Sunday, November 18, 2007
Offered by John W. Vest, Associate Pastor

Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth,
as the seasons change,
as the weather turns cold and winter approaches,
we rejoice in your creation
and marvel at the wonders of nature unfolding before us.

We give you thanks for this amazing world
that you have blessed and given us
to care for and nurture,
to protect and honor,
to call our home and preserve for all generations.

As we gather for prayer this morning, O God,
we are mindful that the world you created as good
is not wholly good now;
that sin and death have left their marks,
which we feel and experience every day.

God, we know the pains of illness and death,
and the sorrow of loss and loneliness.
Please provide healing and comfort for the sick and dying;
strength, patience, and wisdom for those who care for them.
We thank you for healing and recovery
and rejoice with those who celebrate new life.

Loving God,
as the days get shorter and the dark of night encroaches,
we remember those experiencing periods of winter in their lives,
those battling sadness and depression,
and those uncertain of their future,
those without jobs, without homes, without food.
Lord, may the light of your love fill our lives
and bathe us in the warmth of your gentle care.

Sovereign God, we pray for all your children, across our world
as we continue to face wars and threats of war.
We pray for our leaders,
that they would be guided by truth and justice,
that they would truly seek peace for your children.
We pray for those who serve to protect us,
that you would protect them in the midst of harm’s way.
And we pray for those innocents caught in the middle of war, who suffer for no good reason.

Merciful God, we give you thanks
that in good times and in bad,
in life and in death,
we belong to you
and rely on you alone for all that we have and all that we need.

God of the church,
embolden your children to be beacons of your light
and conduits of your transforming love.
May we be changed by the power of the gospel
and may we seek new and creative ways
to join you in the work of redemption,
loving you and loving others,
living as you created us to be.

God of life and God of love,
we know that you hear our prayers,
and we give you thanks
as we join our voices together in the prayer that Jesus taught us.

Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church