Pastor Jason’s Prayer - May 14th

Almighty and merciful God,

We thank you for bringing us here this morning, to receive your gifts. To receive rest and renewal,  to receive forgiveness, to receive new life in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Lord, 

On this Mother’s Day morning, we give special thanks for all the mothers in our lives. We thank you for all those, who by blood or by spirit, you have called to such a divine vocation. And we remember those whom you’ve called to rest with you in paradise. We thank you for these women, whom you wear like a mask and through whom you shine your light of grace and sacrificial love. And through whom you so often shine as a beacon of when we’re in the midst of the storms of this life. May their love, and guidance, and care continue to be a mirror of your compassionate heart. 

Lord,

As we are gathered here together in you, remind us that your word is living and active. For you, to speak is to do. When you say “Let there be…”, according to your purposes, things happen. When the sun rises and sets, you are speaking. When you wash your creation in life giving rain, you are speaking. When a tree bears fruit, you are speaking. When a child is born, and a mother is made, you are speaking. 

When a church is gathered, when the discarded are salvaged, when the hurt are healed, when the broken are made whole, when the sinful are forgiven, when the unbelieving believe, when the dead are made alive, you are speaking. 

Have us hear your voice. Have us listen to the voice of our Shepherd. Pour out your life giving Good News that we might find rest in your assurance that we will never be snatched from your hand.

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

AMEN

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - May 4th

Heavenly Father, 

By the Holy Spirit you’ve drawn each and every one of us here this morning.You are the God of light and love, and you’ve granted us the gift of sharing your light, not just in this place, but in our communities and around the world. 

Yet there are times when the darkness around us and in us can make it seem like there is no light. In your mercy, crash your light into the darkness of this world. By your Word, shine your light into our own darkness. Lift the scales from our eyes and scatter the dark clouds with the light of your grace found in your son Jesus Christ.

So often we fall to temptation, and bear the fruit of sin: hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. Be the friend and pardoner of sinners. In your mercy repent us, faith us, forgive us, renew us. It is for freedom that you set us free. Cause us to stand firm that we might not return to the yoke of slavery to sin.

Remind us that we are marked with your name, and stir your Holy Spirit within us that we might instead bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

In your mighty and gracious name,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - April 27th

Almighty, merciful, and saving God,

Grant us comfort in you. Grant us the comfort that wherever we find ourselves in this life, and whatever troubles and struggles we are walking through, you have put your name on us. We are marked and sealed with your name and Spirit, the one true creating, redeeming, and sanctifying God. Grant us comfort in you and in the solid fact we are yours, held fast by your wounded hands.  

Lord Jesus,

In a world that constantly drives and shapes us to seek comfort and satisfaction for our souls in everything and everywhere but you, turn us to you and the true sabbath rest found only in you. Turn us away from the world’s ways and our own ways, and grant us a contrite heart, for a contrite heart you will not despise. By your Word, turn us to the cross and empty tomb so that by faith we might see and know that you are faithful even when we are unfaithful. Turn us to you in hope and faith in your promise that you know your plans for us, and they are good. Hope and faith in your promise that when we are doubtful or stubborn hearted or feel far from your righteousness you come close, and bring to us your righteousness. Hope and faith in your promise that by your Word and body and blood here this morning you are working to help, to forgive, to renew, and that soon you will make all things new.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Easter Sunday

Lord Jesus Christ, we offer you thanks and praise, and by your Word we beseech you to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts. Lift the veil so we might see your resurrection life at work in our midst, and know that in you we have the assurance of our own resurrection. In this dawning of spring, in your beautiful creation we see all around us, have us see the reflection and foretaste of your new creation to come. Have us rejoice in the assured hope of the resurrection life we already possess on account of you. The King of kings reigns, for He has risen.

Lord, when we are worried, ashamed, and fearful in our sin, have us remember that in you there is no fear, because you have conquered sin, death, and the devil. The tomb is empty, and we no longer have to fear the grave because you have already been there. The King of Kings reigns, for He has risen. When we are shaken by the tribulations of this age, help us remember your promise “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We do not have to be afraid, for you have redeemed us. You have summoned us by name, and we are yours, never to be forsaken. 

When we pass through the waters, you are with us. 

When we pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over us. 

When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned. 

For you are the Lord, our God, the Holy One of Israel, our Savior. 

The King of kings reigns, for He has risen. He has risen indeed, Hallelujah!

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Good Friday

O, Lord, you are our God, and you turn our hearts to praise your name. For you have done wonderful things. A plan, formed of old. A plan, faithful and sure. A plan for the salvation and restoration of your creation in your son, Jesus Christ. Renew our hearts Lord, write the preached word on our hearts that we might share in and hold fast to the confession of the prophet:

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

King Jesus, 

We pause and gather to remember God’s fulfilled plan in your sacrificial love from the cross for all of creation….and for us.  A sacrificial love that willingly drank the full cup of God’s wrath in our stead. A sacrificial love that shined light into the heart of darkness. That lived truth through shouts of incrimination and lies. That brought fullness from such dreadful emptiness. That brought unity from complete abandonment. That revealed hope out of bloody devastation. That unleashed ultimate freedom by imprisonment on the cross. That brought us forgiveness instead of deserved punishment. A sacrificial love that brought life through the swallowing up of death itself.

He has swallowed up death forever. It is finished. The Lord has spoken.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - April 13th

Almighty God,

In your amazing grace , and by your Holy Spirit, you bless us with sanctuary and rest in your son Jesus Christ. You bless us by calling and drawing us here to you in order to receive your gifts.

King Jesus,

In our daily struggle with our own sin, the darkness in this world can make it seem like there is no hope. In the midst of our struggles, comfort us with the truth that you are active right here and right now through your Word and your body and blood. Comfort us with the truth that it is precisely into our struggles where you enter, in order to help us, and to carry us in hope.Turn us to you not as prisoners of sin, but as those captured by hope in you. Turn us to you in hope, Lord, as foretold by the prophet,

“Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey”. 

As we celebrate and reflect on your entry into Jerusalem this Palm Sunday, spark our hearts to shout along with the church eternal at your coming, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”,  “Hosanna!”, “Save us!” Remind us that when we shout “Hosanna!” it is out of our need for salvation, but also, in faith, that in you we are already saved. Saved from the clutches of sin, death, and the devil. For the King we welcome is the Servant King, the King who bore the wrath of God in our stead, that by His blood we are made full heirs of His Kingdom, now and forevermore.

Amen.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - March 30th

Almighty God,

We thank you for the opportunity we have to come together in fellowship in You. We thank you for this place of refuge and for this church family, whom you’ve gathered by the Holy Spirit, to receive your gifts this morning. To receive forgiveness and new life in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 

Lord,

Whether we are filled with small doubts or, at times, what seems like utter hopelessness, cause us to hold fast to Christ and His promises, that sure and steadfast anchor of our souls. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope in Christ Jesus, for the Lord promises, and He is faithful.

Lord Jesus,

Where we are restless and anxious, turned in on ourselves instead of outward in love, speak your peace into us, and over us. Cling to us with your words: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

In the midst of the busyness of our lives, prompt us to pause, to be still, to hear and believe the renewing Word of our Savior, to savor the gift of joy we receive in reconciliation with God on account of you.

In a world that is constantly rushing, have us know that your love is patient, is not easily angered, and, by grace, keeps no record of wrong. So reach out your long arm of grace. A grace that is love that seeks us out when we have nothing to give in return.

A grace that loves us so much, that you took on flesh and entered creation as one of us, that you might save us.

Rest us in the Good News of the peace, hope, and unbounded love we have in you.

All this we pray in your name,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - March 23rd

God of this day and of all days,

In a world which has so much to say and not much time for listening, quiet our hearts and minds that we might hear your voice. Cause us to be still and know you are God. By your Word, reach out with your law that convicts and guides us. With your kindness that leads us to repentance. With your grace and mercy that forgives us. With your love that binds us. With your peace that calms us. With your touch that heals us. With your joy that fills us. Have us know and believe that you are our God, and we are your children.

Lord,

In the midst of struggles, and oftentimes despite all evidence to the contrary, you are working to help, to encourage, to lift up, to shape, to renew and to fill us up with You.

Have us walk forward each day while looking backward in faith. Faith in you, and your saving work on the cross and in your resurrection. Faith in you, so even in hard and anxious times, we may see and celebrate the moments of light that only you can author. 

Faith in you, and peacein our unity in You, in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one faith, one light, one baptism, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came to be and in whom we live.

Faith in you, Jesus, in whom all the Promises of God are “Yes”:

That you will never forsake us.

That though our flesh and hearts might fail, you are our Rock and our portion forever.

That you will be with us always.

That you have made us new, are making us new, and will one day fully make us new.

In your mighty name we pray, 

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - March 16th

Almighty, merciful, and gracious God,

Before we take in the countless loud and distracting voices of the day, have us hear, in these early hours, the voice of our Creator and Redeemer. Awaken our ears to hear your Word of light, love, and life. You show yourself to be our God because you do not remain silent, but you speak to us, in song, in the proclamation of your Word, and in your body and blood.

Speak, Lord, and rest us in place, here where you’ve planted us, living in the hour that is at hand. Evict all of the anxieties, worries, fears, and doubts of this world that cloud our minds and hearts. Create in us a clean heart, a receiving heart turned to you. You who are present now, and you, who has something you will do, now, through the proclamation of your living and active Word.

Speak, Lord Jesus, and wash over each and every one of us with your compassion and peace. Keep us in your grip today and every day. Hold fast to our hearts with your words that though there is tribulation in this world, you have overcome the world. Rest us in your assurance that you do not leave us alone in the sin and struggles of this world and our own hearts, having taken them as your own on the cross. Hold fast with your blood bought promise that in this groaning creation you are speaking and invading and making all things new and right. 

And rest us in hope. Because in You our salvation and the salvation of the world has come, is active now, and will come again.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - March 9th

Almighty and merciful God,

By your Holy Spirit you’ve drawn each and every one of us here this morning. The gathering of this church is your work. You are the God of light and love and we pray you continue to shine your light to us, in us, through us, and despite us into a world desperate for light.

Lord,

Just as you’ve drawn us here by the Holy Spirit, continue to pour out your Spirit this morning; to convict us of our sin, yes, but to lead us to the Son, so we may be set free in the Son. As we go about our days, may the Holy Spirit work through us in the freedom that we have in Christ. Work through us to be who you would have us be. Cause us to be bearers of your image. Cause us to be your hands and feet in service to our neighbors. In the midst of the world’s tension cause us instead to be deliverers of your sabbath rest. In the midst of the world’s uncertainty, cause us to be deliverers of the certainty of your fulfilled promises in Christ. The promise of your presence and help in the midst of temptations and struggles. The promise that you know your plans for us and they are good. The promise that you are constantly crashing in your kingdom light in the here and now, and one day soon you will restore all things

So turn us from our sinful ways and rest us in you, not regretting and reliving the sins of the past, which you have forgiven and forgotten, nor worried and anxious about the future, which you hold in your hands. Have us live instead in thanksgiving in the gift of this present moment. Turn us to you, that we might then be turned to pour out love and compassion to those you bring near us. 

It’s in the mighty and merciful name of Jesus Christ we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Ash Wednesday

Almighty God,

In Christ, lifted high on the cross, you show us the price paid for our own sin. 

Our own towering pride, nailed to the tree. 

Our arrogant elevation of our own self-sufficiency, nailed to the tree. 

Our belief in and pursuit of our own kingdoms, our own way, nailed to the tree. 

King Jesus,

Repent us, turn us to you. You who took all of our struggles, all of our idolatry, all of our unbelief, all of our scheming self-justification, all of our sin as your own. Our sin, exchanged for your righteousness. By your mercy we are crucified with you, so that in you we might have forgiveness and your eternal resurrection life.

By the light of your Word we see the dark mark of our sin. Yet by the light of your Word and the sign of the cross on our foreheads and tattooed on our hearts we are also marked with forgiveness and new life in You.

Have us know that the ashes that mark our foreheads tonight are not for show. They are a preached proclamation, not a mark of pride nor of shame, but of humility and hope in you. A sobering reminder of the truth of our mortality, ashes to ashes and dust to dust. Yet also a Spirit breathed confession of hope, because You do beautifulthings with dust, You breathe life into dust.

So we are marked as those who were once children of the darkness, now rescued at the cross and out of the empty tomb as children of the Lord of Light.

In your gracious and mighty name we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - March 2nd

Lord,

Our hearts and minds so easily get tempted, distracted, and turned by the unceasing tide of voices all around us. Speak, Lord, that by your Word our hearts may again be turned to you. From the heart that swallowed up the hatred of the world on the cross, pour into and out of us love. From the heart that ate the bitter lies of the world on the cross, pour into and out of us truth. From the heart that bore the wrath we deserve on the cross, pour into and out of us forgiveness. 

Turn our hearts from our own self-righteousness and plant us as oaks of your righteousness. Proclaiming wholeness in you, in a world that seeks only to divide. Proclaiming healing in you, in a world that is quick to wound. Proclaiming honor in you, in a world that seeks only to shame. Proclaiming salvation in you, in a world that seems to shout only condemnation. 

God, through your word, the universe came into being. With your same word, speak into each of us the fullness of renewal and restoration we receive in the crucified, risen, and living Christ. It’s in His name we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Feb 23rd

Gracious, living and everlasting Lord,

This world is desperate for your healing. We are desperate for your healing, for your light, for your mercy. Let us not be satisfied with the mercy we’ve been granted in you yet tightfisted in flowing that mercy to others. Let us not be content to be served by you, yet slow and grudging in sacrificial service to those around us. Let us not be stingy with grace and forgiveness for others, when you have been so radically generous with us. 

We who have been forgiven much can find ourselves sitting around expecting much from others. Move us from that place where we love to judge and are possessed only by a hard hearted desire for our version of justice. Move us to that place where we love mercy and possess a desire to see people live in the resurrection life found in you. Hold to your promises and move us back and replant our feet under your cloak of righteousness and give us a new and merciful heart. A heart that is poor in spirit that it might be filled with your spirit, a heart that is meek that it might receive your kingdom, a heart that hungers for your righteousness and not our own.

Shine your face upon us, and search our hearts to reveal those we hide our faces from. When we are turned inward with our own anxieties and fears, turn us to you in prayer, with every petition, and with thanksgiving that we might be made bearers of your light in this world. Bearers of your mercy, of your grace, of your forgiveness. Bearers of the truth that you are a stronghold in times of trouble, a stronghold for the weary. That you do not forget the cries of the afflicted, nor forsake those who seek you. Renew our hearts that we might trust in your steadfast love, that our hearts might rejoice in your salvation, and our souls sing, for you have dealt bountifully with us in your Son. It is in his name we pray.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Feb 16th

Merciful Father,

Thank you for this day, yet another day when we are reminded that your mercies are new every morning. In your graciousness, and by your Holy Spirit, you bless us with this time and place of sanctuary and rest in your Son.

This day and every day, renew our hearts, Lord. Renew our hearts in Jesus Christ. 

When we are in doubt, renew our hearts with His assurance and confidence. 

When we are exhausted, anxious, or fearful, renew our hearts with His peace. 

When our nerves are frayed and we are quick to anger, renew our hearts with his patience and forgiveness. 

When we are caught up in the world’s fractures and division, renew our hearts with His spirit of reconciliation. 

When we are unfaithful, renew our hearts with His faithfulness.

When we are lost in the depths of despair, renew our hearts with the truth that Christ does not toss us a rope of religion or a ladder of pious performance to climb out on our own. Rather he shows up in our deepest and darkest moments and dives into the depths with us to give us his gift of relieving mercy, to give us Himself. 

So in all things we wait for the Lord, our souls wait, and in His word we hope. Guide us in your truth and teach us by your Word this morning, for you are God our Savior, and our hope is in You. Give us assurance by your Word that you know your plans for us; plans for healing, plans of help and hope, plans of restoration in Jesus Christ, in whom all God’s plans and promises are fulfilled. 

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Feb 9th

Merciful Father,

In your graciousness, and on account of your son Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit, you bless us with unity with you, and unity with each other. And you bless us by turning us to you in prayer. Hear our prayer Lord through your Son, our mediation and our mediator. 

Lord Jesus, friend of sinners,

For those of us drowning in doubt, flood us with your faithfulness. For those of us haunted by the shadow of shame, shine your light of love.

For a world weary under the weight of the burdens of this life, be our sabbath rest.

For every one of us who long for your presence, come Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Emmanuel, God with us. Have us know and believe and find comfort in the promise of your name. A promise which you keep, no matter our past, no matter our baggage, no matter our failures, no matter our sins. You come near to sinners, Lord, the very heart of God brimming with forgiving, pardoning, and absolving love for each of us

When we are walking in darkness, you are there.

When we are kneeling in weakness, you are there.

When we draw near feeling helpless and hopeless, you are there. When we are turned in repentance and needing forgiveness, you are there.

When our hearts ache for renewal, you are there, reaching out your long arm of grace.

You poured out your lifeblood on the cross for the salvation of the world. Reach out your long arm of grace this morning, pour out your life giving Word. Speak, Lord, pour into our ears and into our hearts your resurrection life.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Feb 3nd

Come to us, Lord Jesus. Come Lord Jesus and in the midst of our struggles wash over us with your peace.  Keep us in your grip. Hold fast to our hearts with your words that though there is suffering in this life you have overcome the world. Hold fast with your promises, and have us see and rejoice, that in this groaning creation you are invading and making things new...and right. Help the hurting to know that when we are tempted or suffering that you were tempted and suffered for us. Fortify us with the comforting truth that you know our pain because you took the pains of the world as your own on the cross.

Remind us that in our weakness, your power is made perfect, and that in our weakness you are merciful. Where our hope wanes, Lord, love us back into hope again. 

King Jesus,

When we are distracted and tempted by the stories the world tells, stories of greed and individualism, stories that encourage each of us to be a law unto ourselves, turn our hearts to trust that your story is now our story. You have grafted us and our lives into you, and your life. You created us, you made us, you formed us. By your Word, you gifted us with faith, and you call us by the Holy Spirit to your Word through which you continue to strengthen our faith. Faith in you, who promises to reconcile us with the Father. Faith in you who calls us to sacrificial love for our neighbor. Faith in you, who shines the light of salvation and restoration into the present darkness. Faith in you, who promises the unbounded joy and adventure of your Kingdom to come. Faith in you, who promises to never drive away or forsake us in the midst of the trials of this life. Faith in you, who promises to be with us always. Faith in you, in whom all God’s promises are “Yes”. 

In your mighty name we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Jan 26th

King Jesus,

You are the God who can calm a storm with a word. Be the God of calm for us. Whenever we are consumed by anxiety, or fear, or anger, or the tension and stresses of this world, give each of us your peace, for you know your plans for us and they are good. Renew our hearts with your peace, Lord, and have us know and trust that we are in your hands, united in you in one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Lord,

When our hearts are heavy and you feel far away, rest us in the truth that You are as near to us as our next breath. Renew us by your Word of forgiveness that in unity in You, we might be living mirrors of your grace, proclaiming words not of ceaseless condemnation, but of restoration in you. And rest us in the truth that in the midst of the turbulence of this life, by your Word you are working to refresh us, restore us, and to renew a right spirit within us. 

Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Open our hearts and turn us to love the least among us, the “different”, the stranger, the outcast. 

Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. When we are beset by anger or resentment, have us recall that Christ, who indeed had reason to avenge himself, instead intercedes with righteous tears and cries of mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace. 

Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Cause us to love, not in selective mercy, but with the fullness of Christ’s compassionate heart. For you show your love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

Give us the heart and spirit of Christ, that as His body, the church, we might be His image, His hands, and His mouthpiece of the justice, mercy, and grace of the Good News of His present and eternal Kingdom.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Jan 19th

Almighty God,

Thank you for this glorious morning. In your graciousness, and by your Holy Spirit, you bless us with this time and place of sanctuary and rest in your son Jesus Christ. You bless us by turning us to you.Thank you for the opportunity to just sit and rest here, in you Lord. Right where you've placed each of us. Quiet the distractions in our minds and hearts, that we may simply be present to receive your mercy and grace.

Lord,

In the cross and empty tomb you forever free us from the bondage of our sin. But we so often crawl back into a prison of our own making. When we chain ourselves to the strife in our hearts, to the envy in our hearts, to the anger in our hearts, to the fear and worry in our hearts, speak us free again.

For You came to seek and save the lost. Turn our hearts to know and believe that though we were once darkness, in you we are light. We were once slaves to sin, but who the Son sets free is free indeed, and you bless us with your good and perfect gifts from above. You possess us, and in beautiful unity in you we have true freedom.

Freedom from the devil

Freedom from bondage to sin

Freedom from condemnation under the law

Freedom from fear

Freedom from death itself

Freedom to rejoice in these, your gifts:

The freedom to love

The freedom to show mercy and compassion

The freedom to forgive, as we have been forgiven

By your Word, cause us to walk in that freedom, to walk in the newness of life in You.

It’s in your mighty name we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Jan 12th

Almighty God,

As each new day dawns, grant us comfort in you. Hold fast to us, and grant us the comfort that whatever the age, your children are in your hands, the One who is the beginning and the end. The One who opens the door to eternal life, the door that no one can shut. 

Lord,

You draw us to you and confront us with your Word. You draw us to you and comfort us with your Word. You draw us to you and confront us with our sin that we may be comforted by your grace. You draw us to you and we are confronted and comforted with the cross. 

In Christ, lifted on the perch of the cross, we see the frailty of our own lofty perch. 

Our own towering pride, nailed to the tree. 

The arrogant elevation of our own self-sufficiency, nailed to the tree. 

Our belief in and pursuit of our own kingdoms and our own righteousness, nailed to the tree. 

King Jesus,

On the cross You have taken all of our pride, all of our idolatry, all of our unbelief, all of our sin as your own. By your mercy we are crucified with you, so that in you we have your resurrection life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Repent us Lord, with the assurance that your Kingdom is at hand. And rest us Lord, in the truth that you are the God of our salvation yesterday, today, and forever. Have us rejoice and walk in the newness of life in You.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Epiphany Jan 5th

Lord Jesus,

Comfort us with the truth that in all things we can call on your name, the One who saves, for you are gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion, and His light shines in the darkness. 

Hold to your promise that the Lord protects the unwary; when we are brought low, He saves us. Our King, come out of eternity and into time, to bring us out of time and into eternity. 

Remind us, Lord, that you did not come to defeat local enemies, but universal ones. Those foes that besiege our conscience, plague us with guilt, and drive us to the grave.

When we wander or find ourselves lost to temptation, fear, and the world’s ways, be our Great Shepherd. Hunt us down with your grace and love, with the Good News that it was for sinners just like us that you entered into the world to save it. 

Just as the magi received you as you chose to come in humble circumstances, as a child in the little town of Bethlehem, cause us to receive you as you now come, ever so simply, in Word and Sacrament. The divine, wrapped in humanity, now wrapped in the proclamation of the Gospel and the bread and wine of the foretaste of the feast to come. Be the Christ for us. Hold to your promises, ease our conscience, be gentle with a doubting heart, kindle our faith, remove our guilt, rest us in the truth that the One who saves, saves us.

AMEN.