Sunday, September 23, 2018
Offered by Victoria G. Curtiss, Associate Pastor

God of all wisdom, you put the stars in the heavens and assign the planets their orbits. You also set the seasons of life to fit your purposes; you grant us years of growth and development, productivity, peace and wonder, because of your grace. We ask that you open our hearts to embrace whatever season of life we are in. Our ultimate goal is to glorify you; our richest gain is to enjoy you forever.

We are thankful for Jesus Christ, who through his healing touch overcame the power of disease and injury. We give you thanks that we can face unafraid whatever befalls us, and we rejoice with assurance that we shall dwell forever made whole by your presence. We ask that you grant your peace and healing to all who are facing health challenges.

We are thankful that through his sacrifice Christ challenged the finality of death. We can henceforth trust in your eternal care of those closest to us and look for the day when we shall be reunited around the table of Christ’s heavenly banquet with those departed. We ask that you would comfort all who are grieving loss and death of loved ones. Be with all who have suffered because of hurricanes and other natural disasters.

We are thankful for the Holy Spirit, who guides us through the valleys of the shadow of doubt. When we seek wisdom and understanding, it is your Spirit who sustains and nurtures us. Gently you care for us; with peace you comfort us. For all of your mercies, which are signs of your wisdom, we give you glory and thanks, O God. We ask that you guide leaders of our nation and in the world, that we may grow in peaceful relations with one another. We ask that you strengthen all of us to choose the down escalator, the path of self-giving love for others.

All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray saying, Our Father . . .

Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church