The Pastor’s Corner

Prayer: Grant, almighty God, that you would kindly and gently lead your people safely to our heavenly rest. We know that you have promised never to leave us or forsake us. We know that your Word promises that the good work you began in us will continue it until that great day. Sadly, and much to our embarrassment, we forget these simple truths too quickly. We forget that we live our whole life -- each moment -- before your face. We forget that you see all that we do, say, and think. Forgive us, Father, for the sins we commit, those sins of omission and commission. Please give us the zeal to obey you in all things and all ways. We give you thanks for your patience with us, not treating us as our sins deserve. We thank you that you are faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Who is like you, our God? Who is so kind and good to regard your creatures made in your image with favor? Who but you would condescend to our weakness and rescue us from our stubborn selves? We lift our eyes to heaven, and we praise your name for saving us. We plead with you to rescue many from the snare of sin and death and the tragic end it all brings. Be pleased to save and usher many into your kingdom we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: Almighty God, we thank you and praise you for granting us another day to honor and adore you and to live our lives to glorify you. We thank you for the gift of life. We know that we are the work of your hands because you made us and fashioned us after your image. In the beginning, you made us from the dust of the ground and breathed into us the breath of life, and we became a living soul. We know that you made us walk with you just as our first parents did in paradise. Yet, due to their sin, we fell with them in that Garden and were plunged into a life of misery. Despite that rebellion, you promised a Redeemer who came in the fullness of time to reverse the effects of the fall and to bring us back into union and communion with you. Though we are now your people, we still transgress your law and fall short of your glory. Forgive us, Father. Please grant us a greater zeal to obey you. Please give to us what you command and help us by your Spirit.

We pray for our loved ones and those living in rebellion against you. We pray for their eternal state and ask that you turn their hearts of stone to flesh and make them able and willing to believe the mandates of the Gospel. We know that only you can save. We know that you alone can open blind eyes and deaf ears. We understand that the heart of man is desperately wicked, and only you, by your grace, can turn that evil that resides within it to that which is good and right and holy. Therefore, we plead with you to do what you love to do - forgive sinners. WE thank you, our God, for the great work of salvation given to us through Christ our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, as we gather for another Lord's Day as an act of love and service to you, we desire to honor you with our lips as an accurate reflection of our hearts. Though we know our shortcomings -- how we often fall short of your glory, we thank you that you do not treat us as our sins deserve. We are miserable creatures of dust; unprofitable servants, slow to learn and slow to understand all that you tell us. Our sins are ever before us, and they usually show up with our words as a reflection of our black and unsanctified hearts. Oh, how we mourn the loose lips that often invite a beating. Oh, how we are ashamed at lips that seek to bless and praise you while, at the same time, they curse our brothers and sisters made in your image. Forgive us, Father. Forgive us for such evil and wicked behavior. Please do not treat us as our sins deserve. We thank you that our Lord and Savior atoned for our heartless worship and lips that are often hypocritical as we sit in your worship while our hearts remain far from you.

Prayer: Grant almighty God that your redeemed and chosen people would behave in a manner worthy of the calling that we have received. We are thankful to you that you have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. We are grateful that you have unstopped our deaf ears and given sight to our blind eyes. We thank you for the Savior who rescued us from the coming judgment that all men, outside of the ark that is Christ, will suffer. Just as in the days of Noah, so too in our day will all wickedness and evil devices of men come under your terrible judgment. We grieve at that reality as we look and see countless people who would rather suffer your wrath for all eternity instead of entering the ark and being rescued from that which will never end. We mourn their eternal state and plead with you to save those of our friends and family from a tragic and hopeless end. Our Father, you delight in the forgiveness of sin. Would you not be pleased to save them? Please, for the sake of your glory and kingdom, rescue our loved ones giving them eyes to see and ears to hear we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer: Our glorious and majestic God in heaven, you are sovereign and mighty, full of splendor and strength and a God who delights to rescue pitiful people. You gave us your Word and promised that through the seed of the woman, a redeemer would come to save his people from their sin and misery. In the fullness of time, you brought forth your Son, born of a woman, born under the law that he might rescue his people from the curse of the law. The wonder of your wisdom and grace is inscrutable. Your ways are beyond understanding. We stand amazed that you, the thrice-holy God, would be pleased to consider us and save us. Though we are grateful and offer you thanks with our lips, we know that our actions are often far behind our words. We profess faith in you, but often we act without faith. We say we trust you, but often we are worried and anxious. We say we believe your Word, but often we lean on our understanding. Forgive us, Father. Left to ourselves, we would be a people to be pitied. But you did not leave us to our own devices. You rescued us and saved us that we would dwell on your holy hill. We thank you for forgiveness and cleansing of unrighteousness. WE pleased your favor and grace that we would live to your glory we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.