"Come, Holy Spirit!" - 28 May 2023

 

Creator God who in the beginning made all things of nothing by the power of your word, and all very good; whose Spirit hovered over all that was formless and void to bring forth order and life. We pray for your Spirit to hover over us; and we pray that your Spirit would continue to cause the earth to bring forth bountifully. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

Revealing God, who assigned prophets, judges, and Psalmists to bring forth your decrees, directions, and adulations and clothed them with your Spirit who guided them and testified through them of the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories; cloth us with your Spirit that we may bravely serve you and our neighbors in love and truth. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

Holy God who sent your Son Jesus Christ into the world that through him we might have life; and after his death, burial, resurrection and ascension, you sent forth your Holy Spirit by your Son, so that we would not be left as orphans; may we know that our Lord Jesus is with us and we are with you. And we ask this especially on behalf of those facing surgery, chemotherapy, and physical troubles, loss, and shadowy insecurities (…). We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who sent the Spirit of Truth to bear witness of Jesus, and by his indwelling presence makes us able to also bear witness of our Lord: pour down your rousing and refreshing goodness on us and your people all over the world – including Church of the Living God on Hazel Street, on Kelham Ave, and on Wilshire Blvd, and New Jerusalem Temple. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

Sovereign, saving God whose Son sent the helper/counselor, who comes to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in your Son; concerning righteousness, because the Son has ascended to your right hand and we presently see him no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged (John 16:8-11): may the Spirit continue to convict our world – including the USA, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, and Nigeria – concerning sin, righteousness and judgment, that all the world may turn to you and live. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

Father of mercies and God of all comfort, whose Spirit is the comforter, we remember and recall that there are many who have served this country in the military and died supporting and defending liberty. We are grateful for them. We are grateful for their memory. May righteous courage not be lacking from our land. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

Adopting God, who gave us your Spirit of adoption by whom we can cry out “Abba, Father!” May your Spirit bear witness with our spirits that we are your children, no matter what our society shouts at us, no matter what the devil whispers to us, no matter what our defeats and frustrations gossip to us, and no matter what our tired and trembling hearts sigh to us! We pray: Come, Holy Spirit!

Sanctifying God, whose will for us is holiness and so you have given us the Holy Spirit; we pray for our denomination of your church as we get ready for our General Assembly. May righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit run deep in us and blossom beautifully forth from us; and so fill us with joy and peace in believing that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit! And now, we join voices and hearts together to pray as our Lord Jesus directed, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven…

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