The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Grant, Almighty God, that as we have not only been redeemed from Babylonian exile, but have also emerged from hell itself; for when we were the children of wrath thou didst freely adopt us, and when we were aliens, thou didst in thine infinite goodness open to us the gate of thy kingdom, that we might be made thy heirs through thy Son, - O grant that we may walk circumspectly before thee, and submit ourselves wholly to thee and to thy Christ, and not feign to be his members, but really prove ourselves to be his body, and to be so governed by his Spirit, that thou mayest at last gather us together into thy celestial kingdom, to which thou daily invites us by the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant almighty God that we, as your redeemed people, will listen to what you say to us today. You have made the Sabbath for us to enjoy. It is that one day in seven in which we have the privilege to come apart from our worldly employments and recreations to sit at your feet, to worship you, to enjoy the fellowship of your people, and to serve and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Forgive us for trampling underfoot this day. We know that you take this commandment very seriously -- as you do all of them. We know that we tend to wander from it because we are still worldly. We are often tempted to do what is forbidden on this day. We go astray and seek our own pleasure. Please help us, by your Spirit, to take great delight in the Christian Sabbath we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant almighty god that you would remind us of the great heritage we inherited from those who have gone before us. Throughout history, you orchestrated the events that brought us to faith in Christ. By your divine will and providence, you brought us into families who taught us the precious doctrines of our historic faith. Due to the faithfulness of our fathers in the faith, we were introduced to your Son and your Word. We are reminded of the importance of teaching our children and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We know the calamity that befalls a generation when we do not teach the next generation the gospel and the doctrines that your Word proclaims. Please grant us the diligence and zeal to avoid hiding these things from our children. Help us to open our mouths and speak to them about the Savior. Grant us the grace needed to live before them with words and deeds that point them to that which will truly satisfy them. Forgive us for introducing our children to many things and not pointing them to the one thing necessary for their soul. Forgive us for being distracted by the cares of this life and leading our children to regard your church as common and ordinary. Forgive us for not teaching our children to pray to you and read your Word. Grant a new generation that will be faithful to you and help us be faithful to that end. All of these things we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise your name and thank you for your infinite mercy offered to pitiful creatures of dust. We know our frame that we are dust. Yet, due to your great kindness, you have determined to save a people from their misery. Though we live as pilgrims in this world, exiled from our true home, we thank you that you have not left us alone. You bless us with your presence as you did for the church of old. In those days, you went before them in the pillar of fire and cloud, guiding and directing and protecting them. Today we have the constant presence of your Spirit that encourages and teaches us always present with us leading us to green pastures. We thank you for the promise that you will never leave us or forsake us. Though we often stray, you leave the ninety-nine to pursue your wayward sheep. Safe in your hands, we can never be lost. Please help us, Father, to love you and serve you. You are worthy of our whole lives for all you do for us. We pray all of these things through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: Grant almighty God that through your kindness and compassion for us, you would keep us from temptation and guard us against the evil one who seeks nothing but the ruination of our souls. We know that he is in your hands and that he can do nothing apart from your divine will. Grant, also, that we would be mindful of his devices and that we would also watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. We know our frame and know that we are prone to wander from your commandments. Often we are the cause of our own fall into sin, knowing that we are easily enticed by our sinful desires, which give birth to sinning against you. We know that we are often our worst enemy, but we are thankful that you provide a way of escape that we may be able to endure in the temptation. We confess to you our weakness and ask that you would grant us more of your Spirit. Without our Mediator, we would miserably fall, so we thank you for his continual supply of grace as he prays for us each day. Protect us and help us through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Prayer: My God—my Father and Preserver—who of your goodness has watched over me during the past night, and brought me to this day, grant also that I may spend it wholly in the worship and service of your most holy deity. Let me not think, or say, or do a single thing which tends not to your service and submission to your will, that thus all my actions may aim at your glory and the salvation of my brethren, while they are taught by my example to serve you. And as you are giving light to this world for the purposes of external life by the rays of the sun, so enlighten my mind by the effulgence of your Spirit, that he may guide me in the way of your righteousness.

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