Sunday Morning’s Congregational Prayer
Father, we come to you this morning humbly.
We ask in your Son Jesus Christ and by the help of the Holy
Spirit that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be
acceptable before you.
Thank you for the bright sun of this morning, its luminous
reminder that we are still in the season of Christmas. In this season we
remember our gospel hope that “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” and
“in him was life and the life was the light of mankind and the darkness has not
overcome it.”
We praise you, Jesus, that in your incarnation, in taking on
our human nature, you began to undo the curse of Adam, you began to unwind the
powers of the world, you began to purify all manner of wickedness, and all this
in the form of a baby.
We praise you, that you expunged, destroyed, obliterated the
record and penalty of our sin on the cross for our sake once for all.
We praise you O God, for completing this work begun at
Christ’s conception and birth in his vindication at the resurrection of his
body from the grave.
We praise you for the enduring hope that abides in heaven,
Christ, who is at your right hand, the true Man, the faithful One, the Savior
who has gone before us and bore us with him in his ascension into heaven where
our lives are now hid.
Lord, for all this praise, for all this good news, we
recognize we regularly fall short of walking in your will and delighting in
your ways. Now in this time, we humbly confess our sins to you.
We thank you, Lord, for the assurance of your love and
acceptance of our confession, prayer, and life in Christ Jesus alone.
It is in him that we pray and interceded for all those in
our congregation who are sick, depressed, anxious, lonely, strung out by the
demands of this life.
And for our missionaries likewise, attune their hearts to
the work you are calling them to do. Empower them to walk mightily in Christ
and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We pray for our president, our governor, our mayor in
Naperville, that they might come to know whom they ultimately serve and respond
accordingly.
And for Pastor Daniel this morning, grant him confidence,
peace, and power to preach your word, by which, along with the work of your
people, your kingdom comes into this world.
So, Father, we pray for your kingdom to come, in the words
your Son taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father, in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our
debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever, Amen.