Sunday, January 13, 2013
Offered by Judith L. Watt, Associate Pastor

O Christ, by your epiphany your light shines upon us. You have bestowed us with gift upon gift and grace upon grace. You’ve given us the light of salvation, and yet we are still prone to wander and prone to leave you, the God we love. Draw us closer to you, and give us the courage to accept your invitation.

Draw us closer to you and give us ways to rest in you, to make space for you, to acknowledge you, to worship and adore you. Help us say “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest” and mean it when we say it.

Thank you for this church, this sanctuary, a place of respite. Thank you for our fellowship, for friendships made here and for future friendships yet to be realized. Thank you for our new space and our ability to share it with this city. Thank you for good and generous neighbors, for heartfelt devotion, for people who have inspired us in our faith by their model. Strengthen us, O God, to serve you in humility all the days of our lives. Make us servants of your gospel. Help us show your light to all we meet today.

As always, we pray for our world. Give wisdom, we pray, to our elected officials, especially in areas of finance and discerning effective laws to keep your people safe. Be in places of conflict. Bring justice to places where justice is elusive, where education is denied, where medical supplies are scarce, where there exist enemies to health and education and freedom, where prejudice exists because of skin color or disability or gender.

Gracious God, you know that some of us face mighty struggles, wondering how to support ourselves when funds are limited for so many reasons. Remind us that your waters will never overcome us. Others of us struggle with recent betrayals. Be our rock, allowing us to know that you never break our trust. Still others worry about children with special needs and wonder about their futures. But remind us that you have called by name those we love, just as you have called us by name.

Lord Jesus, come and be our guest. Lead us by the hand into the work you have for us, and hold us by the hand when we face our fears. Remind us that you value us, that you see what we can become, and give us courage to live into your vision. Hear us now as we pray the prayer you taught to your disciples, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church