Pastor Jason's Prayer - Oct 26th

Almighty and merciful God,

Whether we are filled with small doubts or, at times, what seems like hopelessness, by your Spirit 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 the voice 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. 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. A grace that saves us through the gift of faith in you and your works that we might be re-created in your image. A grace that now centers our identity in you. A grace that marks us with your name so that as your workmanship we might freely walk in the good works you have prepared for us. 

Wear us like a mask, Lord. Make us your hands and feet in a world desperate for kindness and mercy. Make us your mouthpiece for the proclamation of the Good News. The good news that in you there is hope for the sinner. The good news that you work all things together for good. The good news that you are making all things new.

All this we pray in your name,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - Oct 19th

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. 

Lord Jesus,

We who have been forgiven much can find ourselves sitting around expecting and demanding much from others. Move us from that place where we love to judge and are possessed only by a hard hearted and self-justifying 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 freedom of 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.

Almighty God,

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 the mercy, grace, and forgiveness found in Christ alone. Bearers of the truth that you are a stronghold in times of trouble, a stronghold for the weary, and a refuge for sinners. 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 - Oct 12th

Lord,

By your Word all things were created, each in its allotted space and time. By your Word, pour out your Spirit here this morning, and settle our worried minds and hearts. As we take in the countless voices around us, have us hear the voice above all voices, the voice of our Creator and Redeemer. Awaken our ears to hear. Make us vessels to receive your Word and be convicted by your Word. Make us vessels to receive your Word and receive peace from your Word. A peace that is deeper and richer than anything we can imagine. Peace in the midst of struggle, peace in the mercy of Christ, peace in the grace of Christ, peace in the forgiveness we have in Christ.

King Jesus,

When we find ourselves exhausted by the distractions of this world, when we find ourselves exhausted by the often conflicting obligations, and the spiraling and ever changing expectations of this world, be our sabbath. Be our rest. Rest us in your promise that a bruised reed you will not break, a faintly burning wick you will not quench, and a hungry heart you fill with the bread of life. 

If we find ourselves parched for joy in the midst of troubles, in the midst of our own sin, pour your Word into us, and remind us that we are soaked in the living waters of baptism. Remind us that you have made us new in you, that you have marked us and sealed us with your name, and that according to your will and for your purposes, you work all things together for the good. 

All this we pray, in your mighty and holy name.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason‘s Prayer - Oct 5th

King Jesus,

Just the grain of a mustard seed, you said. Just the grain of a mustard seed of faith to move the mountain of doubts and temptations, earthly idols, and sinful rebellion which we are often overwhelmed with in our weakness. We confess, Lord, that there are times when we reach out seemingly in vain for that mustard seed, seemingly in unanswered frustration or desperation for just a little seed of faith. 

Cause us to pause, to think for a moment, to realize the truth that in the very act of reaching out, we reveal the presence in our hearts of the very seed that we seek, the very gift of comforting, life giving faith. Faith born not of our own effort or decision, but faith gifted from the God who provides. Faith gifted from the God whose love is steadfast and abundant in times of trouble. Faith gifted from the God who seeks out and hunts down sinners in order to make them new. Faith gifted from the God who knows our brokenness and suffered, died and rose again that we might have His wholeness. 

Seek us out and hunt us down through the proclamation of your life giving Word this morning. Stir faith in our hearts and re-create us as you would have us be. Renew our faith, and remake us in your image. Turn our hearts from the business of earthly power to the business of service to our neighbor. Turn our hearts from the business of self-help and self-optimization to the business of self sacrifice. Turn our hearts from the business of fixing other people to the business of reckless forgiveness of those around us. Forgive us, faith us, remake us in your image. Make us new and make us whole, in You.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Sept 28th

Almighty, and merciful God,

As each new day dawns, grant us comfort in you. 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. 

Our arrogant elevation of our own self-sufficiency, nailed to the tree. Our misplaced belief that we build yourkingdom by playing the world’s game of moralistic scorekeeping and cultural domination, 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 insufficient works, all of our sin as your own. Kill us anew, Lord, that you might make us alive again in you. By your mercy we are crucified with you, so that in you we have your resurrection life.

Repent us Lord, with the assurance that your Kingdom is at hand in the proclamation of the Gospel, in the waters of baptism, and in your body and blood from the altar to our bodies and to our souls. And rest us Lord, in the truth that you are the God of our salvation yesterday, today, and forever.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - Sept 21st

Almighty, merciful, and gracious Lord,

In the busyness of this life, in our daily struggle with our own sin, in the constant barrage of darkness, distraction and disillusionment from the voices all around us, including our own, we can find ourselves worn out, and weary.

 Yet you know how to sustain with a word those who are weary.

When we are lonely,  “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When we are afraid, “Peace be with you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

When we are weighed down by guilt, “Your sins are forgiven. Go, and from now on sin no more.”

When we are unsure about God’s love, “Take and eat. This is my body given for you. My blood shed for you.”

When we are weak, “I am the Good Shepherd . . . I lay down my life for the sheep. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

When we are facing or fearing that enemy called death – “I am the Resurrection and Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live”

So many ways we can be weary. “Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” Lord Jesus, you speak just the right word for the weary.

You are the Word made flesh, for us. Be the Christ for us. Draw us to your Word. By your Holy Spirit, guide us by your Word and transform us through your Word. May the world know we are Christians, not by our wearied and fear driven anger but by our love. May they know we are Christians, not by our wearied shouts of condemnation but by our quiet acts of mercy. May they know we are Christians, not by our wearied despair but by our hope in the midst of despair, our hope in the one who fulfills his promises of restoration right now and in the kingdom to come. May they know we are Christians by our hope in You and You alone.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - Sept 14th

Lord,

You confound the wisdom of the world. You make yourself known not through loud, shiny, worldly success as we might expect but through the weak, the unassuming, the meek in spirit, the humble, those who are down and out. Ultimately you make yourself known on the cross. Remind us that we have been crucified with Christ, and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us.

Therefore, Shape our lives into the cruciform life, the cross shaped life. Cause us to bear the cross of loving our neighbor, friend and supposed enemy alike. Forgive us Father for we know not what we do. Forgive us Father even though we know what we do. Do not let us fall into the trap of committing violence of the pen and violence of the tongue, all supposedly in your name. Instead, cause us to bear the cross of losing ourselves in you in order to offer others your grace, mercy, and forgiveness which we ourselves receive so undeservedly. 

In a world obsessed with self, turn us to you so we might pour out compassion. 

In a world that demands we keep ourselves in a state of loud and constant outrage, make us quiet beacons of your grace.

In a world that demands we declare war on our neighbor, cause us to declare peace wherever you plant our feet.

In a world who’s lifeblood is lies, corruption, hate and self righteousness, wash us in your blood and shape our lives as ones of truth, love, and daily self sacrifice covered in your righteousness.

Through your Word, pour out the mercy and hope of your Kingdom. Pour out your Word and free us from the bondage of self and sin that we might walk in the light of the Lord not for the world’s purposes, not for our purposes, but for your purposes. Thy will be done, Lord, not ours, on earth as it is in heaven.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - Sept 7th

Mighty, merciful, and gracious Father,

In a world that forms us for distraction, be our firm foundation. In a world full of so much noise and information that leaves us disenchanted and disillusioned, draw us into your Word, that we might see and experience the reality of your good work in the midst of the world’s darkness.

We so often put our faith in anything and anyone other than you. Turn us to you and who you reveal yourself to fully be in Jesus Christ.

You sent your one and only Son into creation not to condemn it, but to save it. Not to demand that we pull ourselves up by our spiritual bootstraps, but to proclaim good news to the spiritually poor. 

King Jesus, 

You came into your creation not to condemn it, but to save it. To enter into our grief to provide comfort, to anoint us with the oil of joy instead of mourning, to cloak us in peace instead of a spirit of despair before God. You poured out your blood to save us who were dead in our tresspasses and sin so that we might be conformed to your image and made your vessels to pour out your truth, grace, and compassion to our neighbors.

King Jesus, 

You came into your creation not to condemn it, but to save it. To bind up the brokenhearted. To proclaim the release of the prisoners from the darkness of our own making. To proclaim freedom for the captives of sin. Rest us in the truth of the Good News: “It is for freedom that Christ set us free.” 

Cause us to walk in that freedom from condemnation. Cause us to walk in that freedom in the certainty of your promises in an uncertain world. Cause us to walk in that freedom, proclaiming forgiveness when the world demands we do nothing but condemn. Cause us to walk in that freedom, bearing the Good News of your present and active royal reign.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Aug 31st

Merciful Lord,

Instead of dependence on you, we so often choose sinful independence from you. We are convinced of our own wisdom. We place our love and trust in countless things below rather than those things our Father graciously gives us from above. We trust in our own righteousness, striving to justify And sanctify ourselves before You on account of our own works, only to find that we do what we don’t want to do, and don’t do what your Spirit calls us to do.

As members of your church, the very body of Christ…..where we are corrupt, Lord, purify us; where we are in error, correct us; where we are disordered, reform us; where we are in need, provide for us; where we are divided, reconcile us.

You alone can lead us from darkness into the light of your grace, and the darkness cannot overcome it. You alone can lead us from captivity to true freedom. You alone can lead us from fear into a peace that passes all understanding. You alone can lead us from despair into joy, from condemnation into forgiveness. By your Word, Help us to believe in the name of our Savior faithfully and steadfastly, for He is steadfast and faithful for us. For Christ alone is our light, our righteousness, our wisdom. Christ alone is our comfort and peace, our justification and sanctification, for Christ alone is our salvation. Hold fast to us in these truths, Lord. Unburden our tempted, distracted and troubled hearts. Have us trust in the person and work of Christ alone. Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ living, Christ reigning. It's in his name we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - Aug 24th

King Jesus,

Be the Christ for us, and free us from our darkness, doubts, worries and fears through your unconditional promise that you are making each of us and all things new. Assure us and have us know that you are not sitting back and waiting around for us to make the grade. By grace and mercy take action through your Word, Lord, create and sustain our faith in you out of the nothing of our sin.  For your love does not first discover what is pleasing to you. Instead, your love creates what is pleasing to you. Create us anew in your image, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to bear the fruit of the spirit. Draw us to the fulfilled promise of that newness found in you alone which you deliver through your Word and body and blood this morning. Hear our prayer, Lord, you who are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call on you. So we call on you, forgive us, renew us, enliven us, and sustain us. Crash your resurrection life into us, Lord. Make us new.

Rest us in the truth that your fulfilled promise of restoration on account of the cross and resurrection is real and present, right now. When we look over our shoulder in regret and say “What about the past?”, the promise intervenes, saying, “I took care of that.” When we look to the future in anxiety and worry, the promise invades, saying, “ I took care of that too.” Rest us, sabbath us, wherever you have planted us, as oaks of your righteousness, living and loving as you have re-created us to be.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - August 3rd

Lord Jesus,

Be here with us this morning as we are gathered by your Holy Spirit. Be the Christ for us. Reach out by your Word and your body and blood. Reach out with your grace and mercy that free us from our sinful condition. Reach out with your love that binds us together in you. Reach out with your peace that surrounds us. With your touch that heals us. With your joy that fills us. With your promises that hold us fast. 

Lord,

In the midst of our day to day lives have us know that you are Lord of ALL things, always working to help us, to correct us, to renew us, 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 peace in 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 make us new, are making us new, and one day will fully make us new.

In your mighty name we pray, 

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - July 27th

Almighty God,

Before we take in the countless voices of the day, have us hear, in these early hours, the voice of our Creator and Redeemer. Renew our hearts and minds this morning and make us vessels to receive your gifts. 

Lord,

There are moments and seasons when we find that we have been consumed by entitlement before you and the world; consumed by our own self-interest, our ambition, our fear, our pride, our desire to control, our anger in the face of circumstances out of our control. When you cause our own hearts to declare and admit our guilt and powerlessness, come close. 

Come close and by your Word turn our hearts from entitled expectations to gratitude. Gratitude for a grace in Christ that knows no bounds, extending to the entire world, extending to each and every one of us. Gratitude for a faith authored and perfected by Him and gifted to each and every one of us. Gratitude for a love that indeed endures forever. Forever rescuing, forever renewing, forever guiding, forever helping. Gratitude for the person and work of Jesus Christ, through whom, by his mercy and grace, we receive forgiveness, renewal, and help in times of trouble.

King Jesus,

Have us hear your voice as it cuts through the noise and expectations of the world and our own hearts. Bring to our sinfulness the cleansing waters of your forgiveness. Bring to our brokenness, your divine blood which fills the fractures of our souls. Bring to our weakness, your perfect strength. Bring to our darkness, the light of your righteousness, that we may walk in thanksgiving and the sure and steadfast hope found and rooted in you, Christ the King, the great “Yes” of all God’s promises.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - July 20th

Merciful and gracious Lord,

In this busy world, we have so many distractions, worries and troubles we walk in every day. The heavy burden of the world’s obligations. The world’s confusing and conflicting expectations. In all of the needs and temptations and hurts and frustrations and heartache and restlessness we find ourselves in, we can feel alone. We can feel lost. We can feel unseen.

But you see us. You are the God who sees, the God who sees us. You know exactly who we are, where we are, and what we need, and you come to us in the midst of our struggles. You come to us through your Word here this morning. You come to us through your body and blood here this morning. You come to us through the indwelling of your Spirit and through the light you shine through others. 

King Jesus,

See us, interrupt our restlessness and give us rest. See us, invade our days and our darkness and fulfill our needs as only you can. See us in our afflictions, and turn us to the cross where you took all of our hurts, frustrations, failure, sin and heartache as your own. 

See us, and through those near us and your word of renewal shower us with your grace….your mercy…..your love…. and your peace.

This we pray, in the name of the God who sees, in the name of Jesus Christ,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - July 13th

God of creation, God of power,

When we are troubled by the seemingly shifting foundations of the world in this age, when we doubt your plans for us, remind us that it is you who laid the foundations of the world. It is You, who by speaking, marked off its dimensions with a measuring line. It is You who made the clouds the earth’s garments. It is You who gives orders to the morning and shows the dawn its place. And yet, it is you who knows each and every one of us to the number of hairs on our head. It is you who created, made, and formed each and every one of us that you might bestow your gifts on us.

God of creation, God of power, God of mercy,

We often find ourselves restless, uncertain - caught between despair and hope, trapped in our powerlessness. By the power of your Word, draw us to the fulfilled promise of our redemption in Christ. We have been bought back from darkness by the blood of the Lamb. On account of Jesus and his work, proclaim peace into our restlessness. Proclaim hope into our uncertainty. Proclaim freedom and comfort into our despair. For while we were powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

God of creation, God of power, God of love,

Your love creates what is pleasing to you. Create us anew in your image, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love our enemies, to bless those who curse us, to bear the fruit of the spirit.  Hear our prayer, Lord, you who are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call on you. So we call on you, forgive us, redeem us, renew us, enliven us, and sustain us. Be our firm foundation, with Christ as our cornerstone. Be our power and strength in our weakness. Re-create us as you would have us be.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - July 6th

Almighty and merciful God,

To a world that is stumbling and searching in darkness, by the power of your Word, shine your light. To a world that is suffering, grant the hope of your Kingdom, for though there is trouble in this world, we can take heart, that by the cross and empty tomb you have overcome the world. To a world that is broken, grant healing and wholeness in the gift of forgiveness and restoration we receive only in Jesus Christ and his work. Grant us rest in your fulfilled promise that whatever our trials and struggles, we are saved, now and forever more.

Lord Jesus,

Comfort us when we are overcome by distress or sorrow. Remind us we can call on your name for you are gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. When we are brought low, He restores and saves us. When we wander or find ourselves lost to temptation 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. 

Lord,

As we hear, and listen and meditate on your Word together, open our ears and hearts. For the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times, they are Spirit and they are life. Open our ears, turn our hearts to receive You and You alone, that we may be renewed, refreshed, and restored. 

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - June 29th

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, as all good gifts come from our heavenly Father above. Hear our prayer Lord through your Son, our mediation and our mediator. 

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

When we are in doubt, renew our hearts with Christ’s assurance and confidence. 

When we are anxious and fearful, renew our hearts with Christ’s peace. 

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

When we see our neighbors as enemies to be defeated, as competitors for earthly success, or as a project or an agenda item to be checked off on our list of good works, renew our hearts with Christ’s love. For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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

Show us your ways, Lord, teach us your paths. Guide us in your truth and teach us by your Word, for you are God our Savior, and our hope is in You.

King Jesus,

In pouring out your lifeblood on the cross, you poured out your love into this world in rivers of free flowing grace. Be gracious to us, Lord. For those of us who are falling, hold us up. For those of us who are weary with anxiety, grief, loneliness, or pain, be our rest. For those of us walking a crooked path, be the Way. For those of us walking in darkness, be the Light. For all of us whose hearts are thirsty and hungry, by your Word, fill us with living water and the bread of life. 

All this we pray, in the name of Jesus the Christ, our great Amen, the faithful and true witness,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - June 22nd

Lord, hear our prayer, listen to our cry for mercy. In your faithfulness and righteousness come to our relief. Keep this church a place of rest and refuge. A place where you gather us, your children, to receive your gifts. Gifts of helpful guidance, grace and mercy, forgiveness and renewal. 

Lord, hear our prayer, listen to our cry for mercy. In your faithfulness and righteousness come to our relief. Free us from the lie that we have to, or that we can, earn your favor. Rest us in the truth that in mercy and grace, Christ has already done it for us. And having become one with Christ, we have been adopted into His perfect Sonship as full heirs of His Kingdom.

Lord, hear our prayer, listen to our cry for mercy. In your faithfulness and righteousness come to our relief. How often, when weary, do we sigh 'The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.' Or how often, when weary, does our spirit grow faint within us, and our hearts grow dismayed. How often, when weary, are our thoughts and hearts distracted….distracted by temptation, by the voices of the world shouting everything but the Gospel, by the consequences and baggage of our own sinful struggles. By that baggage carried with us, rather than left at your feet. Do not bring us into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. Instead, draw us by your Word to the foot of the cross, where the ground is level. Draw us by your Word to the foot of the cross and the empty tomb to hear you speak rest into our hearts, “You are weary and heavy laden. But take my yoke, for it is easy and my burden is light.” 

Lord, hear our prayer, listen to our cry for mercy. In your faithfulness and righteousness come to our relief. 

Let the morning bring us word of your unfailing love.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - June 15th

Lord, 

On this Father’s Day morning, we give special thanks for the men in our lives. We thank you for those, who with a fatherly spirit, guide us, shape us and love us. Those through whom you mark your path of justice and mercy, discipline and forgiveness, guidance and grace. For those of us gifted with the role of father, by blood or in spirit, turn us to our true primary calling. Our calling to be the compassionate mouthpiece of forgiveness in our homes and amongst our neighbors. Make us new, that we may be the voice of the loving God who forgives on account of the person and work of Christ and for His sake. Possess us with your Spirit that we might bear your image for a world that desperately needs Gospel rest.

Lord Jesus,

Where there are two or more gathered in your name, you promise to be there. We offer you thanks for your presence and divine gifts here this morning. Here, where you operate through ordinary means to work your miracles of salvation and restoration. From ordinary lips you proclaim your eternal life-giving Word of the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of your active royal reign. From ordinary bread and wine, by your Word, we taste mercy, costly earned but freely given in your body and blood. Hold fast to us in the truth that your fulfilled promise of restoration is real and present, right now in You. As we go about our days, rest us wherever you have planted our feet, living and loving as you have re-created us to be in your image.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - June 8th

Almighty, gracious, and loving God,

Today and everyday, fill us and enliven us with your Holy Spirit that we might rejoice in proclaiming the Gospel. Grant us joy in the truth that your Word of Good News is not just information, but the living power of the living God. 

“The words which I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life”.

Pour out your Spirit and settle our busy, restless, and distracted minds and hearts this morning. Make us vessels to receive your promise of a peace that is deeper and richer than anything we can imagine. Peace in Jesus Christ. Peace in the midst of our daily struggles. Peace that passes all understanding.

By the power of your Word, shatter the bondage of self in which we are chained. Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Renew our hearts, Lord, so they might burn not with self interest but with love for our neighbors. Renew our hearts to bear the fruit of the Spirit, the good fruit that this world needs. For there is no law against joy, there is no law against kindness and gentleness, there is no law against faithfulness, there is no law against love.

As we go about our day, have us know and walk in the assurance that your Spirit hovers over us, gives us the very breath of life, and lives in us. To stir us, to correct us, to work through us, to comfort us, to teach us, to lead us. And ultimately, to turn us to Christ that we might be set free by His Word of forgiveness in order to recklessly pour out His forgiveness on the world.

All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason's Prayer - June 1st

Almighty, merciful, and loving Father,

Yours is the love that knows no barriers, no borders, no boundaries. Your love, given in your Son Jesus Christ, is the love that conquers distance, time, troubles, death itself.

Wherever we find ourselves, by your love, draw us together in communion with you and each other. To share, by faith in you, peace in 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.

To share, together, the joy of our unity in you and the fellowship we share with each other. To share, in thanks, the countless blessings you bestow on your creation and your children as you crash in your Kingdom light. 

Lord Jesus,

To a world that is searching and seeking in darkness, by the power of your Word, shine your Kingdom light. To a world that is suffering, grant the hope of release, for though there is trouble in this world, we can take heart, for you have overcome the world. To a world that is broken, grant healing and wholeness in the gift of forgiveness and restoration we receive only in You and your work. Rest us in your fulfilled promise that we are saved. You are in us and we are in you. We are saved, now and forever more.

AMEN.