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Prayers for the week of February 23, 2014

O Almighty God, Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Law convicts us of our sin, calls us to repent of our unwillingness to forgive, and Your Gospel declares forgiveness through the merits of Christ Crucified. We pray for all people, that all sinners might be thwarted of their self-righteousness and might have confidence in Your love because of the perfect righteousness that comes only from Jesus.  Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer.

Grant us our prayers for the sake of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44
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A Prayer based on the Petitions of the Lord's Prayer:
"Give us this day our daily bread." In the Name of the Father and of (+) the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Lord, You give daily bread to all - faithful and wicked alike – even without our prayer. Yet, we are right to pray for our daily bread, that we might learn that it comes from You as the giver of all good things and so receive it with thanksgiving. To that end, lend your fatherly ear to my petitions:

* For the ill, suffering, injured: O Lord, You promise that daily bread includes all our very life and health. Hear my prayer for those who are ill, suffering, or injured, especially Richard June* (recovering after intensive surgery due to cancer),  Donna Dopke* (prepares for surgery tomorrow to remove a tumor on the brain),  Norm Bunge* (his own afflictions and his son's surgery), Phil Sloane*, Lynn Grap (father of Lyn Piela* for afflictions following surgery), Karen Suarez (daughter of Frank* and Joyce* Lorence and hospitalized after a severe allergic reaction), and Susan Ail (contending with affliction), that they may, by Your grace, be given a portion of new health, or - if it be Your will - be given faith to bear their current affliction.

* For the anxious, lonely: O God, You promise that daily bread includes all that we need to support this body and life, including defense from every evil.  Hear my prayer on behalf of Roxanne, Kerry, Joe, Beth, Anne, Dan, Vickie, and Alexandra; grant them the trust that You provide for all of life's cares and - as part of our daily bread - see us through all of life's trials.  Give them the eyes of faith to see Your many blessings, daily given and renewed, even in moments of great anticipation.

* For the mourning: O Lord, as You give, so You take away. Hear my prayer on behalf of Dan Hoppman who mourns the death of a loved one. Comfort him with the promise that, though You have taken from him a loved one, so You continue to provide for them through Your bountiful goodness. Grant Dan the faith which clings to the Truth that not only give us all temporal blessings, but - grace beyond grace – gave Your only begotten Son to die our death upon the cross, that we might receive - not merely daily bread - but also the eternal inheritance of heaven.

* For the rejoicing: O Lord, You give us daily bread that is beyond measure or understanding.  Hear my prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of Steve and Lila White as they mark their 25th wedding anniversary. Grant them a thankful heart that sees this blessing for that which it truly is - a gift of daily bread that comes from Your hand, even as You freely give to satisfy the desire of every living thing.

* Please bless the widow and widowers of Calvary: Laurie Boulton and Clayton Holcomb.

* Please bless the shut-ins of Calvary:  Margaret Joseph*, Velma Maas*, Irma Martin*, JoAnne Maras, Myrtle Stade, and Bruce Morecraft.

Hear my petitions, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, who has promised us that all good things come from your fatherly hand and, thus, has taught us to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

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Prayers for the week of February 16, 2014

Almighty God, Who is holy and righteous, and before Whom we-for our sin-could not stand, but for the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, through Whom You have atoned for our sins and have become for us our life and length of days, we pray that You would give ear to our requests, and if they should be in accord with Your good will for us that You would grant them; Lord, in Your mercy: Hear our prayer. Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

"Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." Deuteronomy 30:19b-20
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A Prayer based on the Petitions of the Lord's Prayer: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

In the Name of the Father and of (+) the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O Lord,

Your will is done even without our prayers, as Your Holy Spirit breaks and hinders all the efforts and plans of the Evil Foe. But, as we depend upon Your grace and desire Your will to be done among us also, so we are to pray, as You have taught us. To that end, lend your fatherly ear to my petitions:
* For the ill, suffering, injured: O Lord, Your will is done in every hour of life. Hear my prayer for those who are ill, suffering, or injured, especially Richard June* (preparing for surgery Tuesday) Debbie Kufeld*, Ramona Johnson* (recovering from surgery/ injury) Phil Sloane*, Connie Block*, Michaela Ambrose (friend of the Hopkins family), Susan Ail (contending with illness/infirmity) and Barbara that they may dwell secure in awaiting your temporal deliverance or - if it be Your will - be given strength to bear their current affliction. Strengthen them and keep them steadfast in Your Word until Your final deliverance, according to Your good and gracious will.
* Bless new members Bob and Helen Serpico*
* Bless newly baptized members Mason Vargas and Paul Hopkins
* For the anxious and lonely: O God, just as in heaven, so also on earth, Your will is perfect... and it is always accomplished for our benefit. Hear my prayer on behalf of Janet, Rox, Kerry, Joe, and Beth that they would be granted a patience that knows that it is Your will to hear our prayer in the day of trouble and deliver us, so that all things work together for the good of those who love You, those whom You have called according to Your purpose.
* For the mourning: O Lord, our ways are not always Your ways; Your will is beyond our understanding and will. Hear my prayer on behalf of who mourns the death of a loved one. Comfort all with the promise that Your will is always good, that You have no desire to see the death of the wicked, and that - in accord with Your will - you bring home those whom You have called to be Your own. Grant them the faith which clings to the Truth that You willed to freely give up Your own Son in death, that death may not have victory over us.
* Bless our shut-ins JoAnne Maras, Myrtle Stade, Bruce Morecraft, Doris Exner*, Irene Fehrman* , and Geraldine Hagemann*
* For the rejoicing: O Lord, Your good and gracious will gives us much reason to rejoice, as it breaks and hinders the plans of the devil and showers us with temporal and eternal blessings. Hear my prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of any who today rejoice for any occasion. Grant them a thankful heart that - in all things - gives praise to You for Your holy will and desires to be kept steadfast in the True Faith, as You will for all Your children.
Hear my petitions, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, who - by carrying out Your will upon the cross - has shown us the goodness of Your heart and, thus, has taught us to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

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Prayers for the week of February 9, 2014
Heavenly Father, through the prophets You declare that the fasting You accept is to share what we have with those who --because of tragedy, illness and age--- do not have the basic necessities of life.   Guard us from all vices that prevent us from extending Your bounty to those who cannot provide for themselves.  Grant shelter to those who have none, food to those who hunger and honest work to the unemployed. Use Your people to extend Your mercy, and lift us to the joy of sharing our daily bread. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.  Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
"Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will
say, 'Here I am'."  Isaiah 58:9a
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A Prayer based on the Petitions of the Lord's Prayer:
"Thy Kingdom Come"
In the Name of the Father and of (+) the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Lord, Whose Kingdom comes freely and abundantly, we sinners pray that Your Kingdom may come among us also, even today, as Your Holy Spirit works through Word and Sacrament to bring us Your Kingdom of grace and mercy, so that we would believe Your Word and lead a godly life according to it. To that end, lend your fatherly ear to my petitions:
* For the ill, suffering, injured: O Lord, as Your Son came preaching, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand," so also as part of that message He came healing the sick and raising the dead. Bring comfort to those who contend with illness, to those who suffer, to the injured and the hurting, especially to Phil Sloane*, Connie Block*, Richard June*, Pam Covey*, Susan Ail - contending with cancer and Debbie Kufeld* - who should now be recovering at home and bless Barbara, Janet's mother, that they all may know that Your Kingdom of temporal care and eternal salvation is even now  among us through the work of your Holy Spirit and your blessed Word and Sacrament.
* For the anxious, lonely: O God, through the work of Your Holy Spirit, who brings to our remembrance all the promises of Christ, we know that the blessings of Your Kingdom - given freely in Your Divine Service to us - is a present comfort, a daily calm in the face of all our cares.  Hear my prayer on behalf of Roxanne, Kerry, Joe, Anne, Vickie, Dan, and Beth and family, that they would be granted Your peace, which needs not worry about tomorrow, for Thy Kingdom of grace and mercy is among us this day. Grant us all peace for today and tomorrow's certain hope that Your Holy Spirit will continue to work among us and strengthen and sustain us through Your Word and Sacrament.
* For the mourning: O Lord, Thy Kingdom comes among us each and every day; especially at life's end, are we thankful  that You have sustained Your saints through Your Spirit's working in Word and Sacraments, that the faithful might know a blessed end. Hear my prayer on behalf of those who mourn the death of a loved one. Comfort them with Your mercy; point them to the future glory that knows in full the joys of the Kingdom that has no end. Grant them the courage to know that - as they continue on here below, here too Your Holy Spirit will continue to sustain them in Word and Sacrament.
* Please bless shut-ins Anette Andresen* , Dorothy Bratton*, and Bill Butchart*
* For the rejoicing: O Lord, with what rejoicing do we welcome and celebrate the coming gifts of Your Kingdom, Your grace and mercy therein, and the many temporal blessings that flow to us because - even today - Your Kingdom comes among us. Hear my prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of Michael* and Katy* Hopkins and their children* at the healthy birth of a son, Paul Ducett Hopkins. Grant them thankful hearts that confess Your goodness and desires to continually receive the means by which Your grace and Spirit come - pouring out the benefits of the cross upon us... those benefits won and purchased for us by the blood and death of Christ, our Lord.
Hear my petitions, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, who has promised your kingdom to come and, thus, taught us to pray, "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

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Prayers for the week of February 2, 2014

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Father through faith in Him, in benevolence and mercy You did once hear the plea of Hanna and grant to her the petition she made.  We beseech You so also to hear our petitions now and to grant them, according to Your wisdom and most gracious will.

 Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."  Luke 2:29-32

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 A Prayer based on the Petitions of the Lord's Prayer:  "Hallowed be Thy Name"

 In the Name of the Father and of (+) the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 O Lord, Whose name is certainly holy in itself, we sinners pray that Your name may be kept holy among us also. Your Name is kept holy when your Word is taught in truth and purity and we, as children who call on You as 'Our Father' lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this in all situations of life, O Lord. To that end, lend your fatherly ear to my petitions:
* For the ill, suffering, injured: O Lord, Your Word teaches in truth and purity that You have the power to heal the sick, bring relief to the suffering, mend the injured. Hear my prayer on Phil Sloane*, Connie Block*, Richard June*, Pam Covey*, Kim Baszyk, Susan Ail- contending with their ongoing afflictions and  Gladys Harp*, who has surgery this weekend.  I pray that they would live patiently according to that Word, not despising Your promises, but faithfully waiting Your promised temporal or eternal deliverance.
* For the anxious, lonely: O God, Your Word teaches in truth and purity that we cannot add to the length of our days by worrying, nor need we - for our good is in the hands of You who care even for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. Hear my prayer that they would be granted your peace in anticipating that which lies ahead and thus dwell in Christian confidence according to Your Word.
* For the mourning: O Lord, Your Word teaches in truth and purity that You alone give and You alone take away... that, though the devil meant our death for ill, through the atoning death of Christ Crucified, the Christian's death is but an entrance into life everlasting. Hear my prayer on behalf of them that would live in the joy of the Christian, even in the hour of sorrow, not despising Your promises regarding the resurrection, but holding to Your Word, which declares: "Death is swallowed up in victory... thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
* For the rejoicing: O Lord, Your Word teaches in truth and purity that You are the source of every blessing. Hear my prayer of thanksgiving with and on behalf of Ramona Johnson* for progressing in healing. Grant us thankful hearts, that we may rejoice in your Name at all times and desire to live according to Your Word and walk in your ways to the glory of Your Holy Name.

 Please bless our shut-ins, Betty Wear*, Fern Weddle*, Ron Anderson*, and Margaret Joseph,

 Hear these petitions, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, who has taught us to hallow Your Name by praying, "Our Father, who art in heaven..."