Prayers For The Season After Pentecost

The following prayers are based on themes contained in Scripture passages and hymns that are used in many worship traditions. Following this set of prayers are suggested Scripture passages on which other prayers can be based.

Invocations, or Opening Prayers Come, almighty King, and help us your name to sing, for you are a God of love. Come, incarnate Word, and make known your wonders to our souls, for you are a God of grace. Come, holy Comforter, and bear witness within every heart that we belong to you, for you are a God who creates fellowship. Come, triune God, that we might love and adore you all the days of our lives. Amen. Commentary: This prayer, focusing on the Trinity, is derived from the hymn "Come, Thou Almighty King," and echoes the themes from 2 Corinthians 13:14 on the specific ministry of each person of the Trinity as the successive stanzas are introduced. This illustrates how the rich language of both Scripture and hymns can interact dynamically in the formation of worship materials. This prayer would be appropriate for use on Trinity Sunday. Loving God, do not hide your face from us or we will be lost. Speak to our longing spirits with your sustaining Spirit. Show us through the Scriptures how we are to live, for we lift our attentive souls to you. Instruct us in the way of your will, and lead us as only your Spirit can lead. In Jesus' name. Amen. Commentary: Most of the language for this prayer is a paraphrase of Psalm 143:7, 8b, 10. This portion of Scripture lends itself well to the topic of illumination as the Scriptures are read, preached, and lived. Prayers of Confession and Words of Assurance CONFESSION Almighty Lord and God, we confess that it is often difficult for us to be your people. You have called us to be the church and to continue the mission of Jesus Christ to our lonely and confused world. Yet in truth, we admit that we are more prone to apathy than action; isolation than involvement; callousness than compassion; obstinance than obedience; legalism than love; rigidness than receptiveness; pessimism than praise; self-filled than Spirit-filled. Gracious Lord, freely pour out your mercy on us and forgive our sins. Remove those obstacles that hinder us from being your representatives in a broken world. Awaken our hearts to the promised gift of your indwelling Spirit … (opportunity for silent confession) … Hear our prayer in Jesus' powerful name. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Unison: Hear what our gracious God declares to us: (Ezekiel 36:25–27). Commentary: The images for this prayer are the result of a composite sketch of the book of Acts. Any one of many stories could be used to further enhance this prayer or create similar models. For example, Acts 12:5–17 suggests a myriad of metaphors for confession. This story captures the doubt-filled and anemic prayers the early church offered for Peter's release from prison. The underlying theme of this prayer is that our hearts are often divided and not properly focused on God. To further reinforce this reality, the words of assurance relate to God's radical heart transplant and cleansing of our lives. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Great and mighty God, you have graciously unleashed your Holy Spirit to live and move among us. You call us to come and grow and extend the mission of your church. While we are quick to hear these words, we are often slow to act on them. There is much in our lives that restricts our growth as we nervously cling to the familiar patterns of yesterday. Forgive our resistance, and cleanse us from the sins of disobedience that hinder the flow of your new life in us. Grant us as your children the ability to trust and be open so that we might welcome and depend upon the resources of your Spirit. Fill us, we pray, with this hope as we continue our prayer in silence … (opportunity for silent confession) … In Jesus' merciful name. Amen. WORDS OF ASSURANCE Leader: (reads Romans 8:27) People: (read Romans 8:1–2) All: (read Romans 8:10–11) Commentary: A familiar theme for the season following Pentecost is that of the church and her mission in the world. Once again numerous biblical passages capture the tendency of the church to forget her foundation and depend upon herself. Much of this prayer reflects the warning of 1 Thessalonians 5:19 and the witness of Ephesians 5:18b. Prayers for Illumination Have your own way, Lord, for you are the potter and we are the clay. Release your Holy Spirit so that as we hear and ponder your Scripture we might be molded and made after the likeness of Christ. Form us with a desire to follow your will. Create within us the cooperation to wait and to surrender ourselves to the shaping of your transforming Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen. Commentary: The central image comes from Isaiah 64:8, which in turn has inspired the writing of the hymn "Have Thine Own Way, Lord." Here, the first stanza has been employed to engage us in the shaping power of the Scripture. Too often we read the Bible seeking only information when in reality God desires to form and transform us by the Scriptures. Almighty God, we are grateful that you communicate your wisdom and truth to us. Prepare us now to receive with eagerness your living and active Word. Blow your Holy Spirit through these pages that they might penetrate deeply into our lives, directing us how to live. Enable us to participate in this marvel of communication as we explore and experience the good news made known in Jesus Christ. Amen. Commentary: This prayer intentionally seeks to convey the interactive nature of Scripture. Unless God assists us, our efforts are in vain. Likewise, unless we cooperate with God the overall effect of Scripture will be diminished. The metaphors of Hebrews 4:12 and Acts 17:11 combine to create this prayer. Additionally, there is a slight echo from Isaiah 55:11, which could be developed further or used alone to form another prayer for illumination. Offertory Prayers Lord of Life, daily you confirm your faithfulness in supplying all our needs. You amaze us how each new challenge is met by the glorious riches that are available in Christ Jesus. May our remembrance of your goodness inspire our gratitude as we offer these gifts to bless and honor you. In Jesus' abundant name. Amen. Commentary: In Philippians 4:19, the apostle Paul speaks from his own experience of God's faithfulness in meeting our needs. These words create numerous possibilities of which the above prayer is only one example. Generous God, your abundant gifts stretch our hearts and inspire our joyful response. May we never limit our gratitude to one hour a week on Sunday. Rather, may our lives shine brightly as beacons to those between Sundays that they may see your good deeds at work within us and offer you praise, O heavenly Father. Commentary: Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:16) provide a vivid picture of stewardship that extends beyond the four walls of the church building. This prayer could be used for stewardship Sunday or at other times to call the people of God to connect their worship life with their daily life. Heavenly Father, unlike our society, which often seeks to mislead us with counterfeit substitutes, you always shower us with blessings that are good and perfect. Accept the gifts we offer for all your love imparts, and may we satisfy your desire with our humble, thankful hearts. We thank you, Lord, for the bounteous love you lavish on us in Jesus' name. Amen. Commentary: This prayer, which reflects the theme of thanksgiving, owes its origin to the third stanza of "We Plow the Fields and Scatter" ("We thank you, our Creator, for all things bright and good"), which in turn was inspired by James 1:17. Pastoral Prayers Sovereign and sustaining Lord, we draw near to you in prayer because you have first drawn near to us. We gratefully rejoice that you have sent and continually remind us of your Holy Spirit. Too often we neglect you, O Holy Spirit, as we endeavor to be the church through our own planning and power. Free us from this distorted practice and pour out afresh the gift of your life-giving Spirit. Everlasting God, we praise you that your commitment to continue the church involves us today. You never send us forth by our own resources but renew us through the agenda and anointing of your mighty wind and fire. Grant us then, O gracious God, the desire and ability to speak the gospel with passion and power. May we not neglect the poor and disadvantaged, speaking only to those people with whom we feel comfortable. Grant us then, O healing God, the compassion and sensitivity to bind up those whose hearts have been bruised and broken. Grant us then, O liberating God, the courage and patience to proclaim hope to those who are in bondage and freedom to those who are oppressed. May we not forget those people imprisoned in institutions or caught in armed conflict. Grant us then, O illuminating God, the vision and clarity to see clearly so we might direct others to follow you. Grant us then, O God of justice, the realization of our need to be responsible and prepare ourselves for the Day of Judgment. Free us from the exhausting trap of performance, and fill us with the gift of your blessing and favor. Grant us then, O tender God, hearts that are large enough to embrace those who mourn and walk gently with those who grieve. Surround with your restorative peace those who struggle that they may continue the journey of following Jesus. Grant us then, O renewing God, the transforming of our hearts that we might wear the crown of beauty not as a sign of boasting but rather as a reminder that we belong to you. Where we are clothed with despair, exchange this with the garment of praise that our lives might rejoice and reveal the fulfillment of your promised Scriptures. This we pray, depending upon the ever-faithful name of Christ our Lord. Amen. Commentary: The season following Pentecost, often called ordinary time, usually turns our attention to the nature and purpose of the church. This prayer is the result of the interaction of Isaiah 61:1–3 with Luke 4:18–19, 21. Jesus selected this passage from Isaiah as he began his public ministry. Likewise for us today it can serve as the magna carta for our ministry. One may observe from this prayer that when we take Scripture seriously and in its proper context, we are often challenged to explore areas that we would otherwise neglect. We cannot read Scripture selectively if we wish to remain faithful and continue as Jesus' disciples. Revive us again, O holy God, for we often forget who we are. We are grateful that you do not grow weary in reminding us of our true identity. Too often we become bound by the busyness and drivenness of our consumer society. Gracious God, impress upon us once again that we are of value not because of what we produce but because of who we are. Forgive us when we deny or ignore your handwriting on our hearts. Call us to awareness as we receive your words of Scripture, remembering that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to you, O powerful and present God. May we further recall that this description of who we are reminds us of our responsibility. It is not enough to simply hear these words of belonging and blessing. Rather we must declare with joy and gratitude our praises to you for freeing us from the domain of darkness and leading us into the kingdom of your marvelous light. Alert us, Lord, that our daily conduct at school, work, home, play, and in the community may be the only evidence some people may see of your gospel of love and eternal life. Help us then to walk in such a way that we might accurately live by the tender mercy you have lavished upon us. Out of that same mercy be gracious and refresh those within our community of faith who are sick or awaiting surgery, especially those who we now name…. Further may your mercy accompany those for whom the wounds of grief and sorrow are raw and painful, especially … Heavenly Father, our prayers also reach out to include all the children and youth of this church and our city. We realize the complexity and increasing pressure that our young people face. Grant them healthy friendships and stable families in which to mature. Provide your wisdom, patience, and humor to parents as they seek to create the proper settings in which to raise our youth. Lord God, help us to realize that we are not the only expression of the body of Christ in this city. Break down the dividing walls of competition and pride, and send forth the unifying Spirit of Christ. Assist all that call upon your great name to cooperate and reflect the transforming message of Jesus Christ, our Master. Revive us again, O triune God. Fill each of our hearts with the love of Christ, and rekindle our souls with the power of your Spirit. For the sake of Christ's great kingdom we pray. Amen. Commentary: This prayer seeks to remind the church of her true identity and mission. The biblical model which has inspired this is 1 Peter 2:9–10. Additionally, support is given by the fourth stanza of the hymn, "Revive Us Again" ("Revive us again: fill each heart with thy love"). This prayer could be restructured to employ the refrain from this hymn as a response at various points throughout the prayer. Further, it should be observed that frequently when we speak of God, we either focus on God's transcendence or immanence. This prayer consciously seeks to integrate and blend both of these aspects of God's nature. Writing Scripturally Based Prayers The previous models have illustrated how Scripture can generate and enhance the prayers of worship. What follows is a seedbed of Scripture to provide additional passages for the formation of your own prayers. INVOCATIONS or OPENING PRAYERS Isaiah 55:1–6; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 11:28–30; John 7:37–38; Revelation 3:20; 22:17. PRAYERS OF CONFESSION Genesis 3:8–19; Psalm 51:1–14; Daniel 9:4–11; Hosea 6; Micah 7:14–20; 1 John 2:1–6. PRAYERS FOR ILLUMINATION 1 Kings 3:9,14; Psalm 119:9–11; 33–40; 105–106; Daniel 2:22–23; Luke 11:28. OFFERTORY PRAYERS Psalm 51:15–17; 116:16–19; Isaiah 56:6–7; 2 Corinthians 9:6–15; Galatians 6:6–10; 1 Peter 2:4–5. PASTORAL PRAYER Deuteronomy 32:1–43; 1 Samuel 2:1–10; 1 Chronicles 16:7–36; Matthew 5:3–10; John 17; 1 John 3.