Thank God for Pastor Chris’s message on Sunday morning, “Image Restored,” from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Ask the Spirit to encourage us this New Year to lean into the magnificent truth of who we are in Christ. May those who attended our Advent services be brought closer to Christ.

Pray for Pastor Daniel, who is scheduled to preach Sunday, January 4th. May the Lord give us ears to hear.

Pray for Bob and Diane in their continuing journey with cancer. 

My prayer will be based on Psalm 20. Let us pray.

O Lord, we praise you, the God who answers us in the day of trouble.
Lord, would your name protect us when we cry to you?

Would you give us help from your heavenly sanctuary and give support
through King Jesus?

We are unworthy to benefit from your kindness to us because we have
sinned in thought, word, and deed. We have sinned in what we have done
and what we have left undone, and so we silently confess our sins to you.

…

Would you remember the sacrifice of your Son for us and regard with
favor his obedience unto death? We know that his death is
sufficient to cover our sins and his resurrection has defeated death and
the devil so that we might have life.

O Lord, grant that the heart’s desire of Jesus and his plans would be
fulfilled in us, that we may rejoice in your salvation.

Because Jesus lives, we know you answer from your holy heaven with the
saving might of your right hand.

Would you extend your saving might to all those among us who suffer? As
we come to the end of the year, many among us continue to face chronic
illness and ongoing suffering from past injuries. So we plead for your
mercy for them, for renewed faith, sustaining grace, and your healing
touch.

We pray for the churches around us in Naperville and for our nation as a
whole, that you would move afresh through your word and Spirit to revive
your people and steady our hands as we labor by all the strength you
provide to carry out the mission of your church.

We pray in particular that you would draw people from this neighborhood
to attend the Christianity Explored class beginning in two weeks. May
your Spirit move with power to awaken hearts to the beauty of Jesus and
guide Stan and his team of volunteers.

We pray for Congregation Beth Shalom, where Jews in our city gather. We
pray for their protection and for their hearts to warm to your word,
that as the Torah is read they may see your beauty and goodness and
trust in you through Jesus Christ.

We pray for Matt and Caroline Newkirk as they continue to serve in Japan
at Christ Bible Seminary. We ask you to give Matt wisdom to teach his
students and lead the seminary well, to love his wife and children, and
to walk faithfully with you. Sustain Caroline in her ministries inside
and outside their home. Give them joy as a family during this Christmas
season and sustain them in the months to come.

Though some trust in chariots and some in horses, we trust in the name
of the Lord our God. Those will collapse and fall, but we rise and stand
upright.
We know that we stand upright when we stand with Jesus and his kingdom.
So we pray that you would help us to hear with obedient and willing
hearts all that your word has to teach us. We ask that you would guide
Pastor Chris as he declares it to us this morning. May your will be done
in Jesus’ name, amen.