Pastoral Prayer 23 March 2014


(Pondering Amos 4.13). Glory and praise to you, O Lord God, for you are the one who forms the mountains like a potter and creates the wind out of nothing; you declare to man what are your thoughts; you make the morning darkness, and tread on the heights of the earth. You are the God of arrangement, revelation and righteousness— YHWH Elohey-tzeba’oth – the LORD God of hosts is your name! Glory and praise to you, O Lord God!

 Father, we implore you for your church in all places – including this congregation; St. Joseph Old Cathedral; St. Luke’s UMC; St. Mark’s UMC; St Monica Catholic; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; Salvation Station; PCA; EPC; ARP; Help us to bless those who persecute us; to bless and not curse them. To rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. To live in harmony with one another. To not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never to be wise in our own sight. To repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on us, to live peaceably with all. To never avenge ourselves, but leave it to your wrath, O God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12.14-21). O Lord, hear our prayer.

 We pray, in keeping with your promises, that the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea; That the root of Jesse – our Lord Jesus Christ - will stand as a signal for the peoples—that all the nations shall inquire of him, and that his resting place shall be glorious (Isaiah 11.9-10). Therefore we pray that Jainists and Taoists; Shamans and Shintos; Zoroastrians and Sufis; Eckankars and Confucians, Animists and Aborigines, as well as our friends…, families… and foes…, would all come to our Lord Jesus, and find him the rest and peace they have yearned for. O Lord, hear our prayer.

 Lord Jesus, our prophet, priest and king; we pray for our own country and the nations of this world; Please fulfill your kingly power by subduing your people to yourself, ruling and defending your Church, and restraining and conquering all your and our enemies (Westminster Shorter Catechism 26). O Lord, hear our prayer.

 O our God, you are the one who makes our crops and cattle fruitful, and you are the one who can make them barren; we pray at the beginning of this planting season for the right amounts of rain, for the proper soil-moisture content, and the fitness of the soil. May there be an abundant harvest this year. And similarly we are thankful for our farmers and ranchers in this nation, and ask you to provide all that they need to prosper and thrive. O Lord, hear our prayer.

 All of these prayers we offer through your Son, Jesus Christ, as we now sing:
Hear our prayer, O Lord,
Hear our prayer, O Lord;
Incline thine ear to us,

And grant us thy peace. Amen (Trinity Hymnal 728).

Comments

Brunhilde Marie "Brunie" Hudson said…
Michael, you included all these other congregations in your public prayer? Very cool.
March 23, 2014 at 10:36 PM
mphilliber said…
I do this every Sunday. I'm using the Yellow pages and work our way through the Churches.
March 23, 2014 at 10:38 PM
Brunhilde Marie "Brunie" Hudson said…
*That* is a plain wonderful idea. Robbery ensues.
March 24, 2014 at 12:49 AM
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