the seriousness and the joy of worship

Pastoral Prayer – January 15, 2017

Gracious and Ever-living God

Thank you for welcoming us into your presence and meeting us in your Word and prayer.
We come into your presence claiming the merits of Christ alone and thank you that He is both our ransom and our surety—reconciling us to you.

We thank you that in this room we are echoing the praises of angels and archangels who with the saints that have gone before us are singing, “Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty: the heavens and the earth are full of your glory!” Remind us of the seriousness and the joy these moments together in your presence.

The apostle John tells us, “this is confidence we have in approaching [you]: that if we ask [you] anything according to [your] will, [you] hear us” (1 John 5:41).

We pray for those covenant children who today have received the sacrament of baptism. We pray that through the love, nurture, and instruction of their families, and by the supernatural work of your Holy Spirit, they would one day claim Christ as their own.

Help us to honor the vow we have made to assist these parents in the holy calling of making disciples of our children. May we never forget the promise we have made in your sight, to participate in the lives of these families, to offer our encouragement, to study and prepare that we may instruct these children in the faith.

We pray for the families of those members who have recently died: Helen Weaver, Mary Faith Carson, and Delight Alexis Czaplicki. Grant them your peace and the hope of life eternal after the valley of the shadow of death.

Now prepare our hearts to hear your Word as it is preached. Remind us what we believe concerning the Scriptures:

That your creation and your working in the world show your goodness, wisdom, and power, and leave us without excuse for not knowing you. Yet they are not sufficient to give us the knowledge of you and of your will that is necessary for salvation.

Open our ears to hear and gratefully receive your Word. May your Spirit convict us of our sin, lead us to change, and empower us to live faithful lives to your glory.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.