Preaching to the Choir

These are some sermons, but mostly lectionary discussions. It also has prayers for some Sundays.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Prayer for First Sunday of Lent year B

Lord,
We offer our thoughts and prayers to you.
We put our trust in you to hear and respond to our needs.
We pray for your tender mercies for those of us who are suffering.
We pray for strength for those of us who are experiencing weakness.
We pray for comfort for those of us who are grieving.
We pray that though we too go through our own wildernesses that you would be with us.
We pray that though the wild beast may encompass us you would protect us.
We pray that though we are tempted that your angels watch over us too.
Mark us with the sign of your love as you marked you own son.
Lord, we believe that your Kingdom is at hand;
And so we repent and believe with all our hearts your good news.
Lord remove from our lives those barriers that keep us from being in relationship with you, ourselves and others that we may truly live into the joy of your Kingdom.

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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Prayer for Transfiguration Sunday B

Lord, you are the mighty one,
You created light; you send your light around the world.
You sent your son into the world of darkness as the one true light, the light that brings hope to all.
And yet we want to capture it like a firefly and keep it to ourselves so that only we have the good feelings and experience.
 At the same time there are those who would reject your light, try to find any way imaginable to cover the light.
But God you told us to be the light of the world and to let our light shine. And so today as we pray, we want to let our light shine for others whose light may have grown dim, or has almost  gone out or yes even are in the dark.
We want to shine the light of hope to those who are discouraged, dejected, desponded and disappointed.
We want to shine your light of love to those who are our enemies, are hated, are bullies, abused, bullied, disenfranchised.
We want to shine your light of grace to those who have given up, don’t believe
God loves them, and don’t feel wanted, lonely and needy.
We want to shine your light of faith, for those who are hungry to believe yet are not sure, those who have struggled a long time with chronic illnesses, frustration, anger and disbelief.
Lord, we carry your light into this world for all to see what a glorious and wonderful
God you are.
Amen


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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Prayer for Sunday Epiphany 6b

Compassionate God,


We are grateful you made your compassion incarnate in your son Jesus, who healed the sick such as the leper.

We are grateful you still show your compassion in this world through your people.

There are so many in this world that need your compassion; those who are sick, those who are outcasts, those who are disabled, and those who are grieving.

Lord we pray you keep pouring your compassion on those in need.



Lord we cry out for your mercy for those who are experiencing injustice in this world.

We pray you will make right the wrongs of this world.

We pray you set free those who are prisoners of dictatorships.

We pray that you unslave those who are trapped by slavery.

And we pray for the children of this world who are often victims of injustice.



Merciful God we pray for our leaders that they may be blessed with wisdom.

We pray for our churches that we may truly be your incarnation in this world.

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Saturday, February 04, 2012

prayer for Epiphany 5/ordinary 5

Holy One,
Hear our prayers oh Lord,
Our lives are often like an emotional rollercoaster in a runaway car.
We sometimes feel our lives are out of control and so we often try to get control.
We then grow weary and tired,
because just about everything we try to do on our own falls short.
And then we give up Lord.
We let go Lord.
We quit trying to be in control.

It is times like these that we need you Lord,
We need to commune with you, to become centered and whole.
We need to draw close to you, to experience your healing touch.
We need the support of one other, the love of one another, the encouragement of one another to remind us of your presence.
It is times when we commune with you that then we are lifted up on eagles wings,
Then we gain power for our faintness
Then we gain strength for our weariness
Then we who are broken hearted are healed
Then we who are wounded find healing
Then we find hope in his steadfast love

And Lord when we have received our healing,
may we then be a vessel for you to use to heal other.
May we go about proclaiming the good news to all
May our households of faith be a gathering of those in need of healing and forgiveness.
Amen

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