Author Archive: Craig

Prayer of the People, 14 April 2019 ~ Palm Sunday

April 15, 2019 0 Comments

Hosanna — Save us. Save us Lord.

Heavenly Father we cry out with those who saw Jesus ride into Jerusalem,
“Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Blessed are you who reign in holiness and majesty.
Blessed is Jesus who took up the cross.
Blessed is your Holy Spirit who moves across Creation and has brought us new birth.

We cry Hosanna — Save us.

Save us from blindness to the truth. For when we do not see truth we become slaves again to fear.
Save us from shortsightedness. For when we forget the hope we have in you, we easily quit the race you have set before us.
Save us from farsightedness. For when we keep looking for greener pastures, we quit loving the people right beside us.

Thank you for the salvation we have in you. You have saved us Father, according to the righteousness of your Son.
Thank you for this grace in which we stand.
Thank you for adopting us into your family and calling us your children.
Thank you for your provisions of this past week. Most of us have eaten well, have been clothed for each change in weather, and have had some good work to apply ourselves too. 

But we cry “Hosanna.” Save us. 

Save us Lord from cold hearts. Grant us courage to reach out.
Save us Lord from the accuser’s lies. Grant us wisdom to hide in the righteousness of Christ.
Save us Lord from deeds poisoned with guilt. Grant us discernment to do what you call us to do.

We cry “Hosanna.” Save us.

Bring your salvation and deliverance to the people of Sudan; may your peace prevail. Bring your help to refugees stuck on Greek Islands; may hospitable doors be opened to them. Bring your redemption to the gangs of El Salvador; may sons and daughters play in streets and old men and women walk without fear of violence.

Hosanna. You have taught us to pray and so we pray…

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, 

forever. 

Amen.


Prayer

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Prayer of the People, 7 April 2019

April 8, 2019 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, you are the Lord of all Creation; You spoke, “Let there be light” and there was light. Your Son Jesus is the Light of the World. And now, by His Spirit, His Word illuminates our lives. Thank you for this grace in which we sit, walk, and stand. 

Speak again Lord, to our dark hearts. “Let there be light.” Awaken us to you. Teach us to walk in Your light and to fellowship with each other in this world according to your grace and truth. 

We confess that having our lives exposed in your light generates fear. First we tremble at the thought of your holiness. Save us according to your Word and not our word. Forgive our sins and may willful sin not rule over us. Second we tremble at the thought of being out of step with our world. Your light invites us into what is unfamiliar and makes us look peculiar. Please replace our fear of people with your perfect love. 

We long for leaders who walk in the light, who lead with wisdom and who pursue justice. We ask that You will bring Your comfort and help to those traumatized by violence, greed, and cold apathy. Both the one who raises the hand in anger and the one who receives it have suffered. It is your revealing light that can usher us all into healing and reconciliation. 

As with every anniversary of violence to which your light has been held we must examine ourselves, so we ask again for your wisdom from heaven today for Rwanda, for Ireland, for the United States, for Canada, for Palestine and for Israel, for Syria, for Yemin, for Cameroon, for Germany, for El Salvador, and for Myanmar. Is there any land in which the toxic rage of ‘adam’s children has not shed blood? Oh Lord help us. Come quickly Lord Jesus – May your light shine. Reveal every lethal treasure we have collected against insecurity and help us surrender our affections to you that we might be free. 

We pray now as you have taught us — (Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer)

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, 

forever. 

Amen.

 

Church, Prayer

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Prayer of the People, 31 March 2019

April 1, 2019 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, 

We rejoice to be known by you and to approach you as our Father. Your Son, Jesus Christ, has opened the way for us. And your Spirit confirms that we are your children; He has poured out your love into our hearts!

We delight in your church. Thank you for the people you have called from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of your Son. We come from many places and from many different kinds of intersections with your truth and your grace. You saved us from our sin, from despair, from deceit, and from the powers arrayed against the true knowledge of You.

Thank you for the person who showed us Jesus. In all of our original stories, somebody posted up right inside the gates of hell and announced the Good News of your Kingdom to us. They loved us and shared their true life with us. We thank you for these saints. Allegiance to Jesus as Lord became to us the most reasonable act of faith!

Your Church, Lord, is under pressure in many places so we intercede for them this morning. Grant your church Jesus’ courage and His wisdom of forgiveness so they can love under duress in China, Nigeria, Somalia, North Korea, Mexico and Pakistan.

Awaken your church in Canada Lord. Awaken us so that we may watch with you and remember that our sins have been forgiven. Purify us through obedience to you so that we have a sincere love for each other. Help us love each other deeply from the heart in both word and in deed.

Disrupt our self-self-centred stupor. Awaken us to our neighbours. Help us to see so we may love as you love and fulfill the mandate of your Kingdom. You teach us to pray: May Your Kingdom come, so we pray as you taught your disciples:

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one;

for yours is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, 

forever. 

Amen.

Prayer

a kind of patience

March 30, 2019 0 Comments

Before Spring’s shy kiss

ruby red promises stand still

taunting cool blue skies.

Creation, Poetry

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What’s your vision of society?

March 28, 2019 0 Comments

What kind of common ground and space do you imagine for our civil society? 

Do you imagine and delight in the vision of a society sanitized of religious symbolism on the bodies of the “faithful”? 

Or

Do you imagine and delight in a vision of society filled with symbolism and self-expression, even on the bodies of the religious or “faithful?”


What do you believe we must protect? 


Do we need to protect society from the bodily self-expression of the religious?

or

Do we need to protect the religious and their right of self-expression from society when it demands control over their bodies?

Your answers to these questions will shape how you feel and think about the proposed (2.0 – as in “here it is again.”) legislation in Quebec.

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