4^th Sunday after Epiphany, Proper 3, Cycle B (January 31, 2021)

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 (I will raise up a prophet, put my words in his mouth;

listen to him alone)

Psalm 111 (God is faithful and just; praise him for his righteous deeds)

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (Caring for brethren with weak consciences;

eating food offered to idols)

Mark 1:21-28 (Jesus drives out a demon in Capernaum on Sabbath)

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

With gratitude for the gift of Christ, let us draw near to our heavenly Father in prayer, asking his mercy for the Church, the world, and all who need his loving-kindness.

A brief silence

Holy God, thank you for being stronger than the demons, doubts, and despair that trouble us. Thank you for bold prophets, faithful teachers, gentle caretakers, and ordinary saints who serve you by mentoring, guiding, healing, and challenging us. Give us grace to go and do likewise.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Raise up in your church leaders to faithfully speak your Word with boldness, clarity, and charity. Give its members hearts that listen with faith, obedience, and gladness. Give to those who have not heard or heeded your Word, ears to hear rightly, ponder patiently, and believe firmly.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Give your persecuted disciples steadfastness, courage, and gentleness of heart, to rightly confess Christ before their enemies. By your mercy, bring their tormentors to repentant faith.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We ask your dearest blessings upon this congregation, so that in all we say and do, we proclaim the strong saving love of Christ. Strengthen our families, and make them into havens of safety, grace, and forgiveness.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Have mercy upon all who are tormented by mental illness; post-traumatic stress; substance abuse; or anything else that clouds minds, distorts personalities, and shatters souls. Give them release from whatever has demonic control over their lives. Restore peace, sanity, relationships and hope to them and to their loved ones.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Drive out from this world the demons of hatred, violence, apathy and injustice. Fill the hearts and minds of earthly leaders, and the people entrusted to their care, with your Holy Spirit. Give us all a passion for caring for our neighbors, especially those who are despised and afflicted; and grant us your peace.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant healing, strength, comfort and hope to all who are wounded in body, mind, or heart— especially {List}. Shield them from ever power of evil; drive from them the demons of despair; restore them to wholeness and to the company of all who love them; and fill them with the blessed peace of your Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Merciful Father, keep safe all who have died trusting in you. Comfort those who mourn.  Defend us in the presence of our enemies – sin, evil and death. Lead us into your eternal and glorious Sabbath rest, in which peace, wholeness and holiness are restored to all whom you have redeemed.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Graciously hear, and generously answer our prayers and petitions, dear Father, as may be best for us and to your greater glory, thorough your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

3^rd Sunday after Epiphany, Proper 2, Cycle B (January 24, 2021)

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (Jonah preaches, Nineveh repents, God has mercy)

 Psalm 62:5-12 (God judges all justly; trust in him)

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (the time as short; live accordingly)

Mark 1:14-20 (time fulfilled, Kingdom near, repent; I will make you fishers of men)

THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

With gratitude for the gift of Christ, let us draw near to our heavenly Father in prayer, asking his mercy for the Church, the world, and all who need his loving-kindness.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, yet again you show your patience, even when we are slow to understand, obey, and proclaim your Word. We are often so much like Jonah! Forgive us when we are half-hearted, or worse, grumpy when someone we dislike actually repents.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

You called Jonah to preach repentance to Nineveh; and your Son called his disciples to proclaim repentance and the coming of your Kingdom.  Give your Church boldness to preach of judgment, repentance, and forgiveness. And give it graciousness, so that many should gladly turn to Christ Jesus and be saved.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Many don’t want to hear your call to repent and believe the Good News. Some don’t tolerate those who do believe. Because of that, Christians suffer throughout the world. Have mercy on your servants; and do not let their witness falter.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Have mercy when, like Jonah, we want to run from the tasks you have called us to do! Renew our faith. Give us words that lovingly call others to repentance and trust in you. Shape our actions to model Jesus’ compassion. Help us to rejoice when someone surprises us with repentance or new-found faith.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We pray this day for our members in their middle years. Grant them the fire and enthusiasm of youth, and the wisdom and humility that comes with years. Form them into fishers of men and women, eager to make disciples for your Kingdom

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Bless the leaders of all nations, especially our own. Give them integrity, wisdom, humility, and sound judgment. {We pray for our President and vice-president, and for all who have taken an oath of office to serve the people of this nation in accordance with the Constitution.} Give us grace to live in concord and unity with one another. And give us peace.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We lift before you the needs of the lonely and bereaved; the forgotten and abandoned; the abused—and their abusers. Whatsoever they need, grant in double measure. Especially we plead on behalf of loved ones who seek our prayers, including: {List}. Grant them faith to firmly cling to your promise of health and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Holy Lord, we remember with reverence and affection our departed loved ones. Keep us united with them in bonds of faith and love. Turn our hearts in repentance and trust toward you. In your good time, deliver us into the fullness of that blessed Kingdom announced and promised to us by your beloved Son. With all the redeemed, let us praise and adore you forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Graciously hear, and generously answer our prayers and petitions, dear Father, as may be best for us and to your greater glory, thorough your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-23)

Who is the head of your local church?  Jesus.  Who is head over all of the governments in this world?  Jesus.  See things as they are and not as people pretend them to be.  Be guided by the truth that Jesus is not a nice idea, but the Eternal God become flesh, who dwells among us and is leading the faithful to the Father.  Let reality govern your days and your deeds and do not let the false narrative of this age, which are filled with lies and deceit, be your guide.

Lord, give me eyes to see and a mind to discern so that Your voice may be heard clearly over all of the noise of this age which surrounds me.  Guide me in Your goodness to live into the life to which You have called me through faith so that I may walk the narrow way of faith and be led by You.  Fill me with Your goodness and mercy so that I may reflect Your light to those around me.  Lead me as You so choose so that I may walk by Your direction.

Lord Jesus, You have come as the example of life.  You have come as the Mediator.  You have come so that all who follow You would know the way to walk in this world and the direction which leads to faithfulness.  Guide me this day so that I may humbly go where You lead and live into the life for which You have called me.  Let me not be led astray by this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind by focusing upon You.  Amen.