Prayers for Sunday March 18, 2001

Third Sunday in Lent

Invocation or Call to Worship

Almighty God, throughout the week we hear so much bad news. We hear bad news about famines, fires, and floods. We hear bad news about robberies, murders, and wrecks. There seem to be whole days when the so-called news of the day is Bad News. Help us now in this hour to hear Your Good News, that we may have a renewed faith, that even in the midst of trouble, we may trust that You are our Deliverer. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Merciful Lord, "repent" is a message that You speak to us time and time again. Yet it is a message that we often ignore. In fact it is a word that immediately makes us want to walk away. We figure that repenting is something that we can put off until another day. We feel no sense of urgency to reform our ways. But as we watch the news, and as we see how tragedy can change lives in an instant, do not allow us to delay any longer. Enable us to see each day as being a gift from you, a gift for us to use by walking in Your ways. In the name of our Savior we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Heavenly Lord, so often we put off until tomorrow what we should do today. We know the resources we have: the time, the talent, and the treasures we have to give. Inspire us to put those good gifts to use now, that they may bear fruit for Your Kingdom. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

God of all time and all places, there are occasions in our lives when we begin to doubt whether You really are in control. We hear of construction workers dying in senseless accidents. We see the film footage of human beings who have been slaughtered in the name of ethnic purity. We watch television and see images of house fires bringing a sudden end to innocent lives. We take all that in, and our hearts quake within us as we ponder whether we are left to battle the forces of evil in the world all by ourselves.

Almighty God, in those difficult times, help us to believe that You are always with us. Empower us to trust that there is nothing in all of creation, not even death, that is able to separate us from Your love. Give us the courage to walk each day, not with our heads bowed low, but with our heads lifted up as we look forward with steadfast hope to that day when You will bring an end to evil, and Your Kingdom will burst forth in all its glory. These things we ask in the name of Christ the Lord. Amen.