The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Our most sovereign, holy, and gracious God, we thank you for the enjoyment of another Lord's day with your people in worship to you. We heard your voice through the preaching of your Word, and now, as we reflect on that which we heard, we pray that your Spirit would grant us the mercy and grace we need to do that which we have heard. Too often, we are like the church of old that did not listen to you as you spoke through your prophet to them. They were stiff-necked and rebellious and suffered the due consequence of their error. We do not want to be like them. We desire to hear and do what you have told us because you are worthy of our love and obedience. We long to be as holy as is possible for sinners. Please help us, Lord. Please continue to conform us more and more into the image of your Son. We pray all these things in His name. Amen.

Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise your name and thank you for revealing yourself to your people who you called a holy nation and a people for your own possession. We thank you for helping us with our weaknesses. We are a forgetful people and need to be shown signs and wonders that display your glory and greatness. As your church traversed the wilderness in the days of old, you gave them the pillar of fire and the cloud to guide them. As they crossed the Jordan, you commanded that stones of remembrance be erected on the river's western shore. Through these signs, you remind your people of your kindness to deliver them from sin and misery and bring them to a safe and prosperous land. Today, you give us the sign of your sacraments, and through them, we are again reminded of your love and covenant faithfulness as you exalted your Son and through him secured a people and gave great promises to them. Please help us, Father, to remember and to lay hold of these gifts that we might glory in you and praise you and walk with you. Forgive us for going astray and grant us more of your Spirit to live and serve you. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the exalted One. Amen.

Prayer: Almighty God, grant to your people a willing spirit to bless and love you and to live lives fulfilling the purpose for which you made us. We know that we are your redeemed people, and the work of the Lord Jesus has reconciled us as your chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for your own possession. You have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light that we would live lives holy and consecrated before you. Forgive us for our transgressions and sins. Forgive us for the many ways in which we go astray. Like sheep, we often wander and stray from your commands. Thank you for your patience with us and for forgiving us through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-14

The Savior graciously gave us the Lord's Prayer as a model of prayer and as one that teaches us how to pray. This prayer is used by many in various circumstances. It is often used in corporate worship as a prayer of the gathered people of God. Yet, many offer this prayer with very little thought as to what they are praying. When we pray mindlessly before our God, we treat him as common and not offering him our heart, soul, mind, and strength in worship.

Prayer: Almighty God, you who are the only true and living God, we bow before your majesty today and thank you for your kindness in providing for us another Lord's Day in which we can gather as your people and praise your name. We confess that we often approach you without reverence and awe. We often come before you with a casual frame and mind, forgetting that you are mighty and glorious and we are creatures of dust. Your Word reminds us of the need to treat your name as holy and honor and adore you. We fall short of that duty, and we ask that you would forgive us. Please help us today as we gather with your people to labor with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to worship you as you have commanded. Please grant to us willing hearts and minds to listen attentively to your Word as it is proclaimed. Please give us a great measure of your Spirit that we might commune with you with joy and delight. We pray all of these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.