Narrative Lectionary
John 4:46-5:18, Psalm 40:1-5
Feb. 6, 2022
Opening Prayer
Read Psalm 40:1-5
Let us pray:
Father God: Your servant David sang about the time when he was in despair
and you rescued him. May we blessed in
this hour to hear, once again, your promise of how you are reconciling us to
you and rescuing us from our pits of despair through the ministry of your Son,
Jesus, in whose name we pray.
Lord Jesus, as we come to you we want to learn from your word more about your love for us and the ways that you are with us even in desperate times. Help us to have faith such that we believe in you with full trust through what we hear today. We pray that we’ll know you are with us in the most desperate of times. Amen.
Offering Prayer
Heavenly Father
You are desperate to see your people love you and love others. We bring our gifts this morning with the hope
and prayer that our church would never be desperate for the funds needed to
accomplish your will. Bless us and bless
these gifts to do your work in this kingdom as we try to minister to desperate
people.
Amen.
Intercessory Prayer
Father God,
We give you thanks that you are with us
in desperate times. When we face the
difficulties of life, don’t let our desperation lead us to hope in false faith
such as myths, miracles, or the hope that doing everything “by the book” will
please you so that you’ll be enticed to help us. Instead let our faith look to the sure and
certain hope of your promise for a future in your kingdom. Thank you that your Son Jesus Christ lived
for us, died for us, and rose again to give us this everlasting hope.
We live in desperate times and we know that
you’re aware of each of the needs in our hearts, but yet we want to lift them
up to you. We need to voice these
prayers, not because you need to hear them, but because our faith is such that
you will hear them and that you will respond as you see fit for the furtherance
of your kingdom here on earth. We lift
up to you those who suffer from illnesses and injuries – may they be
healed. We lift up to you those who face
economic troubles – may they be blessed with provision for their needs. We lift up to you those who are grieving or
dealing with mental health problems – may they find the solace they need and
those who will walk with them through this time. We lift up to you those who are estranged
from loved ones – may they find and offer forgiveness and love. We lift up to you those who are lonely,
confined to nursing care, or shut in – may they find someone to be a
friend. We lift up to you those who face
discrimination, persecution, or bullying – may they find justice. We lift up to you those who have physical
needs – may they find clothing, shelter, and food.
We also give you thanks today for our
scouting ministry. May these youth grow
in their lives and in their service.
Bless them in their camping trips, build up their lives as servant
citizens of this country and of your kingdom, lead them in their service to
this community and church, and let them grow in wisdom and stature as you did,
O Lord Jesus. Bless their leaders and
their parents as they raise these young men and women.
We know that you have heard our
prayers. We know you will be with us
as. And we pray all of this in one voice
with the prayer you’ve taught…
Our Father…Amen
Benediction
Our Lord God heals us with His grace.
He took desperate measures in desperate times by sending His Son Jesus
to love us and His Spirit to unite us.
May His grace, love, and unity carry you through whatever desperate
times you face this week. Amen.
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