Prayer of the People, 21 May 2021
Heavenly Father,
We praise you. Your action in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus has shown us that you are good. Your Word is fully fleshed out in Jesus Christ your Son. Your love within your communion is on display for us in His Cross. Your power to rescue is seen in His resurrection. And now by your grace we confess as your church that we abide with Him and rejoice in you by your Spirit.
Our hope is in you. We cry out Abba Father! You are the shepherd of our souls so we look to you. We long for the new creation to be fully revealed in all your sons and daughters. We desire with you that the Church of Jesus would be fully conformed to His image.
Enlighten us with faith and the knowledge of your will so we will not hesitate to move in the power of your Spirit for good in our work, or in our studies, or in our neighbourhoods, and truly in our gatherings.
Though we abide with You Lord we wait for you. May the empowering gift of your Spirit revive us — blow the dust and cobwebs from our dull minds and create new zeal in us for your Word so as witnesses to Jesus we may speak the Words of Life to the living but spiritually dead. Oh Lord, How you love them!
Oh how you are jealous for them Lord! Our witness, in word, may it not be rendered useless. But may every word spoken in faith and in the grace of your love, bear the fruit that you intend. For we know that the transforming power of your Good News brings life and generates fruit that lasts forever in your present and eternal Kingdom!
We lift up to you the dear people in the lands of Palestine and Israel and ask for your peace. The hostilities generated through oppression and fear in hearts are toxic. We know there is no balm in bombs. There is no peace in vengeance. And we know your Good News is hard to hear over the blood crying from the ground — But Lord, we trust your blood speaks a better word.
Be our Keeper and theirs too. May our hearts not grow cold to distress — and the cruel meanness of loss. By Your Spirit we join with Jesus and we weep with Him even as we we pray as He teaches us:
(Please Join with 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