Prayers by the Pastor for the People of God
(Based on the hymn A MIGHTY FORTRESS)
We have just sung, Lord God, that You are A MIGHTY FORTRESS,
You are also, "A Shelter In A time Of Stress,"
"The Solid Rock" on which we stand,
and "Our Cleft In A Rock."
When some of us were in fox-holes, on foreign fields,
dodging bombs and bullets,
and we beheld buddies killed on our left side,
and others taken on the right;
according to Your providence,
You shielded us from all harm,
and enabled us,
to return to the land of the free and the home of the brave!
You are A MIGHTY FORTRESS!
When others of us found ourselves in the Emergency Room of a hospital,
clinging to life by a thread,
with little word of hope from doctors,
You miraculously turned things around,
and spared our lives.
You are a bulwark never failing!
Some of us, Heavenly Father, have seen the collapse of our marriages,
or have had conflict with our children, whose lives were out of control,
or have been burdened by sickly parents,
and were disinclined to receive our assistance,
or have been overwhelmed by the uncertainties which accompany the lose
of employment,
or have come-up against law enforcement officers--
we did not place our confidence in our own strength,
knowing that all our striving would be a losing battle.
Instead, we looked to Christ, to become The Right Man On Our Side!
Right now, Lord, some of use are assaulted by difficulties,
at the end of the rope,
bone-tired,
"on empty,"
spiritually exhausted,
and find it hard, to face another day!
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for You, God, have willed
Your truth to triumph through us.
Build a wall around us,
put to flight our enemies,
dress us with the whole armor of God,
guard us, from all endangerments, and unfurl Your banner of love, over us!
Joining with the assembly for the funeral of President Dwight David
Eisenhower,
present with the congregation at the National Cathedral for the Service
of Remembrance and Thanksgiving,
in the wake of the 9/11 attack on America,
enable us to affirm with the Psalmist,
and the hymn writer, Martin Luther,
contemporary recording artist Steve Greene,
and the Gaither Vocal Band,
the children and youth,
the men and women in this room,
that You are A MIGHTY FORTRESS!
And all the people said: AMENPrayer Based On The Hymn: MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF YOUR PEACE
O Lord and Master, Jesus Christ:
Since the very first time some of us heard this Prayer of Saint Francis
sung by the congregation,
with its angelic descant by the boys' choir,
from Westminster Abbey,
for the funeral of the Princess of Wales, in 1997,
this hymn has become for us, as it was for Diana, our favorite hymn!
We are grateful, that the New Zealand Sebastian Temple received global
acclaim for this composition, before his eternal departure,
later that same year.
Lord, it is our heart-felt aspiration and our soul's inspiration,
to be used now, and always,
as a channel of Your Spirit.
In a world where road-rage, drive-by-shootings, identity theft and hackers,
neighborhood vandalism,
and indiscriminate violence,
are commonplace--re-dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of peace!
In a time of racial discrimination, animosity towards immigrants,
religious conflict,
political back-biting,
inter-generational misunderstanding, and gender rivalry are everywhere to be
found---
we hold high above us, Your banner of love.
In a society which has experienced unprecedented discord to marriage,
the family,
the school,
the playground,
the workplace,
and even the church---enable those of us who have been beaten-up,
bruised,
wounded,
and broken---to learn from You, how to forgive!
And in a darkened age, when so many doubt Your presence,
Your power,
Your Person,
or Your very existence---supply us with true faith!
Not faith in faith!
But faith in You, Lord!
Savior, we are surrounded by men, women, and children whose lives are
filled with despair;
some have broken marriages, and troubled kids,
others have lost their jobs or fear a pink slip;
still others contend with major health-related issues,
or are weighed-down in grief,
by the death of someone very special to them!
In the darkness of their situation, use us in some way, to bring a lamp of
hope,
with a call or card,
or a present or a prayer;
emitting the light of the Scriptures,
and the joy of the Lord which is our strength!
O Jesus Christ, our Example: Help us to live-out Your Silver Rule:
"It is more blessed to give than it is to receive".
When we become like You, and display encouragement,
reveal understanding,
exhibit love,
extend pardon,
and give of ourselves,
that we die to self,
and are awakened to the abundant life.
Son of God, Alcoholics Anonymous has utilized the Prayer of Saint Francis
at its meetings,
Mother Teresa of Calcutta encouraged the Missionaries of Charity to recite
it a the beginning of each morning,
Margaret Thatcher winning the 1997 general election of the U.K., surrounded
by reporters at 10 Downing Street,
uttered these petitions;
Sylvester Stallone as Rambo said these words before setting off on a rescue
operation;
and we in this place,
join with Your disciples, past, present, and yet unborn, and pray:
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
And all the people said: AMEN!