Deus Misereatur

  As you said to Jeremiah: “ Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me ” (Jeremiah 32:26-27)? Therefore, LORD God of all flesh, we come in joyful confidence and confident joy, to present to you our desires. And with the Psalmist we say:   Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me (Psalm 69:16). Rain down your mercy, peace, direction, good order and compassion on all the nations of the world ( Turkey, Cameroon, Nigeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Japan, Taiwan, and others ) so that the inhabitants of all lands may have the medical care, education, clean drinking water, security and concord essential for their wellbeing, for the good of you church, and the free flow of your Gospel. Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me . Rain down your mercy, peace, direction, good order and compassion upon these United States of ...

O our great God and Savior, your mercies and loving-kindnesses have been from everlasting. Regard the humble prayers of all who call upon you with their whole heart. Incline your ear and hear. First of all, we give you hearty thanks for the faith and faithfulness of those who have gone from us, who have traversed their way into your everlasting arms, XXXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXXX, XXXXXXXX, (…). Though they struggled with sin, sometimes overcoming, and sometimes not overcoming very well, nevertheless their confidence in you, their persistence in walking in your way, lifts our hearts. As we run this race set before us, may we joyfully recollect that these brothers and sisters have successfully run before us to you, who are the author and finisher of our faith, and may that recollection spur us on with greater and greater courage and commitment (Hebrews 12:2-3). Remember your Holy Universal Church, including this congregation, Howard Memorial Baptist Church, Immanuel Baptist, Kelham, and Kentu...

All Saints Day Hebrews 11 I know it’s coming and it’s just around the corner. For some it will be exciting, all of that dressing up in costumes, going to parties, bobbing for apples, knocking on doors, candy surprises and all that. For others it is discomfiting – all of those ghouls and goblins, super heroes and sassy mummers, black cats and witches, not counting the tomfoolery that sometimes attends that night, as when your car gets “egged,” etc. Some Christians have no problem with the event; others think it is straight from the mind of the devil. But there is something really important that almost always gets lost on Halloween – All Hallows’ Evening. It’s the next day (1 November) which for many Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, Episcopalians, Lutherans) is All Saints Day , or All Hallows’ Day . Now, this may not be the experience of your particular Christian tradition – it’s not in my tradition either, nevertheless it’s worth the time to take a moment and reflect on the val...