Triune God, we come before you with awe and thanksgiving for your great story. Your word tells us that before you made the world, you loved us and chose us in Christ to be faultless in your eyes. Your plan has always been to adopt us into your family, to purchase our freedom through the blood of the Son, and to identify us as your own by giving us the Holy Spirit, who speaks to us deep in our hearts and assures us that we are your children.
As your children, we are all members of Christ’s body, and your word tells us that we belong to each other. Thank you for the expression of belonging that have been demonstrated within this community of faith in recent days….
For the meals that have been prepared and delivered,
Fro the notes of encouragement that have been written and sent,
And for the helping hand that has been offered to lighten a load.
Thanks you for times of celebration and laughter…
for honouring lives well lived
for recognizing achievements
for sending each other out with our blessing
and for welcoming new arrivals to our family.
Amidst our joys, we also come to you with situations and relationships that burden us and often leave us wondering where you are. Would you bring hope and healing to these dark and confusing places in our lives?
For those who are ill…..would you strengthen?
For those who need employment…..would you provide?
For those who are experiencing relational pain….would you comfort and encourage?
For those who feel lost….would you show them the way?
For those who are weary…..would you bring them respite?
For those who grief….would you comfort?
And, would you continue to use us to care for each other as we journey through these places…to be the hands and feet and heart of Christ to one another.
We want relief from those things that trouble and frustrate us. But, even more so, we want to cooperate with your plan of conforming us to the image of Christ. Help us to trust you. To believe that you are there, even in the pain and confusion.
And now, would you speak to us through your word and through Lou, and would you nourish us as we share at your table?
We pray these things in the strong name of Jesus,
Amen
Prayer was written by Karen Gibson
Minister of Special Care
Emmanuel Baptist Church
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