Tomorrow's Offering

In my little world it was a wonderful and pleasant week. I'll try to blog tomorrow about all of that stuff. Blogging is strange because when things get good and busy I have the least time to share it. I'm anxious to share with my blog community the Robinella concert last night, my stump removal attempts at home, and other such ultimately trivial things--but things that make a week nice.

Also, this post is coming so quickly after the latest Two 4 Two widget post that I want to invite you to scroll down and check it out because I used an original song from The Isaac Schade Band.

Tomorrow I will continue the "Feed Me" series that attempts to take a closer look at the church exit-line that goes like this, "I'm not being fed at that church." Not that it's never true. Sometimes it is true. Sometimes it's true because the church has dropped the ball. Sometimes it's true because that particular person has dropped the ball.

Here's the pastoral prayer. Blessings.

Prayers of the Church for Grandview
November 11, 007

Great God, nestled together in this place, under your protective wing, we come together to serve you with our words, our thoughts, our prayers, our songs, and by the way we tend to each other’s burdens and share each other’s joys. Like the hen who gathers her chicks, you gather us, you give shelter and shade, you feed us.

From the strength and power of your example, O God, may we live! Help us to learn from your Son, from his perfect life of service, sacrifice, and salvation. In the power of his example may we spring into our own skin and skeleton with an awareness of what it means to be fully alive to this expansive universe that you continue to create, as if the borders of the universe are persistently too small to reflect your wonder.

Quicken our imaginations, our souls, and our witness to your great affection for humanity.

Thank you for your deep wells of grace that flow, without ceasing, in and out of our desperate situations. Forgive us when we bring a thimble to this fountain and then complain about coming away thirsty. Forgive us when we focus on receiving our little communion-sized cups of grace, while failing to appreciate the opportunity to serve those next to us. Forgive us when we care more about receiving the bread of salvation and less about offering that bread to others. Forgive us when we kneel before the cross of sacrifice and complain that life is empty.

In the silence we pray for the sick:

We pray for those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness:

We pray for those who are sick:

We pray for those who are weak or discouraged:

We pray for marriages and friendships:

We pray for those who are struggling financially to make ends meet:

We pray for soldiers and civil servants who are in harm’s way:

We pray for world leaders that you would guide their feet in the paths of peace:

We pray for our enemies:

We pray for a peaceful death for those who are dying:

We pray for your comfort to embrace those who are grieving:

O God, what a joy it is to be sure of your grace, sure of your goodness, sure of your love for all the people of the earth. Help us to proclaim that message in word and deed.

We pray as you have taught us: