Prayer

Prayer of the People, 5 February 2021

February 8, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

We delight in you because the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ has covered our sin and marked us as forgiven. Your perfect love has cast out our fear. You have cleansed us and set us apart for your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank you!

Now in this grace we see Jesus, close to us — sharing in our humanity, serving us, and humbly laying down His life at the Cross. Now in this grace we see Jesus high and lifted up, exalted to your right hand and interceding for us. We bow the knee and we joyfully confess Him as Lord.

We have been united with Jesus in your communion. Send your Spirit, Lord, among us, that we might move toward each other with tenderness and compassion, and in the power of your love.

We confess Lord, our minds are occupied too often with selfish ambitions and trivial pursuits. Show us how to repent of our desire for applause and to take off our pretentious robes of self righteousness, so we might value others and take an interest in their concerns, unleashing gifts of creativity and the hope of the resurrection through service.

Lord we lift up people being run over by selfish ambition, by rage, and sometimes hate. Fortify the people of Myanmar, of Northwest China, and of Yemen with hope. Reveal yourself and call out people for yourself as peacemakers and good neighbours.

Lord we lift up families being ravaged by the covid-19 pandemic. Comfort them and provide for them in communities that care. Renew our hearts through generosity and the power of your Word.

Lord we lift up students here in Vancouver. Call out to them again Lord with your gracious invitation for life, for redeemed purpose, and for true freedom.

Lord we need you and so we pray as Jesus teaches us: Please join me in the Lord’s Prayer.

Oh Lord we need you and so we pray…
(Please join me in 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.

This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 5 February 2021

Prayer

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Prayer of the People, 22 January 2021

January 25, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

You have made it possible for us to live in your kingdom now as brothers and sisters drawn together through our confession of Jesus, “He is Lord!” How is it that we share in your communion except by grace? Thank you for doing everything necessary for us to enjoy your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Help us Lord.
As you have forgiven us may we also forgive one another.
As you have accepted us may we also accept one another.
As you have mercy-ed us may we also grant mercy to one another.
As you have spoken truth to us may we also speak sincerely to one another.
As you have loved us may we also love one another from the heart.
Come Lord Jesus.

May the prevailing ministry of your Spirit continue to free us from the grip of sin and our old deathly habits. Transform us Lord according to your will and your Word. May we become more like Jesus together.

Oh Lord, we lift up to you our government leaders and representatives in this region and country; please grant them wisdom from heaven. Turn good ideals for service into reality.

We lift up to you medical and health care providers in our country who are feeling weary under heavy loads of extra precautions and of loss during the pandemic. Oh Lord, refresh their souls, assure them of your company with them, and reveal yourself to them.

We lift up to you our work-places and pray that you would fortify us with grace and wisdom to do good work and to be steady, watchful, servants in your Name and for your Kingdom.

Oh Lord we need you and so we pray…

(Please join me in 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.

This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 22 January 2021.

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Prayer of the People, 15 Jan 2021

January 18, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

You have loved us with an everlasting love. You saw each of us in our mother’s womb and you have knit us together for your glory. Now in the fellowship of your people, your new creation impulse is at work. Thank you for including us in your communion, the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What a happy thought Lord, our sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and we bear it no more. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Thank you for the dramatic testimony of your love in the body of Jesus. We thank you for the grace to believe!

By your Spirit and not by the pride of our own strength cause your Word to be fulfilled in our generation. Build your church Lord right next to the gates of Hell. Rescue the perishing. Please  restore people on our campus and in our city into the image of their Creator through the knowledge of your Son Jesus Christ. Transform us that we might become like Him together.

Oh Lord, we lift up to you the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Comfort and heal Lord from the ravages and insecurities of the pandemic. Fortify them with your wisdom and with hope.

We lift up to you the dear people of Yemen and ask that you would bring peace.
We lift up to you the dear people of Turkey and ask that you would send rain.
We lift up to you the dear people residing in Strathcona Park here in Vancouver and ask that you would open hearts and open doors so each one may be treated with dignity and granted opportunities for safe housing and flourishing community.

Oh Lord we need you and so we pray…

(Please join me in 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.

This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 15 January 2021

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Prayer of the People, 8 January 2021

January 11, 2021 0 Comments

Thank you Heavenly Father for bringing us through and into another year. We thank you for the congregations of your church that shine like Jesus’ city on a hill for the lost, discouraged, or perplexed person. Though we are gathering online we thank you that your grace and truth have drawn us to you and to each other. Thank you for loving us.

Thank you for saving us from the crushing weight of our sin. Thank you for Jesus who has  entered into our human condition, bearing the cross for us. You have become for us The Way, The Truth, and The Life. There is no one else for us to go to. You have the words of Life. You are the Word of Life for from you all life and love originates.

As we enter this new term, we commit our lives to you. You know when we sit, when we lie down, and when we rise up. You know the meditations of our hearts. And you know the words of our mouth before we utter them. You know our aspirations and our fears. We surrender these to you and seek to live first for your Kingdom and your righteousness.

Our longing is for you. Help us Lord to number our days aright. Grant us wisdom and the fullness of your Holy Spirit that our hearts may be filled with new songs of your grace.

We lift up our congregation and ask that you would help us grow in love. We pray that you would meet us during the week of prayer coming up and that you would bless all on the Alpha Course.

We lift up churches in our Association for this New Year and pray that their pastors and leaders would be encouraged and fortified for ministry this year. Bless our friends in uVillage Church here at UBC and in The Point Church at SFU.

Heavenly Father we know you love the many peoples of the world and desire to bring them into the family and Kingdom of your Son, so we unite with your heart for people and lift up 

the United States — grant clarity for truth, hope in Jesus, and love for neighbours.
we lift up Iran — may your church continue to boldly make the Gospel of Jesus known.
and we lift up Hong Kong — may your church continue to boldly love the poor and express kinship with the oppressed.

We need you Lord and so we pray…

(Please join me in 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.

This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 8 January 2021.

Prayer

Prayer of the People, 2 January 2021

January 4, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, 

You have carried us into a new year. You gave us the stars and planets in order to mark the passing of our days. And indeed they do pass. But may our life in you continue. Thank you for this grace: by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We rejoice in you more than we rejoice in the New Year.
You are the one who makes all things new.
You are the author and perfecter of our faith.
You are the Shepherd of our souls.

In all our relationships we pray that you would be glorified. We confess that we are so unlike you; your thoughts are not our thoughts and your ways are not our ways. Except for your Spirit and your Word and your Church we would be left to our own devices. So we seek you and ask that in this New Year we would not be conformed to the patters of this world, but rather we would be conformed to Christ Jesus our Lord.

We lift up to you the dear people of Croatia. For those languishing in the cold of refugee camps — may you move hearts and embolden authorities to act decently and aggressively for their daily bread and housing. For those struggling because of the recent earthquake — may you grant them peace for anxieties awakened by this shaking and housing for those whose homes have been destroyed. Oh Lord may your church in Croatia thrive as messengers of hope and as neighbours who care.

We lift up to you your church across Canada. As we have gathered online now for months we pray that you would encourage us. Send your Spirit Lord and stir our hearts with love for our brothers and sisters. May the overflow of our fellowship with you and with each other be a blessing to all the peoples.

(Please join me in 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.

This prayer was part of the Origin Church Weekend Broadcast on 2 January 2021.

Prayer