Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Oct 15th

God of this day and of all days,

Be here with us today as we are gathered by your Holy Spirit. Pour out your gifts, Lord. Pour out your grace that restores us. Pour out your love that binds us, in Christ and with each other. Pour out your peace, your transcendent peace, that sustains us, even in the midst of the storms of life. Pour out your joy that fills us, even in the midst of sorrow and pain. Reach out with your touch that heals us, with your arms that hold us, now and forevermore. Have us know and believe that you are our God, and we are yours, never to be abandoned, forgotten, or forsaken. Pour out your compassion that speaks, “Rest in me. Be forgiven. Be comforted. It is finished.”

Lord,

As we step into a time in your Word together, open our ears to hear. The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times, for 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 - Oct 8th

Merciful and gracious Lord,

In this busy world, we have so many worries and struggles we try to handle and overcome on our own. The heavy burden of the world’s obligations. The world’s confusing and conflicting expectations. 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. We all long to be seen.

But you see us. You are the God who sees. You know exactly where we are 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 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 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 - Oct 1st

Almighty, merciful, and loving God,

Yours is the love that knows no barriers, no borders, no boundaries. Yours is the love that conquers distance, time, and troubles.

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,

To a world that is searching 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 Jesus Christ and his work. Rest us in your fulfilled promise that we are saved, now and forever more.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Sept 24th

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. Whether gathered side by side, or separated by distance, time, or troubles, we are one in you. And you bless us by turning us to you. 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 His assurance and confidence. 

When we are anxious and 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 revel in fractures and division, renew our hearts with His spirit of reconciliation. 

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

Show us your ways, Lord, teach us your paths. By your Word here this morning, guide us in your truth and teach us, for you are God our Savior, and our hope is in you. 

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Sept 17th

Almighty God,

Be light for us, today and everyday. Send your Holy Spirit to be the spark that shines into the darkness into the darkness of this world and into the darkness we might find ourselves in.

Your Spirit hovers over us, gives us the very breath of life, and lives in us. To enliven us, to teach us, to instruct us, to lead us. To show us the Son, that we may be set free in the Son. 

By the power of your Word this morning, shatter the bondage of self in which we are chained. Renew our hearts in Jesus Christ that we might bear His image, pouring out grace, mercy, and love just as he poured out his blood on the cross  for our salvation.

Lord Jesus,

Comfort us with the truth that when we are overcome by distress or sorrow, we can call on your name for you are gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. Hold to your promise that the Lord protects the unwary; when we are brought low, He 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. 

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Sept 10th

Almighty and gracious Lord,

As each new day dawns, grant us comfort in you and in the blessing that your mercies are new every morning. Grant us the comfort that whatever the age and wherever we may find our feet planted, 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. 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 - Sept 3rd

Almighty 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, and through us, in a world desperate for light.

Lord, through your Word, the universe came into being. With your same word, speak into each one of us the fullness of renewal and restoration we receive in the person and work of Jesus Christ. 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. Plant us as oaks of YOUR righteousness, bearing the fruit of your Spirit: faithfulness, gentleness, love, joy and peace. 

King Jesus, friend of sinners,

Open our ears and hearts that we may hear, know and believe. Have us just sit, and rest in your healing hands, as you make us new. In this time with you, drag us to the cross, carry us through the cross, and make us alive in your resurrection. In the midst of our struggles and defeats, wrap us in the truth that you are victorious over sin, death, and the devil, and your ultimate victory is our hope. Amen.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Aug 27th

Lord, As you’ve gathered us here in your name, pour out your Spirit through your Word, and settle our worried minds and hearts. Have us hear you say, “The words which I have spoken to you are Spirit and they are life”. Make us vessels to receive peace from your Word. A peace that is deeper and richer than anything the world can offer. Peace in Jesus Christ. Peace that passes all understanding.

King Jesus, 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 hope, pour your Word into us, and remind us that we are soaked in the living waters of baptism. Remind us that you have marked us and sealed us with your name. Remind us that you have taken us in your hands, and you are not letting go.

All this we pray, in the name of Jesus Christ the crucified, Jesus Christ the risen, Jesus Christ the living.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Aug 20th

Almighty God,

We come to you in gratitude for the undeserved  love and mercy we find in Jesus Christ and for your beautiful creation in which you’ve placed us. Only in Jesus Christ, our mediator, are we able to pray, and on account of His promises we also know that we will be heard. You speak to us through your Word, and your Holy Spirit causes us to turn and speak to you prayer.

King Jesus,

Just a mustard seed, you said. Just a mustard seed of faith to move the mountain of doubts, sinful rebellion, and difficulties 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 that mustard seed. 

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 gifted from the God who provides. 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. Provide, Lord. Seek us out and hunt us down. Stir faith in our hearts and re-create us as you would have us be. Make us new and make us whole, in You.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Aug 13th

Almighty God,

God of majesty and power, who spoke and this world was, God who breathed and this world lived, God who laid the earth’s foundation and placed the stars in the sky, yet who knows us to the number of hairs upon our head. You know our thoughts and read our rebellious hearts yet love us beyond measure, for your mercies are new every morning. We turn to you in thanks and praise for sustaining us, holding us close, and drawing us together to receive your gifts this morning.

Lord,

In seasons of change, uncertainty, new adventures, and discomfort, 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 alpha and the omega. Grant us comfort in you and in your promise that we are yours, and you hold us in your hands. Hold fast to us, Lord, with your wounded hands that protect, guide, and heal.

King Jesus,

In a world obsessed with self, turn us to you.

In a world that demands we cloak ourselves in outrage, make us quiet beacons of your grace.

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

In a world who’s lifeblood, at times, seems to be lies and corruption, make us a mouthpiece of truth.

In a world that demands we consume, and consume, and consume, turn our hearts and hands to give as you do.

Through your Word, pour out the mercy and hope of your Kingdom. Pour out your Word and free us from the bondage of self that we might walk in your light and for your purposes.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - Aug 6th

Almighty God,

We offer you thanks this morning. For your beautiful creation we see all around us. We thank you for all the blessings you bestow on us. May this truth be always on our hearts: that the God who spoke this world into being, in love, He created, made, and formed each and every one of us.

We thank you for gathering us by your Holy Spirit to receive your gifts this morning. To receive refuge, renewal, restoration, and new life in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Thank you for this time and place of rest. Where our restless hearts find rest in you. Where we get to drink you in, the living water that gives eternal life.

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 those of us who are 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 and come close.

Emmanuel, God with us. Have us know and believe and find comfort in the promise of your name. A promise which you keep. Emmanuel, God is with 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, 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. This morning, pour out your saving Word. Speak, Lord, pour into our ears and into our hearts your resurrection life.

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - July 30th

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, believe and experience the reality of your good work in our midst.

Whether in fear or pride, we so often put our faith in other people, places, and things instead of you. Have mercy on us according to your steadfast love. 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 in the midst of mourning, to cloak us in peace instead of a spirit of despair before God. To plant us as oaks of your righteousness, through whom you bear the fruit of your light, grace, and compassion. 

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  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: “Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” 

Cause us to walk in that freedom, in the certainty of your promises in an uncertain world. Cause us to walk in that freedom, not in self righteousness but in the humility and lowliness of the very cross that has freed us. Cause us to walk in that freedom, proclaiming forgiveness when the world demands we condemn. Cause us to walk in that freedom, bearing the Good News of your present and active royal reign. It’s in your name we pray,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - July 23rd

Almighty God,

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

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. Free us from the lie that we have to, or that we can, earn your favor. Rest us in the truth that Christ has already done it for us.

King Jesus,

How often, when weary, do we sigh 'The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.' How often are our thoughts and hearts distracted….by temptation, by loud voices of the world shouting everything but the Gospel, by the consequences and baggage of our own sinful struggles. By the baggage carried with us, rather than left at your feet. Draw us by your Word to be in your presence, 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.” 

Soothe our worried 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 that passes all understanding. Peace that says, “Rest. Do not be afraid. For I am with you.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, the King of kings,

AMEN.

Pastor Jason’s Prayer - July 16th

Come to us. Come Lord Jesus and 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 promise, and have us see and rejoice, that in this groaning creation you are invading and making all things new...and right. Help the hurting among us to know that when we are suffering that you suffered for us. Rest us in your assurance 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. 

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. Here, where from ordinary lips you proclaim your eternal life-giving word of the forgiveness of sins and your active royal reign.

As we step into your word, quiet whatever fear, stress and worry we may have in our hearts and minds. 

Open our ears to hear and believe your word, that the preached word might be written on our hearts. It's in your mighty name we pray.

AMEN.

Opening Psalm Prayer by Patrick - July 9th

The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He is slow to get angry with us, and rich in love. The Lord has compassion on all he has made. So of course we praise you, Lord; those receiving your goodness lift your name on high. Your kingdom of blessings is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion will endure through all generations.

We most certainly praise you Lord ; we who receive good things from your hand, lift your name on high. The Lord is gracious and compassionate. He is slow to get angry with us, and rich in love.

Amen. So shall it be. 

Opening Psalm Prayer by Patrick - July 2nd

You arise Lord, and you bless us and protect us. 

You deflect from our lives the plots & plans of darkness. 

For your ways are flawless, better than silver purified in a crucible. Your love is glorious, like gold refined seven times. 

You Lord, watch over us, & guide us forever. 

Your loyalty & goodness will destroy all wicked ways, and the praises of our lips will be for You. 

You arise Lord, and you bless us and protect us.

Amen. So shall it be. 

Opening Worship Prayer by Pastor Jason - June 25th

God of this day and of all days,

In a world which has so much to say and not much time for listening, you have drawn us here this morning to be still and to hear your voice. 

In a world that seems soaked in hate, but thirsty for love, pour out your word of love. Bind up the wounded and brokenhearted. In a world that seems heavy with condemnation, but light on forgiveness, pour out your word of freeing forgiveness.

Bless and fortify, and send the peacekeepers, the Gospel speakers. Speak through your church for the forgiveness and benefit and building up of all those whom, by your word, you created, made and formed.

Lord,

In a world that seems long on worry and fear, but short on hope, have us pause to reflect that you carry and deliver hope in the most unlikely ways and into the most undignified places. Turn us in hope to Christ. 

Hope in the author of love, who knows what it is to be abandoned and so enters into our lonely pain that we might never be alone. Hope in the fount of joy, who knows grief and so enters into our sadness  to comfort the sorrowful. Hope in the friend of sinners, who loves sinners so much that He took our sins as His own on the cross. Hope in the Word made flesh, who by His speaking, forgives, restores and enlivens everyone who hears and believes. Open our ears to hear, cause us to believe, that we are forgiven and made new in Christ.

AMEN.

Opening Worship Prayer by Pastor Jason - June 18th

Almighty God,

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. Hear our prayer Lord through your Son, our mediator and our mediation. 

Lord Jesus,

We all come to you with the struggle and burden of our sin this morning. Things we have done, and things we have left undone. Words of anger or condemnation we have spoken, and words of grace and forgiveness we have withheld. Thoughts and actions centered only on ourselves, instead of outward in love and service toward our neighbors, friends and enemies alike. Placing our faith and and hope in any number of people, places, and things, instead of placing our faith and hope solely in You. We come to you as beggars with empty hands. Be the Christ for us and pour out your gifts. Be the friend and pardoner of sinners. Be our righteousness. In your mercy turn our hearts to repentance, gift us faith and forgive us, renew us, and lead us that we might walk in your ways and not our own.

Lord, 

On this Father’s Day morning, we give special thanks for the men in our lives. And we remember those whom you’ve called to rest with you in paradise. We thank you for those, who with a fatherly spirit, serve 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 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.

AMEN.

Opening Worship Prayer by Pastor Jason - June 11th

Almighty, merciful, and saving God,

Grant us comfort in you. Grant us the comfort that whatever the age, and whatever our troubles and struggles, you have put your name on us. Your children are in your hands, 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 long arm of grace.  

Lord,

In a world that constantly drives and shapes us to seek satisfaction for our souls in everything and everywhere but you, turn us to 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 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 you are with us always, to the end of this age and into the kingdom to come. Hope and faith in your promise that  by your Word of forgiveness this morning the resurrection life is invading right here and right now, and that soon you will make all things new.

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

AMEN.

Opening Worship Prayer by Pastor Jason - June 4th

Lord,

There are times, when deep in our soul you seem so far away. Seasons and moments when we find that we have been consumed by our own self-interest, our ambition, our fear, our pride and self-righteousness, our desire to control. When you cause our own hearts to declare and admit our guilt, draw us close and turn us to you. Have us hear your voice cut through all the noise and distraction of this world. Bring to our sinfulness the cleansing waters of your forgiveness, that having been washed, we might know release and freedom in you.

King Jesus

You are the one who is Word made flesh, true light of true light, God with us, the one who will not forsake us, no matter how far we run and now matter how far we might feel we are from your presence. Turn us and faith us to know you are near, to know that you are present and active in your Word. In this moment, quiet whatever distractions and worry we may have on our hearts and minds and write the preached Word of forgiveness on our hearts.

It’s in your name we pray,

Amen.