Sunday Morning’s Congregational Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
We thank you for the snow this morning. For the reminder that you steward the world in its seasons without any help from ourselves. Even the winter days pour out speech. The quiet hush of new snow cries out the glory of your name and provision. The trees, grass, and flowers fade in the frigid air, yet you preserve them. On the outside, their glory appears to fade, yet life still moves slowly on the inside of trunks, in root systems, and seeds waiting to bloom in the next season.
Father, we reflect on your creation and give glory to you not as a mere sentimentality but as a reminder that all things are made in, through, and for your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ–even the winter.
We pray, O Lord, for those in our church who are abiding in the bleak midwinter. We pray for those whose bodies are aching, whose hearts are afflicted, and whose mourning persists.
Safeguard us, O Lord, from the frost of frozen seasons that threaten to penetrate deep into the spiritual root system of our hearts. As you preserve the world around us in the frost, so preserve our hearts from returning to the icy touch of stone. Sustain us in the long, drawn out seasons.
Father, we come to you through your Son our mediator and by the Spirit our Helper and confess, O Lord, our many sins and transgressions before you.
Thank you, O Lord, for the assurance that those who confess their sins to you have of your pardon through Jesus Christ. Thank you that the breath of your Holy Spirit gives life and warmth to our cold hearts.
Father, we pray for our missionaries whom we have the privilege of knowing, supporting, and loving. Equip them, encourage them, and empower them in Christ to continue in the work that you have given them.
We thank you for the opportunity last week to hear of their faithfulness and the work you are doing around the world. Your word instructs us that we should “let our light shine before others so that they may see your food works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Help us to join our missionaries in our day to day lives to be doers of the word, not merely hearers. Equip us to shine the light of Christ into the world. Use us as you see fit, according to your will, for the sake of your kingdom and your glory.
With this in mind, we pray together out loud as your Son taught us,
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.