Dear Lord, we come to You this morning knowing that You provide all for us, and we raise a prayer of thanks. Your creation is a gift; it provides all our physical sustenance, delights us with its beauty, and humbles us with its unpredictable power. Your church is a gift; it provides a deep well from which we are able to nourish our faith, and the fellowship that provides support for our life as Your people. And Your Love and Grace are the greatest gifts of all; given without our asking or deserving. For all these gifts we give our thanks and praise.
Although You give so much without our asking or deserving, we are still bold to ask Your help. Help us to be humble in the face of Your love, to recognize it for the pure gift that it is and not to imagine that there is anything we have done or can do to deserve it other than simply believing in it and accepting it. Help us also to share the Good News of Your Grace and Love so that more people will know its power and be saved through faith.
We ask that You continue to send Your Spirit to guide Your church all over the world and especially our leadership here at Faith. Help us to always serve You with pure hearts and open minds. We also ask that You continue to offer support and inspiration to Pastor Bill Petersen as he prepares to join and lead us.
Help the leaders of our world to recognize the example of Your power which You wield with love and justice so that they can act in a way that brings justice and peace to our world, not inequity and war.
We also ask that You continue to offer healing and comfort to those suffering from illness, emotional distress, or infirmity so that they may know that they always rest firmly in the center of Your heart.
We ask Your help for those laboring to stop the catastrophic gushing of oil in the Gulf of Mexico to work quickly and successfully. Help, also, those working to clean up and reduce the awful impact of the oil on the creatures and habitat that is being destroyed. Please provide support and hope to those whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed.
Even as we ask this, Oh Lord, we know in our hearts that You hear us and provide for us even before we speak, for You know us fully and love us fully. You gave Your only Son to live among us and suffer with us. Therefore we ask all of this through that Son, who lives and reigns with You for eternity.
Amen
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