July 5, 2009
Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten
Leader: We honor Christ.
People: Our eyes look to you alone, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Leader: The Savior gives the power to proclaim repentance, cast out demons, and cure the sick.
People: Because of Christ, we shake the doubt off our feet.
Spirit, we praise you for God's all-sufficient grace. Make the Lord's power perfect through our weakness. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
Have mercy upon us, Adonai. We have had more than enough of our own contempt. We have been scornful and lazy when it comes to helping people in need. We have been bloated with pride. We boast about ourselves instead of you. We think strength is weakness and weakness is strength. We shake off the dust on our feet as a testimony against you.
For the sake of Christ, forgive us. We lift our eyes to you. Amen.
The Lord has shown us mercy. We have heard Christ and have responded by honoring him with repentance. Through the weakness of the cross the Savior heals us of sin. God forgives us of every trespass. Alleluia!
Paraclete, strengthen us through God's Word-Wisdom.
Sophia-God, you have filled the Church with the empowering wisdom that looks like wimpy foolishness to the world. We offer praise for martyrs such as Jan Hus, as well as for leaders such as Benedict of Nursia, the abbot of Monte Cassino. Tutor us to boast in you alone and always to honor you. You are our God (congregational response: forever and ever.).
Lord of Weakness and Strength, we thank you for the independence of our nation. We exalt you for the United States of America. Bless President Obama, Congress, and the Supreme Court. Help us never to take our freedoms for granted, and impart to us the wisdom to care for people in need everywhere, including our enemies. We pray this because you are our God . . .
Source of Prophets, you have given us wisdom to speak to people of all varieties. We often struggle with this, however. We become afraid, fill up with doubt, and are often unsure what to say and when to say it. Teach us how to share the Good News, ever respectful of people who disagree with us. Show us how to shake dust off in a loving way, remembering that you are our God . . .
You alone deserve our boasting. You heal us every day, although not always in the ways that we hope for. Thorns pierce flesh, and we do not know why. Sometimes you respond to our pleas by telling us that your grace is sufficient for us. When we struggle with why there is suffering, help us to cling to your grace, trusting that you are our God . . .
We praise you, Almighty Lord, for the healing you do indeed show us. Bless those in need of healing at this hour, including [Add names]. We know that you hear us, for you are our God . . .
(You may add other praises or petitions here...)
We lift our eyes to you, O LORD, confident that you will have mercy on us. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.
We place this offering before you, boasting in you, honoring you.
Leader: The Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is with you no matter where you go.
People: By Christ's power we leave to proclaim repentance, cast out demons, and cure the sick.
Leader: Evil does not stand a chance!
People: Thanks be to God alone!
(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)