpose to show the way to everlasting life.  Guide me, O Lord, this day to do what is
right and fitting knowing that You have the words of everlasting life.  Lead me and I shall follow.  Show me the way You know I need to go that I
may go there.  Guide me in Your goodness,
O Lord.  Amen.

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“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle – my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me.”  (Psalm 144:1-2)

The Lord prepares those who are
His for the tasks He assigns them.  We
all must battle in this age for those values which are ours.  Are your values the values of the Lord?  Are you seeking to do the will of the Lord?  Be guided by His goodness and mercy and seek
the Lord while He may be found.  Know
that in Him is life and eternity.  Let
the Lord always be your refuge.

Lord, grant discernment that I would see what is right.  Guide me according to Your goodness to know
that in You is the hope of the ages. 
Lead me in the way You know I need to go to prosper in Your grace.  Be my refuge and guide me to always be in
Your presence.  Help me forward through
this life according to Your grace.  Show
me the way by Your Spirit to listen, grow and follow.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead
the way along the narrow road.  You know
the pitfalls of this age.  You know the
problems that come about.  You have come
that, abiding in You, we may have a life filled with the peace that surpasses
all understanding.  Guide me in the way
of peace that I may wield the sword of the Spirit where needed, but always live
according to Your Gospel.  Lead me Lord
Jesus now and forever.  Amen.

“Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!  For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul
out of trouble.  In Your mercy cut off my
enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your
servant.”  (Psalm 143:11-12)

There are seasons of life.  The one thing you will hear from those who
have lived most of their lives is that it goes by quickly.  The Lord has revived you and He will
again.  For all those who believe, He
will revive them on the last day to be with Him where He is.  Come then and walk in the comfort of the Lord
knowing that it is He who makes promises that will be fulfilled, and will be
everlasting.

Lord, bring me through those troubled times.  Guide me according to Your purposes to be one
who leans on You in good times and bad. 
Let me always see You amidst the times that are, for me, cloudy and know
that in Your presence is hope and an everlasting future.  Keep my enemies from having any effect on my
relationship with You that I may now and always walk with You.

Lord Jesus, we all need
salvation.  You have come to prepare and
lead the way.  Guide me, O Lord, in the
way You have prepared that I would walk with You all the days of my life.  Lead me in Your goodness to know that in You
alone is hope and glory.  Guide me, O
Lord, in Your lovingkindness to reflect Your countenance in all I do, loving
friend and enemy alike.  Amen.

“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter.  Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.  Lead me in the land
of uprightness.”  (Psalm 143:9-10)

The Lord is your deliverer.  It is He who has come to the rescue.  Do not be deceived by those who seek to lead
you in other directions, but turn to the Lord and know His goodness and mercy.  Being upright is to stand before the Lord as one
of His redeemed.  Standing before the
Lord is the gift of grace.  Live by faith
and know that your redeemer lives and at the last you shall see Him face to
face.

Lord, this world does tug at me all the time.  I hear the many voices that are calling and I
hear the contradictions.  Lead me, O Lord,
away from the wickedness of this age and into Your presence.  Give me ears to hear and eyes to see that I
may not be deceived by this world but be renewed by Your grace and mercy.  Teach me to stand upright in the tents of the
righteous and live according to Your will.

Jesus, You have promised to abide
in me if I abide in You.  You have said
that I can bear fruit only if I abide in You. 
Lead me to understand what You mean more and more each day that I would
more fully live this life of faith that You have given me.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see
that in You alone is there hope and a future. 
Guide me, Lord Jesus, according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

“Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails!  Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like
those who go down into the pit.  Cause me
to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to
know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.”  (Psalm 143:7-8)

In times of trouble, the Lord is always near.  We may be far off, but the Lord is near.  Do not despair, nor seek the way of the wicked.  Come into the everlasting and constant presence of God all the days of Your life.  He who created You knows you and will vindicate you in His time.

Lord, teach me to see through the wickedness of this world and to know
that only in You is there hope and a future. 
Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would forever walk with
You.  Teach me Your precepts and help me
to apply them to my everyday living.  You
are the One through whom all things have their being and apart from You,
nothing has being or purpose.

Come, Holy Spirit, and teach me
the way of Christ my Savior.  Lead me in
His example to become more like Him each day. 
Guide me in the goodness of Your mercy that I would now and forever
abide in Him and He in me.  Lead me in
the way of righteousness, most especially in those times where my heart is far
off.  Raise my eyes to see Your
countenance upon all I think and do. 
Amen.

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on
the work of Your hands.  I spread out my
hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land.”  (Psalm 143:5-6)

Look at the story of God saving
His people.  He did so despite their
behavior.  God loves His creation and
those whom He has made.  He provides for
us all.  Walk in the provision of the
Lord giving thanks for His goodness and mercy. 
Look for what the Lord has promised and be guided by the truth of all
that He has done and will do for those who walk in His salvation.  Come to the Lord.

Lord, I am sometimes lazy and just look at this moment.  I then react depending upon how I feel in this moment.  Lead me, O Lord, to walk in the goodness of Your grace and mercy and to know Your kindness. Lead me, O Lord, into the way of everlasting life.  Guide me now and always to abide in You in the promise that You are abiding in me.  Guide my soul to always long  for You.

Lord Jesus, You have prepared the journey of salvation for all who believe.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of salvation that I would always walk in the way of righteousness.  Lift up my soul to look beyond the moments I find myself in and to live according to Your everlasting goodness.  You have come to lead the way.  Lead me, O Lord, and give me encouragement to always follow.  Amen

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“For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the
ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been
dead.  Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed
within me; my heart within me is distressed.” 
(Psalm 143:3-4)

There are times when life seems
overwhelming.  Things are not as you
imagined they would be.  This too is a
part of this life in this age.  It is a
reminder that this age does have aspects that are not quite right.  Do not linger in the temporary time of this
wickedness, but see beyond your circumstances the goodness which is also
present.  God has created what is good
and He calls you into what is good, right and salutary.

Lord, let not my heart be overcome by the adversity of this world but rather
transformed by the truth of Your goodness. 
Guide me through the malaise of this age to see the truth of Your
eternal goodness.  Through Your mercy,
lead me in the way of righteousness that, no matter the circumstances around me,
I may live into the life to which You have called me by grace.

Grace giver, Jesus, lead me this
day no matter the circumstances in which I find myself.  Lead me along the narrow path that daily
conforms my life to Yours.  Help me now
and always to see the truth of Your presence shining on me through in this age
of shadows.  Guide me according to the
plan of the Father to prosper in righteousness and live a life that is more and
more conformed to You.  Amen.

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THE PRAYERS, 

Christ the King Sunday, Cycle C (November 24, 2019)

In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to be our King who rules with justice and mercy, sacrificial death and resurrection life. Thank you for his glorious and gentle rule. Thank you for filling us with your Holy Spirit, so we have the faith to acclaim him as King and love him as Savior and Brother.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You are pleased to make the Church into the Body of which Christ Jesus is the head. Give to the Church your Spirit, so through its words and deeds, many may be delivered from the domain of darkness; receive forgiveness and redemption; and be transferred into the Kingdom of your beloved Son.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Make this congregation your treasured possession; and form us in the image of Jesus. Use us to draw others to his Cross; to proclaim his love; and to help them adore him as King, Savior, and God.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Unite the suffering of your persecuted people to the Passion of Christ. Let their tormentors see his love in their actions, hear his words of forgiveness on their lips; and turn to him in repentance and faith.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our enemies; for criminals; evildoers and hatemongers; and for those we find it hardest to forgive. Let the words of Jesus – “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” – be on our lips, even that is hard. Let him subdue every sinful heart to his will, so that he might truly be all in all.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Say to our rulers: “Be still; and know that I alone am God.” School their unruly and disobedient wills to your commands. Be the strong bulwark and mighty fortress to the poor and weak; the innocent and righteous. Cause peace, justice, health and mercy to be established in every land. Teach every heart to acclaim Jesus as King of kings and Lord of all nations; that his peace may rule undisturbed in every heart.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Make war to cease in all the world; break the bow, shatter the spear, and burn the shields with fire. Hasten that day when we need not lift up prayers for those in the military, or for first responders. Until then, equip them with integrity, competence, and courage. Preserve them in safety and heal them when they falter. When they return, use them in new ways to benefit our communities and nation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Exalt yourself, O Lord; be the refuge and strength of all who are afflicted by danger, disease, disaster or despair. This day, we remember before you: {List}. Be their very present help in time of trouble; and make their hearts glad.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Dear Father, your Son promises Paradise to any who, like the repentant thief, turns in faith to him. We entrust to you our beloved dead. Help us to comfort and encourage each other to trust and follow Jesus. Teach us to pray, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your Kingdom.” And in your mercy, fulfill his words! Grant that we shall be with him in Paradise! Let us, with all the redeemed, adore and bless him forever, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, as Savior, Lord, King, and God.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, we entrust our prayers and petitions into your hands, gracious Father, for the sake of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.

THE PRAYERS, 

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 28, Cycle C (November 17, 2019)

In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Most holy God, your promise to come with power and great glory, with judgment and healing, sometimes overwhelms and disturbs us. We pray for you to make all things right and new – but we know that you will judge each of us and we will see our sins laid out in all their ghastly glory. Cover us then, dear Lord, with your healing wings. Clothe us in the righteousness of Christ alone. Shield us with your Holy Spirit. And make us holy and whole, right and new, radiant with your light and life forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Cleanse and heal your Church throughout the world. Make it watchful and faithful in all things. Let it never grow weary in preaching the Gospel and serving the world for Jesus’ sake. Make it a shelter and place of healing for all who are wounded by the powers of sin, death, and the devil.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sometimes it is hard for our congregation to “keep on keeping on” in worship, service, testimony, generosity, and holiness. Keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and our ears alert to his Word. Amid the distractions and temptations we experience, grant that we may prefer nothing whatsoever to Christ

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Strengthen and shield everyone persecuted on account of Jesus. By their faithful endurance, turn the hearts of their tormentors to Christ in repentance, contrition, and faith.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for seminarians, and for everyone who senses that you are calling them to serve you and your Church as a pastor, chaplain, deacon, or other church worker. Fill them with your Spirit. Kindle faith, hope, and love in their hearts. Surround them by a cloud of faithful witnesses, mentors, teachers, and prayer warriors. And bless them, to be a blessing to others.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Although the form of this world is passing away, still it is our home. Bestow wisdom, prudence, integrity, and mercy upon our leaders in government, education, industry, the military, our courts of justice, and every occupation and venue in which people hold positions of influence, responsibility, and power. And grant to everyone the blessing of peace and a measure of prosperity.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Keep all who suffer in your special care – especially: {List}. Grant healing to body, soul, heart, and mind. Strengthen everyone who cares for them. And surround them with the protection of your holy wings.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy God, we thank you for the lives of your faithful people, especially those dearest to us, who now rest from their labors. Wipe away the tears of all who mourn their loss. Support us throughout our earthly pilgrimage with your Word and holy Sacraments. Give us strength and charity, so that we encourage and assist one another even as we follow Jesus through the darkest valleys of death’s shadow. And bring us, by his merits, into the light, life, and love of your Kingdom, where with all the redeemed, we worship and adore you in the unity you share eternally with your Son and the Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, we entrust our prayers and petitions into your hands, gracious Father, for the sake of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.

THE PRAYERS, 

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 27, Cycle C (November 10, 2019)

In the power of the Spirit, let us pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, we stand awestruck before your presence. You reveal your name in a burning bush. You reveal your heart in your crucified Son. You bestow liberty to captives, forgiveness to sinners, sight to the blind, truth to the deluded, and life to the dead! We adore you, O God and we bless you forever!

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

By the power of your Spirit, give your Church such words and wisdom that your enemies may neither withstand nor contradict its witness. Keep it steadfast in faith; unwavering in endurance; diligent in service; and joyful in hope. Give it faithful pastors who announce the coming of the Son of Man, so that many repent, receive strength to stand before him, and see their redemption drawing near.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the people and the mission of this congregation. Keep us watchful, faithful, and brave. Keep our minds, hearts, lips, eyes and hands focused on speaking and doing your will. Help us to encourage the fearful and challenge the idle; to comfort the despairing and the grieving; and to lighten the loads of all who are burdened by the cares and sorrows of this broken world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide, protect and encourage your missionaries, so that they do not grow weary in announcing the Gospel of salvation throughout the world. Give bold words and enduring faith to Christians who are persecuted on account of the name of Jesus. Grant us grace to speak on their behalf, and to help them however we can. Cause those who despise them to repent and to seek forgiveness and redemption.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Wars and rumors of wars; persecution and injustice; and natural disasters made worse by human sinfulness afflict nations and peoples, even in this modern age. Teach your laws and statutes to the world’s rulers, so that their hearts are turned to care for their people. And help all of us to speak and act with compassion and kindness, because we do not know what burdens are borne by those around us.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be merciful to everyone who has been assaulted by the powers of sin, death, and the devil, and who cry out for help. Violence and wars, famines and floods, sickness and misery, and the wickedness of the human heart, make this and every age seem like those “end times” of which Jesus speaks. Help all Christians to speak and live the Gospel so clearly, that even those most estranged from you might take heart and turn back to you, and lift up their heads to see your promised redemption.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for injured, sick and dying; of pregnant and nursing mothers; of the handicapped and addicted; and of all who have none to care for them in their times of greatest need. We pray also for first responders and those in the military who stand between us and chaotic dangers. Most especially we pray for: {List}. Grant that the Sun of Righteousness, even the Lord Jesus Christ, should rise upon them with healing in his wings; and give them the joy of his saving help.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty and gracious Father, those who have died trusting in you are already singing songs of exultation and victory. We thank you for fulfilling your promises to them. Grant that even in the midst of the turmoil and heartache of this broken world, we may bear witness to your steadfast mercy, and announce your salvation to all who have hearts to hear. Bring us, with all the redeemed, into the glorious light of your dear Son’s presence. There, healed from sin and sorrow, grant us the priceless gift of rejoicing in your great love forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the power of the Holy Spirit, we entrust our prayers and petitions into your hands, gracious Father, for the sake of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.