Tomorrow's Offering

It's been a good week and I need to post pictures of band concerts and other things that are happening as Christmas approaches. The thing about blogging is that it's hard to make time to blog when the interesting things are happening. When things get a little slow I have more time for blogging, but less about which to blog.

Tomorrow's prayer opens with Psalm 8 (I reworked it a bit). When I incorporate a Psalm into the prayer I feel a little like I'm plagiarizing. So I'm glad to have a blog where I can publicly proclaim things like "Hey, this prayer makes use of Psalm 8."

I was reminded again last Sunday by someone that he just isn't sure how appropriate it is to write our prayers in advance. He doesn't believe it's wrong, but it obviously makes him uncomfortable. If I use a prayer that was written down thousands of years ago (i.e. Psalm 8), maybe he will find it more satisfying.

Blessings to you.

Prayers of the Church for Grandview
December 16, 2008

O LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

When we consider your heavens, your finger at work, the planets, the moons and the stars, which you have set in place, who are we that you are mindful of us, the sons and daughters of humans, infinitely tinier than the universe that you care for us?

You made us a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned us with glory and honor.

You made us rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under our feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. You made us rulers over technology, putting atoms and electricity, and circuits under our feet.

O LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

By your grace may we be wise in our use of your gifts, not abusing these gifts, but glorifying you by the manner in which we husband the land, the sea, the air, and life. Show us what you wanted us to see when you came to this earth, in the same sort of flesh we inhabit; when you breathed the air we breathe, sank under the waters of the Jordan, walked on the dirt that wash from beneath our fingernails.

You know what it means to pray for the sick, as we do now. As we do every week, we ask for healing for the sick, strength for the weak, hope for those in despair, and protection for those who stand between us and our enemies. At the same time, O Lord, we pray that you would bless our enemies. Also, please give those who are dying a peaceful and timely death.

Lord, as Mary pondered the events surrounding the birth of your Son. We stop to ponder what your coming to earth in the flesh means:

silence

Together we pray as your Son has taught us: