Offertory Prayer July 3, 2016

Dear God, eternity's proprietor,  
Today's offering is yours 
Before it is given 
Because all creation is yours. 
Teach us how to first think of you

When we think for ourselves,
Let us understand that being able to give monetarily,  
No matter the amount, 
Is a gift of your grace. 
With our offerings we pay homage to you, 
Creator, Word and Love.

Amen.

Offertory Prayer August 24, 2014

Romans 12:1-8 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. ³For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, ⁵so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. ⁶We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ⁷ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; ⁸the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness

 

Dear God, Speaker of Life,
Today's offering is yours
Before it is given
Because all is your creation.
Teach us how to not think too highly of ourselves
But to use so sober judgment to know our souls.
Let us understand that being able to give monetarily,
No matter the amount,
Is a gift of your grace.
With all our offerings we pay homage to you,
Creator, Word and Love.

For yours is the infinite
Time unending.

Amen.

Offertory Prayer for May 11, 2014

Dear Lord,
We are like sheep,
Oblivious to what takes place around us,
Nibbling ourselves lost.
We must raise our heads
And follow the Shepherd.
He is our guide.
He calls us to nurture our church
With our love, our time,
And our money
Just as God nurtures us
With grace so undeserved.
Bless what we lay before you,

And use it for the benefit of your kingdom. 
Amen.

Change

Change comes like a sudden storm

To blow our routine away

And drench our careful plans.

Today we say good-by

To a shepherd of this flock,

A shepherd who has welcomed newborns
And strangers,

Prayed with us,
Wept with us,

Offered us the bread and the wine,
And ushered some through the final door.

  My thanks

For putting me once more
On the church bound path,

For showing me kindness and understanding,

For demonstrating grace with tenderness

And the strength to start anew.

I place this change in God's hands.
This church is like a butterfly
Trapped in its chrysalis

Waiting to be reborn.
No one can free the church from without,
Freedom comes from within.
A church must spread its wings
To feel the Son's blessing.
The future of this church
Does not lie in the hands of some miracle worker

But in the toil of those who choose
To forget the past
And build anew.

Yesterday's Prayer

Tomorrow comes too soon.

Hope leaves with the deeds

Of fellow Christians.

Believe as they do

Or be lost.

Excluded from fellowship

Where do you turn?

To you, Lord,

To you I turn.

Your words come to me.

Believe in me

And follow my commands:

Love God.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

So simple,

Yet so difficult.

How do I love those that hurt me?

Those that would rather see me dead

Than help me.

Pray for them I must.

Pray for the best for them.

Pray for them for my sake

As well as theirs.

Once I was so secure

In health, wealth and hope.

Now, all is ashes.

Once I knew you were there.

Now, I know you

Still wrap me in your love

But feel nothing.

Once I worked to start

A grace church,

A church that embraces thousands.

Now grace is wounded

By a few.

Help me to make the correct choice, Lord.

Do I step away from pain?

Do I step away from this church?

Will I walk a new path?

Will I find grace in another church?

I need you guidance, God.

Lead me back to yesterday's love.

Photo by mindfulness

Prayer for Civility

God, who reigns in eternity,
Praise your everlasting patience.
When we in person bow before you,
Accept us, please.
Give us the temperament to receive your bounty
And acknowledge that it comes from you.
Let us treat others with civility,
So that you will treat us well.
Teach us the etiquette of belief,
So that we are examples to others.
Rudeness is the gift of Satan,
Stay our souls from accepting that gift,
For you care how we treat our fellows.
Politeness is the child of your lovingkindness.
You are love in all its glory.
Your grace is there for all.
Forever.

Photo by derek7272

Maternal Prayer

Mommy, Mommy!

Mother of the universe,
Into whose lap we wish to climb,
Praise your kind presence and love.
May your grace envelop the world
So that all will heed you
Just as your cherubs do.
Provide wholesome food each day
To nourish our bodies,
So we may seek you to nourish our souls.
Do not spank us when we stray.
Let us remember your forbearance
When others choose to stray
And make us stumble.
Take us by the hand,
Lift us away from danger.
Rock us in your arms
Because you are love, comfort, and nurture,
Eternity's Mother,
Forever God,
Amen.

Photo by David Paul Ohmer