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.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications!  In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your
righteousness.  Do not enter into
judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.”  (Psalm 143:1-2)

Your hope is not built upon your
ability to be righteous.  Good works
accomplish nothing in the equation of salvation.  Your hope is based upon the mercy of God and
the grace He gives by faith.  Live then
knowing that it is the Lord who has done this and not you yourself.  Trust in the Lord and all of His ways, for He
alone knows all that is needed.  Be guided
by the grace and mercy of the Lord.

Lord, You know the struggle I have. 
You know how my heart hears your call, but also hears the tug of the
wickedness of this world.  Guide me, O
Lord, in the way You would have me go. 
Lead me according to Your goodness to see through the haze of this world
and know that You have given the words of eternal life.  Lead me O Lord and I will be led.  Guide me O Lord and I will follow.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead
the way.  Guide me by Your grace to
follow You all the days of my life.  Lead
me according to Your goodness to take Your life into mine and increasingly
become more like You.  Help me through
the obstacles that come along the way. 
In Your grace and the Father’s mercy, lead me to do what is pleasing in
Your sight.  You are my Savior.  Save me this day.  Amen.

THE PRAYERS, 

All Saints’ Sunday (November 3, 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

Thank you, dear Father, for all the sinners whom you have redeemed and are pleased to call your saints! Thank you for their example of repentance, trust, humility and obedience, even when that was hard. Help us remember them with gratitude, and give us grace to follow in their footsteps.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Preserve, guide and sanctify your one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Array it in the garments of salvation; and conform it to the likeness of your Son. Adorn it with mercy, humility, peace, faithfulness and purity, so that it may be a blessing to many, and a sign of your Kingdom’s close approach.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Touch with your beauty and goodness the hearts of everyone in this congregation. Make our words gracious and our deeds lovely. Let the light of Jesus so shine in all our words and deeds that, when anyone sees or hears us, they get a glimpse of his great love for them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our national church body, that it may be pure of heart, filled with peace, and poor in spirit. We plead on behalf of all missionaries. Help them to feed all who hunger and thirst with your bread of righteousness – and with earthly bread. And we ask your blessing upon those who are persecuted on account of naming Jesus as Lord. Fill them with joy, peace, and gentleness. Give them a gracious word truth and forgiveness, so that their tormentors may repent and be saved.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for everyone in elected or appointed positions of authority in our community, state and nation. Give them a double portion of your Spirit, so they may act in accordance with your will and to the benefit of everyone entrusted to their care. Help all of us to set aside bitterness and hatred, and give us forbearance, graciousness, and the willingness to work for the common good.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Until your peace is established in this world, good men and women must risk their lives in defense of life, liberty, safety and justice. Bless and protect them. Shelter their families from fear; bring them home in safety; heal their wounds to body and spirit; and use their service as building blocks for a happier and safer world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Deliver from suffering and sorrow all those whose need is great, especially: {List}. Give them the hope, comfort and faith they need to weather their trials; and restore them to health and fellowship with all who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy and gracious Father, receive into your Kingdom our beloved dead, especially {List}. Keep us faithful and true, holy and steadfast, as we walk the narrow Way established by your dear Son. Give us joy along that way, and help us to encourage and help one another along it. Bring us safely into that Kingdom of light, life and love which you have vouchsafed to all whom you redeem by the sufferings of Christ. And there let us see you face to face, and experience the unspeakable joy of abiding in your 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.

Photo by Ged Lawson on Unsplash

“But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; in You I take refuge; do not
leave my soul destitute.  Keep me from
the snares they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of
iniquity.  Let the wicked fall into their
own nets, while I escape safely.”  (Psalm
141:8-10)

There are times when it feels as
though the Lord is not near.  Keep your
eyes upon the Lord and know that He is always near.  Be led by the truth of His presence and not
the lies of the wickedness of this age. 
The wicked will trap themselves, but those who look to the Lord will
continue in freedom.  Live a life that is
led by the freedom of the Lord and know His goodness.

Lord, You know that I am struggling daily with the things of this
world.  It is all around me.  It seems for at least awhile that the wicked
prosper.  Lead me away from thinking I
can understand Your justice and instead focus on the fact that You are good and
merciful.  Keep my eyes upon You always
and help me walk through each day in the guidance of Your Spirit to do Your
will.

Lord Jesus, You know the struggle
it is in this world with those around You who were either pressing into wanting
something or else seeking to destroy You. 
Help me follow Your example and always look to the Father for guidance
and encouragement.  Keep me on the narrow
path of Your salvation that I would now and always live according to the will
of the Heavenly Father.  Amen.

“Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my
persecutors; for they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, that I
may praise Thy Name: the righteous shall compass me about; for Thou shalt deal
bountifully with me.”  (Psalm 142:6-7)

What does the world do with
those who are faithful?  They scatter
them like bones tossed in anger and hatred. 
Do not look to the world, but to the Lord who is the One who vindicates.  Come into the Lord’s presence and be lifted
up by His countenance.  Be led by the
goodness of the Lord and live into the life to which you have been called by
grace and through faith.

Holy Spirit, You know what is going on in my heart.  You know the circumstance of my life.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way I should go.  Illuminate the path before me that I may walk
in Your light.  Guide my heart to look to
You alone amongst all that is going on around me.  You are my helper.  Help me live through this life to be a faithful
witness of the truth You have revealed through Your Word.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You
have come into our midst to lead the way. 
Help me this day to look to You and live according to Your example.  Guide me in the goodness of the grace You
purchased for us from Calvary.  May I be
led all the days of my life solely by Your provision.  You are the One who is the way, truth, and
life.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your
goodness.  Amen.

Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

“I cried unto the, O LORD; I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in
the land of the living.”  (Psalm 142:5)

It does not matter how you feel this day.  The Lord still loves you and His plans will continue forward.  It you feel good and life is well for you, give thanks; if all are against you, look to the Lord.  The Lord knows all that is needed and has provided, even before you ask, for all of what you need.  In all situations, do not turn away from the Lord, but see His face and learn to love Him as He first loved you.

Lord, I am often conflicted in this world and I go into the world
without my loins being girded.  Guide me,
O Lord, to live out all of Your precepts that I may live in this world of
wickedness without rejecting the life that You give me.  Guide me, O Lord, in Your mercy to see that
in You alone is the hope for all people in every age.  Help me to live the life to which You have
called me.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is
to walk amongst people who reject You and what You have come to
accomplish.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way
of truth that I would walk humbly beside You and live in the way You have
called me to live.  Lift me up according
to the Father’s will to do what is right and pleasing in Your sight.  Lead me all the days of my life to be Your
humble servant.  Amen.

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then Thou knewest my path.
In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on
my right hand and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge
failed me; no man cared for my soul.” 
(Psalm 142:3-4)

The Lord will guard you in all
of your ways if you will turn to Him.  He
will watch over your coming in and going out from this day forward.  Trust in the Lord above all things and know
that He who knows you guards your footsteps. 
Be guided by His goodness and mercy and know that it is He who will
accomplish all that He has promised.  Do
not set your heart on any evil thing, but be guided by the Spirit of the Lord.

Lord, You have promised to watch over me.  Guide me O Lord in the way You would have me
go and keep me from stumbling along the way. 
Lead me in the way of the righteous and help me to walk with You in all
of Your ways.  Let me not be caught up in
the work of the wicked, but be uplifted by the countenance of Your love and mercy.  Lead me O Lord in the way You would have me
go.

Lord Jesus, without You this
would be impossible, but with You all that is promised is assured.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of goodness that
I would walk in Your ways all the days of my life.  Lead me in the way of righteousness that I
may increasingly become like You.  Help
me in every time of need to travel the good path and see that You are walking
alongside me.  Amen.

“I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I
make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before Him; I showed before Him
my trouble.” (Psalm 142:1-2)

The cry of every human heart is
for relevance and meaning.  We were
created to lift our hands to the Lord in praise.  We are hardwired to look to the Lord in and
through all things.  Everything else is a
replacement.  Come to the Lord, you who
are weary.  Come to the Lord and find
your rest.  Know that in the Lord alone
is the hope and the future He has created for those who come to Him.

Lord, You know the state of my heart. 
Guide me, O Lord, in that way I should go that I may now and always
abide in You as You have promised to abide in me.  Lead , O Lord, in Your goodness to live into
the hope You give by grace through faith. 
May I learn to come to You in all circumstances and lift my hands to You
in praise, thanks and in need.  May I be
faithful in Your sight.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we
may go with You.  You alone have the
words of eternal life.  You alone are the
hope for all people.  Lead me, O Lord, in
the salvation You have made possible that I would now and always abide in You
and You in me.  Let not anything come into
the way of my walking humbly and faithfully with You.  Lord, make haste to hear my cry when I cry to
You.  Amen.

“Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; let evil hunt the
violent man to overthrow him.”  I know
that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the
poor.  Surely the righteous shall give
thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.”  (Psalm 140:11-13)

Look at the reality that even
our entertainment includes stories where the bad guy does not win.  We all long for justice and for goodness to
prevail.  Evil may seem to prosper for a
moment, but it will fail.  Only the
goodness of the Lord is forever.  Only
the way of the Lord is everlasting.  Come
and walk in the way of the Lord and live life as it was designed to be lived.

Lord, I have a very limited view and do not see beyond my own
circumstances.  Lead me, O Lord,
according to Your goodness that I would now and always walk humbly with You, my
Lord and God.  Keep me from the paths of
the wicked and bring me to walk alongside You. 
In You alone is there hope and a future. 
In You alone is there truth and justice. 
In You alone is there life.

Lord Jesus, You have given Your
Spirit to be in me and with me always. 
You abide in me.  Guide me today
and every day to walk humbly in Your presence. 
Lead me according to Your goodness to see that in You alone is the hope
of the ages.  Keep me abiding with You this
day according to Your goodness that I would be led by You and not the
circumstances in which I find myself. 
Amen.

THE PRAYERS, 

Reformation Sunday (October 27, 2019)

Let us pray in the name of Jesus to our heavenly Father for the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Thank you, dear Father, for all who love your Church and who have faithfully sought to purify and reform it when it has lost its way. Thank you for constantly raising up prophets, apostles, martyrs, theologians, and ordinary saints who treasure your holy Word and love your Church, even when she stumbles and sins. Thank you for Jesus, who makes the Church his dear Bride, and who even now is making her lovely with holiness, charity, and righteousness.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon your Church.  Make it your holy habitation; keep it steadfast in your Word; strengthen it in the face of temptation; defend it from evil; reform and purify it from sin and error; and bestow on it your saving peace.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Graciously protect and guide the people of this congregation, O Lord, our Help and our Redeemer. Gladden our hearts with the joy of your saving love. Cause us to brim over with the gifts of your Holy Spirit, so that we may refresh, nourish, instruct and invite our neighbors into your presence.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be the refuge and strength of Christians throughout the world when they are persecuted for confessing Jesus as Lord; and cause the enemies of the Gospel to repent of their sinfulness, that they may turn to you and live.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Exalt yourself among the nations, and speak your holy word to your world, especially to the leaders of our country. Give us a measure of your own wisdom and a portion of your own Spirit, so that we, and all in positions of authority and trust, desire to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before you.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless the work of faithful theologians and teachers who establish dialog, clarify doctrine, correct misunderstandings, and strive to heal the fractures within your Church. Direct their labors with your Spirit’s promptings. Give them charity in service of witnessing to the truth of your Word.  Keep them grounded in the Gospel of your Son, Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected to forgive sins and grant life and salvation to all who will receive him.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift before you the needs of all whose lives are shaken and troubled by suffering of mind, body or spirit. Especially we pray for: {List}. Be in their midst; let them not be overthrown; bring them your saving help; say to them, ‘be still, and know that I am God;’ and restore them all to health and hope, that they may proclaim the awesome things you have done.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy Lord, we give you thanks for the lives of all whom you have claimed as your own and have redeemed through the precious blood of your dear Son. Grant that we may humbly follow in their footsteps; boldly trust in your promises; faithfully live in your Word; and cheerfully serve in your Name. And bring us, through the merits of our Savior, into your eternal home, where with all the redeemed, we shall glorify you in the power of your most holy Spirit forever and ever and unto the ages of ages.

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.