Prayer For the Sermon on February 21, 2010 "THE WORLD IS EVER NEAR"

Blessed Abba hear our prayer. We confess our need to return to you. We confess our desire to reconnect with you and to place you at the center of our thoughts and actions. We realize that we have an opportunity, during this Lenten season, to examine our spiritual core. If we should discover that we have neglected and starved that part of our selves, dearest Lord, give us spiritual nourishment. If we discover that our spiritual core has been injured, please, heal the hurt and help us move to a new level consciousness. If we discover that we are imprisoned by bitterness, anger or resentment, we entreat you most merciful and forgiving God, to break the shackles that bind us and wash us clean. Teach us to be honest with you and with ourselves as we journey toward spiritual maturity. For all of this and more we shall give you thanks and praise as we follow Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.

Offertory Thought
When we look for comfort from the things of this world, we are often soothed by soft things, sweet things, things that dull our senses, activities that physically exhaust the body, release its tensions or relax us into sleep removing us from the stresses, strains and anxieties of the world. Lent is a time of turning to God and discovering the love and comfort that the world cannot and will not provide.

Prayer For The Sermon on February 14, 2010 "TRANSFIGURATION"

Glorious God, wondrous Creator, we give you thanks and praise on this day of LOVE as we remember how you have ever loved us. You have made and kept covenant with us over and over again at last revealing the extent of your love in the person and sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. We humbly acknowledge that we, indeed, have a part in keeping any covenant relationship strong, vital and alive. If we have been lax or distracted in our commitment please forgive us. As we enter into the season of Lent this coming week, help us to focus on the covenants we have made with you, with our partners and our congregation. We will nourish our commitment partaking of the sacraments and build up its strength through prayerful exercises. We will serve one another and prepare to be the spiritual leaders you have called us to be. May our faces reflect your light within us shining forth the true radiance of your love and grace. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer for the Sermon February 7, 2010 "TRADITIO(OOO)N, TRADISHAN, TRUHDYSHON"

Gracious and Ever-living God, we are grateful for the opportunity we have, everyday, to give you thanks and praise, and most especially on this Sabbath day. By our confession of faith we are called to be servants of your creation and followers of your Christ. You prod us to seize every opportunity to live out the faith we confess. We are daily aware of the plight of so many who are living, dying and contending with grievous circumstances, who are in need of our help. We wonder if anything we do can make the smallest dent in their tremendous need. Let us not be overwhelmed by all that we hear about and see. Remind us, Almighty God, that when we serve our brothers and sisters in your name, hand in hand and step by step we are working to advance the cause of your gospel. Make us instruments of your mercy, love, peace, and goodwill sharing who we are and what we have with others. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

OFFERTORY THOUGHT
Did you know that the antonym of the word tradition is innovation? Innovation is about novelty, modernization, improvement, advancement and originality. Now that is certainly a broad definition. The United Methodists launched their “Rethink Church” campaign encouraging church folks to become more hands-on in their work and in 2009 members of this congregation joined Craig Miller’s effort to “Innovate Church” which seeks to help congregations move ever forward innovating to keep the good news vital, fresh and alive for the generations to come.

Prayer for the Sermon January 31, 2010 "TERRIFIC BOUNTY"

Loving God, our Creator and Sustainer, we open our hearts to your leading. When we take time to think about it we become acutely aware of missed opportunities to minister to others in your name. We confess a desire to work within our comfort zone, skittish about stepping outside or beyond it. Help us, dear Savior, to understand that the open hearts, open minds and open doors we proclaim, work two ways. They invite new people to come in and participate in the ministries of the church and dare us to go outside and minister to our community beyond these walls. Reveal to us those who are longing to hear the good news for their lives. Empower us to speak as witnesses to your power and grace. And finally, O Lord, let us also be transformed and inspired by sharing our stories with friends and with strangers. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

OFFERTORY THOUGHT
Have you ever felt you had more than enough, more than you needed, plenty, a plethora, an abundance, a bounty, ample amounts, a lot, lots, loads, heaps, masses, stacks, of anything? Most people would say this describes their debt not their bank account. Interestingly enough, an abundance of anything, even God’s grace, can be as frightening as a dearth, perhaps because it is human nature to think there are strings attached.