Prayer

Prayer of the People, 17 Oct 2021

October 18, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

Like the deer in a dry land, panting for streams of living water, we are thirsting for you. You have invited us to come and drink. And so, we have come to meet with you — in your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Forgive us Lord, for we have confused our thirst for you with a thirst for power, for recognition, for ease, and for entertainment. Even now Lord, reset our souls to you. Awaken us to the majesty of your sovereign love and wisdom.

We have feared the mocker’s question — Where is your God? And so we kept silent; we retreated into our own doubt, and we made skepticism our fortress. We imagined a justice that did not include you. Oh Lord, break these walls down with the glorious image of Jesus pouring Himself out as a servant, taking up the towel and serving, taking up the cross and suffering that we might know You in your fullness.

Oh Spirit of God, blow through these walls that the fragrance of your life would be a delight to many. Cause hope to arise in us and praise to flow from our hearts in the day and the night. You are our comforter and healer. You restore us to the image of Christ Jesus our Lord. Stir us out of our passivity and activate attention to your love for us and attentive love for our neighbours at home, across the campus, and in the classroom.

Oh Lord, those living in the shadow of domination and desolation are crying out — Hear their cry Lord. Their cries are coming to you from Myanmar, from Afghanistan, from Lebanon and even from here in Canada. Oh Lord direct your love to them, may your song be within them even in the night — a prayer to the God of their lives. Even in prisons or on campuses — please establish people of Jesus as vibrant communities whose praises arise as a beacon of hope in every dark corner or our globe.

Oh Lord in the name of Jesus we are pleading — may your Kingdom come!

(Please join with me in praying 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

Prayer of the People, 15 August 2021

August 18, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

You have been our help – an anchor through the storms wrecking our souls. Thank you for calming the storm. Thank you for carrying us through the storm. And even when the storm was of our own making you have restored our souls and given us rest. 

You made a way; You have set our feet on solid ground and have embraced us as friends. Thank you!   When shame weighed us down you have lifted us up. You put a new song in our hearts and raised our chins from the depths. You invite us to gaze on your glory and goodness. 

Who is like you?

You took our place at the Cross through Jesus Christ and have graciously poured your Spirit into us so we may enjoy life with you now and forever. This new birth delivers us from the destruction wrought by Satan, from guilt, from shame, and from fear. Now you usher us into the  peace, righteousness and joy of your Kingdom.  —  Thank you.

Lord you have empowered us to be neighbours to those who need one. We turn our faces with you to consider our campus, our city, and the countries of our day — give us your heart for people.

Raise up students who love you and grant them courage and wisdom to speak up with you
Raise up men and women who will lead with loving kindness in their fields of work.
Raise us up as a generation that will follow Jesus.

Even here — we know —  powers and principalities prop themselves up against the knowledge of You. They seek to destroy people by denying their dignity and their worth as bearers of your image. 

Today as we look at our world with you: 

We lift up the country of Afghanistan and ask that you would grant courage to your church. 
We lift up to you the people of Haiti and ask that you would comfort those who lost friends and family in the latest earthquake.
We lift up to you friends, family, and neighbours who grieve under the pandemic around the world.

Oh Lord, Come quickly — please orchestrate release for the captives, homes for the displaced, and enduring peace for neighbours.

Please give our leaders humility and the wisdom that comes from Heaven.

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.

Prayer

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Prayer of the People, 23 July 2021

July 26, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father,

How is it possible that we could walk in this wonderful corner of the world and not think of you? We can stand at the Rose Garden and see your grandeur painted on the horizon: the mountains, the ocean, the expanse of the skies. Thank you for this Creation and the wildness just a short journey away.

As we walk across our campus we see departments committed to the study of all that you have made and what people have done with it through the years. Thank you for these wonders. Even then Lord, our imaginations have been drawn forward into what could be — the new creations that are yet to be written and sung, the new scientific discoveries that are to be applied for the benefit of people and the stewardship of your Creation. Thank you for granting such craft, knowledge and wisdom to us. Thank you for opening the way for us to study and to share our lives here at UBC together.

But there is much in our world to remind us that we are not the masters of the sea or of the land, or even of our hearts. The pandemic continues to rage in many countries and people’s lives are disrupted and they are distressed. We are asking you for help Lord. Grant wisdom and will to governments that they would assist in the provision of vaccines for all who want it across the globe.

We lift up the people of India who have suffered so much during the pandemic. Bring comfort and help to those who cannot afford medical care. We uphold your church to love these neighbours. May they be strengthened in their spirits by the knowledge of Jesus and the power of Your Holy Spirit to share their lives and the Gospel.

Through out the world the shortcomings of families and of churches are evident. We lift up the people who have suffered great pain and loss from the hands of those who were meant to be your hands, who were meant to show your care — but did not; what a destructive storm! 

Hear their cries Lord, and attend to their suffering. Meet them in the trauma and bring healing.  Lord have mercy. Change our hearts with your truth and grace and form us as a people able to do your will.

So Lord we pray together …. Please join me in praying 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 Weekend Broadcast and Gatherings on July 23 and 25.

Prayer

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Prayer of the People, 18 July 2021

July 19, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, 

When the time was right you sent your Son Jesus Christ to be born of Mary. We rejoice in Him and in the fulfillment of your promises. Your Word lasts and has borne the fruit of eternal life in us. Praise the Lord. Let all Creation praise your holy name. Praise the Lord.

In your communion, the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we know you and we know your love. Please pour out your Spirit in your church today that we may rise as a temple constructed of lives graced by your Son. Let us see in our brothers and sisters the glorious construction of a people shining like a city on a hill.

You are the God who sends. You sent: 

Someone to plant the seed of the Gospel in our hearts.
Someone to water that seed and nurture us in the ways of peace.
Someone to welcome us into the communion of the saints that we might be vessels of your Spirit’s healing graces.

We know this but have not yet seen what you will do in our generation for the glory of Jesus.

Here we are Lord, send us.

Lord we lift up to you the people of Haiti and ask that you would bring joy to the streets.
We lift up to you the peoples of Canada and ask that you would bring the joy of your salvation to their hearts.
We lift up to you the people of Afghanistan who feel dread as dark realities of violence are  overtaking more towns and regions. This region again is treated as pawn among power brokers. What shall we ask Lord — except that you would change the heart of all those who take up arms so that they may be conformed to the character of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Oh Father, we need you and we yearn for your Kingdom to come. So we pray as Jesus taught us. (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 and In-Person Gathering, 16 & 18 July 2021.





Prayer

Prayer of the People, 9 July 2021

July 14, 2021 0 Comments

Heavenly Father, 

You have a boundless supply of love and yet we only dip our toes into its wide expanse. How wide, high, long and deep is the Love of God in Christ for us! You desire to immerse us into the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Come Lord Jesus Come. You have brought us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And we say Thank you. Thank you for this grace; you are changing our lives.

Come Holy Spirit and pour the love of God into our hearts. Let your Presence flow from the life of Jesus into our whole fellowship. May we persevere in this faith, hope and love.

In view of your great mercy our tight grip on the stuff of earth, our lack of contentment, and our refusal to meet the eyes of the suffering, reveals how small are hearts are and how idolatry still clouds our vision.

Forgive us Lord. Free us us to live in the promise of your abundant life so we can join you in what you are doing in our neighbourhoods.

Loosen our tongues to share your Words of life.
Settle our angry hearts so we can welcome the hurting.
Open our hands to impart the ministering power of your Spirit.

We lift up to you our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong. As your Body grant them courage and wisdom to be your healing Presence in the city and in every neighbourhood even under duress.

We lift up to you university and college ministry leadership teams seeking to love students well this Fall. Grant them a deep appreciation of your Gospel and activate your spiritual gifts for this season of outreach and ministry.

We lift up to you the people who have lived in and around Lytton, BC. Comfort and encourage these dear people who have lost so much in the recent fire. Raise up and release the leaders who are able to organize people and resources so they seek to rebuild their lives. Help us take stock of the dire situation facing many people on our planet as the climate changes and living conditions change. Give us open hearts and a willingness to change.

We need you Lord, So we pray as Jesus taught us. (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.

Prayer

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