Lent5c General Prayer

Lord God heavenly Father, we cry aloud, trusting that you will answer from your holy hill for we come to You in Jesus’ name:

You are a shield around us and You sustain us from day to day, watching over us as we sleep and raising us up each day.  Grant us courage to face our trials and difficulties.  According to Your will, heal those to who are ill, especially Tom, Logan, Red, Nicole, and Darlene as she recovers from surgery.  Watch over the dying, especially Fran, grant her relief from pain and draw her safely to Yourself according to Your perfect timing.

Throughout history You have shown You have shown Yourself to be the God of salvation, the LORD who came to the aid of Your people.  You set Your people free from slavery in Egypt, making a way for them through the sea and destroying their enemies in those same waters and You have set us free by the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross.  Help us to declare Your praise for the gift of salvation.

In the midst of competing priorities help us always to count knowing Jesus Christ as Lord the most valuable thing in our life.  Order our lives so that it would be clearly seen in our choices and values that Christ comes first.  Especially do we remember Marty as she celebrates a birthday, that You would continue to grant her every good gift of body and soul and keep her close to You all the days of her life.

When we are discouraged and when it seems that we have reached a standstill in our lives of faith send Your Holy Spirit to renew our zeal so that we would press forward with a new enthusiasm to reach the goal of heaven.  Especially do we remember the Wuensche family as they mourn Irene.  Assure them that she is with You.

Continue to raise up servants of the church to speak Your Word even in the face of opposition.  Let their work bear fruit in the midst of the people they serve.  In our own lives, let their words bear the rich fruit of spiritual gifts and good works that You desire from Your people.  Grant us a renewed desire to see salvation go forth into the world before the day of judgment arrives.

Bless our congregation.  Let Your Son Jesus Christ be the foundation of everything we say and do in this place as the people of God.  Keep before us the one thing needful and re-order our congregational life so that Jesus Christ is always the beginning and end of all we do.

Whatever else You see that we need, whatever is good for our neighbor and brings glory to You, grant to us dear Father in heaven for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ in whose name we pray.  Amen.