Sunday, December 6 Prayers

Written and lead by Dave Thompson

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this beautiful day for the earth, moon and stars that you created.  Father we also thank you for St. Andrews Lutheran Church and Christian churches here in Stockton.  Thank you for the Christian churches around the world, and all the faithful who work so hard in these churches and ours to show us your love, and your healing Grace by their example and faithful teaching of your Word.  Father we pray for the whole world: we ask that you help and free those who are oppressed.  We pray for those who are sick, for the poor and ask that you would give comfort to the grieving - especially for the families of those who lost loved ones in San Bernadino.  We pray for all those who suffer in body, mind, and spirit; who live in pain everyday.  Father, we ask that you shed your light of healing on these, your people, all over the world. Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for our families, for our children, for our family of friends and acquaintances and Father we ask that in your loving kindness and mercy to help those of us that have a special concern or problem that may seem unsolvable.  Father, you are the One, the only One who can give us the Peace and Knowledge to make the right decisions.  Father, we pray for those who suffer addiction of any kind, for those who suffer from abuse and violence.  With your cleansing love bring healing and strength and by your justice lift them up so they may again rejoice knowing the love and faithfulness of your presence.  Lord, we ask that you bless and lift up those we name in our hearts.  Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Father we ask that you remind us to be good example to all those among whom we live; to be honest and conscientious in all we do.  Help us to be courteous; to be respectful toward all including those we don't know.  Help us to be respectful of our environment.  We know that you made this beautiful earth for us and all the animals in every form to live in and enjoy.  Father give us the grace to live and to share our love of Christ to anybody that asks us what it does in our lives so that they know we are his disciples.  Help us to be good stewards of your blessings, to share and freely give to those in need.  Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father,
We humbly ask for your protection of our military.  For the men and women in uniform in whatever capacity they are serving.  Father keep them safe in the face of evil.  We constantly fight in wars of every conceivable kind here and abroad.  Help us to prevail in holding strong in our Faith and abilities to overcome those who seek to destroy us.  Help su to work to preserve our right to practice our faith without fear.  We ask for your guidance and wisdom from our leaders.  Help us to come together in unity and strength.  Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Father we give thanks for what the earth produces.  Thank you for rain.  In this time of scarce rainfall we humbly ask for the life-giving water for farmers to grow fruits of the earth so that all may share, rejoicing in your goodness.  Bless those who work in the fields, the growing and nurturing of crops, and those who help in the harvesting of the beautiful agriculture of your creation.  Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father we also thank you for the ministry of the children of the Good Shepherd family.  It is hard to find works to describe the innocence and beauty of their Christmas program.  The Christmas carols sung so beautifully and happily by their voices raise our level of pure joy.  They are such a blessing and all those who care for them, who help run the program, and every one of the helpers are very special blessings.  Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

And lastly Father, thank you for the company of disciples who teach our children, following our teacher Jesus Christ, into every walk of life. 

Forgive our sins; help us to follow the ten commandments that so long ago you gave us to follow.  Help us to witness to your love wherever you send us.  Give your angels charge to keep watch, dear Lord, for those who sleep.  Give rest to the weary, bless the dying, and for those who weep, give them comfort knowing you are present.  Father help us to never forget that in this age of modern life, filled with a constant barrage of information - from phones and computers and all the instant ways of communication - that we only need to find a quiet room, and empty space, to be still and know that you are God.  These things we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The Holiday's are coming!

The holidays are coming!

The holidays are coming!

The holidays are coming!

Do you feel like that announcement sounds more like a call to action from Paul Revere riding through the streets than a call to greater rest, peace and joy?  If holidays (I believe the etymology is holy-days) are, by nature, times when we rest from our regular work and are meant to make deeper connections with God and with those in our family and community, why do so many of us make them times of frenetic activity and frazzled nerves?

If you read through the Old Testament you’ll see God wove many holidays (feasts and celebrations) into the very fabric of life of the Hebrew people.  Some of these lasted a day, some a week or more.  Besides the many special holidays/feasts, God gave his people one day each week to be at rest and connect more deeply with him and each other. 

Sadly that day became the most abused and shackled day of the week by the time Jesus walked this earth.  Instead of the freedom, rest, and joy it was meant to bring, hundreds of extra rules and regulations had made it a burden to conscience, a denier of justice, and and a miscommunication of the nature of God and the peace found with him.  As you read through the Gospels you’ll note many times Jesus directly challenges the popular misconceptions about the Sabbath that had grown up around it. 

Those misconceptions remain.  I must confess I have misunderstood and misapplied Jesus’ words on the Sabbath for the majority of my life.  His words, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath,” were meant to free people to experience the joy of Sabbath once again.  I have often interpreted and used them to the other extreme: rejecting the need for Sabbath in my life and thus depriving myself of one of the most basic rhythms for which I was created in God’s image. 

I know I am not the only one.  Busyness, overworking, and overloaded schedules have become pervasive idols in our society, even, and perhaps especially, among Christians.  To slow down, yes even stop regular activity (a “day off” to catch up on all your other business is not a Sabbath), for one entire day each week and extra time on vacations and holidays is often seen as lazy, self-centered, and unproductive.  Don’t believe me?  Have you ever come back from a vacation feeling like you need to recover from your vacation?  I rest my case.

This is not how God made us.  This is not what he made us for.  Jesus was saying that the Sabbath is meant to serve us, refresh us, heal our hurts, restore our weariness, and help us understand the very nature of God’s grace toward us.  As one theologian taught, “To fail to see the value of simply being with God and “doing nothing” is to miss the heart of Christianity.”  He means grace.

You will be greatly tempted during the holidays to just add to your schedule and (once again) miss the purpose of holidays.  I pray you have the power to resist that temptation and take this season to connect more deeply with God, your family, and community of faith.  You’ll note we have plenty of things happening around here during the holidays.  They aren’t meant to be a burden, they are meant to enhance your celebration of the story above all stories: the life and work of Jesus our Savior.  Take them in as they enhance your connection to God and others.  Rest alone with God if you need to.  Above all remember that Christ entered this world in human flesh to save you from your sin, make you a brother or sister in his father’s kingdom, and bring you home to rest and rejoice with him for eternity.  What a holiday that will be. 

Blessings - Pastor Dan