Tomorrow's Offering

Tomorrow is Stewardship Commitment Sunday. This prayer doesn't reflect that theme. But time is growing short and when I sat down to write the prayer this just seemed the direction to go. There is so much to be done before tomorrow. Some of our children will be collecting the commitment cards--that is, if I get the calls made and hammer out the little details for making that happen (it's the little details that can unravel a nice idea).

At 4pm I'll be marrying Kelly and Jimmy. I'm pleased to be officiating at this wedding, and I know that folks at Grandview who watched Kelly grow into such fine young woman will enjoy the wedding as well. The timing of the wedding is problematic, though. They are asking people to leave their televisions during the fourth quarter of the Tennessee/Bama football game. That's a good way to see who REALLY loves you in these parts.

The prayer reflects the approaching death of one of the great men of Grandview. Charles, one of my professors at Emmanuel, has been a gracious and gentle teacher and church member. His knowledge of world missions may place him among the top four or five missiologists in the world. It is an honor to be the preaching minister in the church he where he serves. Please pray for him and for his family.

On to the prayer:

Prayers of the Church for Grandview
October 21, 2007

O God, encircled by the glory of the seasons, we see your glory. We marvel at the ways orange and yellow and red break out of their leafy green prisons before flaming out and falling from foliage to compost. Glorious and inglorious all at once!

Magnificent are your reminders of the beauty of life—and even of death. Magnificent are the reminders of your faithfulness—in a world that is familiar and yet never twice the same. Like the foliage that dies and becomes fertilizer. Like the seed that dies and becomes a Sycamore. Like your Son who dies and becomes the Savior.

May we embrace our baptisms and abandon ourselves to your ways. Forgive us when we live as people who have rejected you by deciding to allow ourselves to slither into greed, impurity, ethical and moral recklessness, and corruption.

Help us to put on truthfulness, righteousness, hard work, kind words for building others, and honesty.

You have said, O God, that the death of your saints is precious in your sight. Be that as it may, it is painful in ours. We are mindful this morning of our dear brother, Charles, and the transformation that is before him. Grant him a peaceful death. Glorify yourself in his death as he glorifies you in life. Give Betty the comfort of your blessing and presence.

Give a peaceful death to all who are dying. Heal the sick so their lives may blossom before you. Protect our soldiers who are in harm’s way. Return them to us safely. Bless our soldiers with the greatest blessing—an end to war. Guide world leaders onto the paths of peace. Give your bold Spirit to those who are weak or depressed. Give your discerning Spirit to those facing hard choices in their lives.

Bless people in Burma, Darfur, the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, and in every oppressed or war torn place (more than we can name) who need peace to plant crops, nurture their families, and flourish as a people.

O God, in a prayer that we can only pray with the help of your Spirit, bless our enemies.

In the silence we have much to say to you. Hear our prayers:

silence

The Lord’s Prayer