Tomorrow's Offering

I hope you had a great Christmas. I've had a relaxing week, overall, because of a gift given to me by Luke Erickson. He will be preaching tomorrow on the Holy Family and their Flight to Egypt. I've read his sermon and it's very good--especially considering that he wrote it while experiencing his first taste of fatherhood (his daughter is now about two weeks old). Luke is student at Emmanuel and is part of the Minnesota pipeline to the area. Some of you have heard him give communion meditations and know that he is a gifted speaker.

His sermon title is excellent: Keeping the Christ after Christmas.

Despite my week away from the pulpit I will be in the worship service (Lord willing) and leading the prayers of the church. So, here it is:

Prayers of the Church for Grandview
December 30, 2007

God of power and might, when you unveiled your face we were surprised to be looking into the eyes of a baby boy, nestled to the heart of a young woman, surrounded by the protection provided by her faithful husband, armed only with messengers from your throne. We were surprised that you would provide that family with gold, frankincense and myrrh instead of guns, firepower, and munitions.

God of persistence and grace, we were surprised when your son left the land of his birth, under cover of darkness. We were surprised Mary and Joseph nurtured royalty in an unfamiliar land, surrounded by a cacophony of foreign words and foreign songs.

God of creation and joy, we were surprised when, at last, you pealed away the sacramental veils and we were staring into the patient and pained eyes of a man on a cross. Could this really be the exact representation of your character and core?

God of life and more life, you surprised us even more when the grave proved too feeble a foe and your Son’s human feet stood again on clod and clay.

Moved by the life of your Son, sanctioned and entitled by your Spirit, blessed by the Father, may we become ambassadors worthy of our commission.

In the silence, Lord, we confess our disobedience to you; we confess our attempts to advance our own stories without concern for the one great story that defines and saves us:

silence

Lord, please continue to bless the organizations that further the work of your gospel here and to the corners of the earth. Bless Agape Women’s Services, Appalachian Christian Camp, Appalachian Christian Village, the Christian Student Fellowship at ETSU, Emmanuel School of Religion, the European Evangelistic Society, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Milligan College, and the Salvation Army—and all who provide labor and support for them.

We pray together according to the example of your Son: