"Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD" - 12 January 2020

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121.2). Hear us, O Lord our help, and for Christ’s sake answer us.

O Lord of the Harvest, have regard to the prayers of your servants in this church; send us forth as laborers into your harvest; fit and prepare us by your grace for our vocation and ministry; increase in us the Spirit of power, love and sober-mindedness; strengthen us to endure hardships as good soldiers of Jesus Christ; and grant that your Holy Spirit may prosper our work, that by our life and doctrine we may show forth your glory and be instrumental in the salvation of many.

Look upon your Church throughout the world, including these congregations in the greater OKC area; Santa Maria Virgen Episcopal Church, Ascension Lutheran, Lord of Life Lutheran and Our Lord’s Lutheran Church. Give your church your comforting, courage-inspiring aid. Strengthen your people in their longing to serve you more faithfully, cause them to succeed in genuine godliness, and reform what is awry and askew.

O Lord God, the Almighty, the Most High, we plead with you to turn your face to look upon the U.S.A. Do not forsake us nor give us over to what we may deserve, but instead turn us toward you, and spur us on to chastity, sobriety, virtuous living, generosity and equanimity. Protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic, and guide our governmental leaders to remember and retain their vocation, to wit: “to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”*

We implore your kindest care and compassion on the nations of our world, especially where there is so much that is violent and vicious: Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Mexico, Kenya, Cameroon, and others. We pray that your protection and peacefulness, law and order would overcome all. We pray that you would restore and refurnish the lives and livelihoods of those who have been trampled upon. And we beseech you to give relief to Australia, and bring the fires under control, and grant them aid in recovering from the destruction.

O God Most High, giver of all good gifts, who provides our daily sustenance and wellbeing, we ask you to lift up those who are dispirited in body or mind, who are grieved or terribly troubled with fear and anxiety. We especially ask your care for these (…). Grant them recovery and restored health.

Finally, we call to mind family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, enemies, and acquaintances who have not confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and who continue to walk in darkness; as well as those who have turned away from the Christian Faith (…). Save them, O Lord. All of these requests we have mentioned, and those that have remained silently on our hearts, we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Saving Lord. Amen.

*From the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America.