Prayers...

Prayers for the week of  November 23, 2014

Heavenly Father, Who has had immeasurable mercy upon all mankind—so deserving of the eternal fire—by sending Your Son into human flesh to atone fully for every transgression against You, and Who raised Jesus to life to herald to all the world that full satisfaction has been made; as the day of Christ’s glorious return draws near on which He will separate unto life all believers from unbelievers, we pray that through Your word readily heard by us and by Your Sacrament diligently received in faith, the Holy Spirit might strengthen us to trust firmly in the saving work of Jesus Christ alone, and be eager to love one another because You have first loved us.  Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, Who has called us out and set us apart from the world to be heirs with Jesus Christ of an eternal kingdom, we thank You for this past Church Year which this week concludes, and we await with eager expectation Your continued grace upon grace in the Church Year to come.  Enable us to receive with gratitude Your kindnesses, and to watch with vigilance for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

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“For thus says the Lord God:  Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. ”   Ezekiel 34:11
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A Prayer based on the Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

In the Name of the Father and of  the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Lord, “If you would mark iniquities, O Lord, who would stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.” As a Father who deeply loves His children, You promise to freely forgive us as we repent of our sins. To that end, lend your fatherly ear to my petitions:

·         For the ill, suffering, injured: O Lord, without You, man has no hope for the sick to be healed or the sinner to be forgiven;  yet You have shown Your power and will to do both. Hear my prayer for those who are ill, suffering, or injured, especially Richard June as he awaits test results after preliminary diagnosis of cancer in the lung,  Irma Martin whose weakened frame battles the flu, also please bless Sue Ail (related to Kathy Hoppmann), Rebecca (related to Richard Mulles), Debbie (daughter-in-law of Ed and Elaine Taylor), and Donna (friend of Diane Mautone),  - all of whom contend with cancer.   Also please bless our shut-ins including Florence Mitchell, Betty Wear, Fern Weddle, Bruce Morecraft, Janet Keller, Alice Breneman, and Myrtle Stade comforting them with the certainty that – because their sins have been forgiven on account of Christ Crucified – they may be certain that you will provide for their temporal health and their eternal well-being, in accord with Your will.

·         For the anxious, lonely: O God, You promise to answer those who call upon You in their day of trouble. Hear my prayer on behalf of the widows and widowers of Calvary, my nephew Joe Hibbs, my niece Roxanna, my neighbor Dale, and also Ed Batker who lost his job this week; forgive them where – in trial and tribulation – they grow weary and doubt your Word. Strengthen them through Your Word of Truth and its promises, reminding them that – because they are forgiven in Christ – nothing can separate them from Your love.

·         For the mourning: O Lord, You take no delight in the death of even the wicked, but desire all men to be saved, and have given Your only-begotten Son to bear the sins of all the world. Hear my prayer on behalf of Val Jones, Joan Rud, and Dorothy Thompson who mourn the death of  loved ones. Comfort them with the promise that we have been forgiven in Christ, so that all who die in Christ still live with Him in paradise. Comfort Val, Joan, and Dorothy in their time of sorrow, that they would not grieve as those who have no hope, but as those to whom belongs the certain hope of “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”

·         For the rejoicing: O Lord, because You have paid the redemption price in Christ, and have forgiven all our trespasses, You also delight in giving us every blessing under heaven. Hear my prayer of thanksgiving on behalf of Lila who rejoices to see her friend Linda Hill.  Grant them a thankful heart that rejoices in the many blessings that flow to them as one forgiven through the blood of the Lamb.

Hear my petitions, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Your Son, in Whom we have the forgiveness of sins and, thus, the right to come to you as dear children who have been taught to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”