Opening Our Hearts to The Spirit

O Lord, we come to you in prayer today opening our hearts to the work of your Holy Spirit:
Fill us with the love of Christ which seeks not its own but suffers for the sake of our neighbors in need;
Grand us joy in doing your will and in the knowledge that we belong to you;
Give us peace the world cannot give and which is the flower of forgiveness and trust;
Grant us patience until we no longer fear evil but wait for you to establish the ways of righteousness;
Bless us with kindness that hearts may seek your face;
Strengthen us in goodness that we may commend the gospel and serve as your sons and daughters;
Bestow upon us gentleness that the sorrowing may be comforted and tender ones may be drawn to you.;
Guide us in faithfulness that our gratitude to you may be known and we may inherit eternal life;
Empower us with self-control to rule our own spirits and to become fit instruments for your will.
All this we ask in the name of and for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Fruits of the Spirit

Everlasting God, whose Spirit brought the life and order of creation into the world; work with our unruly spirits until they reflect your divine image.  In Christ, we behold the fullness of life for which our spirits hunger.  Move among us and within us, O Spirit of the Living God, that we may receive your power and glory in our lives.  Increase the fruits of the Spirit in us until all thoughts and desires become obedient unto the mind of Christ.  In his most blessed Name, we offer this prayer.  Amen.

Kindle Our Fire

Spirit of the goodness of God, breathe upon us the gifts of joy and peace, until we throb with a sense of your nearness.  Kindle the fire of love within our hearts, until we can no longer hold its warmth to ourselves alone.  Heal us of fear and disunity in our witnessing for the gospel.  Light the flames of holy understanding that we may know truth and salvation as the language you have spoken to all.  Let your word thunder and whisper your will for our time.l  Baptize us with the unity of the  Spirit and the bond of peace.  Form in us anew the mind of Christ that we may follow your call as joyously and bravely today as the apostles, martyrs and saints of everfy age.  In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen.

Thanks for Past Sacrifices

O Lord our God, n whose hands are the living and the dead: As we approach your throne this Memorial Day, we give thanks for all who have laid down their lves in the service of our country and the cause for freedom around the world.We thank you for their heroism and self-sacrifice.  Above all we thank you for the great Captian of our salvation, Christ our Lord, who laid down His life that we might live forever.  Grant that through His great sacrifrice all nations, kindred, and people may be united in a true brotherhood.  In Jesus ' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Guide our Leaders

O God, Lord of the universe, you have led our  country into the paths of freedon and righteousness based on the people's acceptance of your Will.  Direct all those who are in positions of power and leadership filling them with your knowledge and Spirit, so that this great nation might my be preserved in peace and unity, strenth and honor.  Take under your protction your servants the President, the Governor of this state, the lawgivers, the judges and all who are entrusted with authority, so defending them from evil and enriching them with good that your people may prosper in freedom , and that our nation might continue to be a light of hope for peoples of all nations.  We pray it all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

For Unity and Peace

O God, who has sent to us Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace; Give us grace to hear and understand  our Lord's teachings that lead to peace, and give us the resolve of heart to make every effort to live in unity with all peoples.  Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from accepting each other as Children of God, brothers and sisters regardless of gender, race or religious persuasion.  May your Spirit bind us together into a common bond of one heart and one soul, united and strengthened by your Love.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen.

Draw Us Together in Your Spirit

Almighty God, who creates and inspires all that has breath of life; we adore you as your Spirit draws us together in wonder and praise.  O gracious Spirit that dwelled in Christ, touch our spirits that we may know ourselves as children of God.  Incline our hearts to repentance and humility that in fruitful waiting of faith, new life may abound.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen.

A Psalm of Praise

O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he has done marvelous things:  his right hand and his holy arm have gotten him the victory.  The Lord has made known his salvation: his righteousness he has openly shown in the sight of the heathen.  He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.  Psalm 98: 1-4

That Our Lives Might Bring Glory To Your Name

O God of the universe, yet our divine parent who is as close as our breathing, through your Holy Spirit inspire and strengthen our lives that they might bring glory to your Name.  Let the power of the name of Jesus bind the faithful together around the world, that every nation, every race might live according to your decrees and bring peace and love to the world in which each of us lives.  In Jesus Name we pray.  Amen.

Guide The Leaders of the World

God of all history, guide the destinies of the nations of the world.  Bestow upon those in power the awareness of your Will for the nations, and help them to follow your guiding.  We know that you are God of all peoples - may they come to realize that because we are all your children, that we need to discover those ways to live together in love and peace.  Keep us from self destruction which comes from ignoring your Lordship of all the world.  Speak that we may hear your voice anew!!  We ask it all in the name of Jesus Christ, your son and our Savior.  Amen.

Thank God for Families

Loving God, as we remember our mothers affectionately on  Mothers' Day, we also recall the many displays of love which you have shown toward us, your children!  We can only cry out in gratitude:  "We appreciate you, we appreciate you."

You have created us to live in families and to learn from them how to love even as you have loved us.  You have also called us to part of the church family, again learning how to love, and joining together so that our love for the world might really matter.  As we stand before the enormity of this calling, we again realize that only by keeping our relationship with you strong, will we be able to love as you would have us love.  Help us to always keep you in our hearts and lives so that we truly might discover that the real purpose for living is to love you and one another.  in Jesus' Name, we offer this prayer.  Amen.

Help Us To Follow Christ

Gracious and loving God, we thank you that you have revealed yourself in your Son, Jesus Christ.  Help us to love him and enable us to follow him, to cling to his words and to be grateful forever for his innocent sufferings and death, his triumphant resurrection and his glorious ascension whereby he accomplished our eternal salvation.  In his most blessed name, we pray.  Amen.

A Prayer of Gratitude

O God, giver of every good and perfect gift: We thank you that you have given us a place among your people, and have enabled us to come into your presence through prayer.  We praise you for the world in which we live, for the works of your hand, which show us your infinite power and unsearchable wisdom.  We bless you for your gifts of reason and understnding whreby we can receive and understand the teaching of your Son jesus, the Christ.  Through him you have shown us what a true child of yours lives like.  We esecially thank you for his victory over Sin and Death which he has also made possible for us.  In his most blessed name, we offer this prayer.  Amen.

For Those Being Confirmed

Some churches confirm their youth on Palm Sunday, some on Pentecost and others somewhere in-between.  We confirmed our young people this past Sunday, so our prayer is for them and all those confirmed this year.

O God, who through the teaching of your Son Jesus Christ prepared the disciples for the coming  of the Holy Spirit: enter into the hearts of your servants who through confirmation seek to be in closer relationship with you and your church.  Keep them ever in your care, and may their faith continue to grow as they serve you in building your kingdom in the years ahead.  Keep them from the power of the evil one, and protect them from those who would weaken their trust in you.  We ask it all in Jesus' name.  Amen.

Bless The Seed

O God, Lord of springtime and harvest: We pray that you bless the seed sown in the earth for the sustenance of humankind.  So  water it with the gentle rain from heaven and warm it with the golden sunshine that it may bear fruit a hundredfold, to the glory of your holy name, and the welfare of your people.  In Jesus name we pray.

Thy Good Gifts

O Lord our God, who is always more ready to give your good gifts that we are to seek them; help us so to seek that we may truly find, so to ask that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of your mercy may be opened to us.  Through Jesus Christ our lord.  Amen.

Lift Us Into Joy and Eternal Glory

O God, enable us to come to you freely in prayer, for you are close to our every weakness, and know our every desire.  Let those who are troubled in mind and soul fnd comfort in your Word.  May those who are  sorrowing over the loss of loved ones, find solace in the knowledge of the gates to your eternal kingdom.  May those who are hesitant to come to you, overcome their hesitancy and receive a steadfast faith from you.  Grant that all of us may praise you through consecraed lives leading us into unspeakable joy and everlasting Glory.  We pray in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus the Christ.  Amen.

Lead Us To Faith

O God, who reigns from everlasting to everlasting; we praise you that you have come into our world in Jesus Christ, bringing the power of love and truth to fill all things.  We offer our gratitude that you transformed his cross into a throne of redeeming love.  We rejoice that as the King of life he triumphed over the dominion of death.  We cannot comprehend the vastness of your being or the wonder of your Will, so we pray that you will take our hand and lead us to the stairway of faith which leads us into your presence.  In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen.