Sunday, March 17, 2013
Offered by Calum I. MacLeod, Executive Associate Pastor

O God, our good and gracious shepherd,
who catches us and saves us
with the surprising, irresistible gift of grace,
we give you thanks for how we see your grace
living and acting in our world and in our lives;
how we know your loving Spirit
in the astonishing sunrise of wonder;
the wonder of winter growing into spring;
the wonder of the potential of life
growing into fullness of life lived;
the wonder of life lived
leading us to the promise of life eternal,
rooted and grounded in our Lord and life-giver, Jesus Christ.

You call us to participate in the life you offer to the world, O God,
and as partners in the kingdom
we pray for the world in all its beauty and brokenness,
that you would strengthen us and guide us.
We pray that you can open our hearts to respond to those who suffer,
challenge us to respond with generosity to the neediest,
open our ears to hear the cry of the oppressed and fearful.

Let peace break out into the places of war,
hope insert itself into the places of desolation,
life assert its dominion over death.

We commend to you our families and friends, Lord,
those who are happy and those who know sadness or fear.
Help us in the days of this coming week
to show forth the wonder of your love and grace.

And for each one gathered in worship this Lord’s Day,
we pray the prayer of Patrick of Ireland:

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church