EChurch@Wartburg – 5.18.14

Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=9549&picture=srdceLet CHRIST Live In Your Heart

Here is our Order of Worship


Prayer by Peter Marshall

(Peter was the much beloved Senate Chaplain in the 1940s link.)

I do need thee, Lord. I need thee now. I know that I can do without many of the things that once I thought were necessities,
but without thee I cannot live, and I dare not die.

I needed thee when sorrow came, when shadows were thrown across the threshold of my life,
and thou didst not fail me then. I needed thee when sickness laid a clammy hand upon my family
 and I cried to thee, and thou didst hear. I needed thee when perplexity brought me to a parting of the ways,
and I knew not how to turn. Thou didst not fail me then, but in many ways, big and little,
didst indicate the better way. And though the sun is shining around me today, I know that I need thee even in the sunshine,
and shall still need thee tomorrow.

I give thee my gratitude for that constant sense of need that keeps me close to thy side.
Help me to keep my hand in thine and my ears open to the wisdom of thy voice.

Speak to me, that I may hear thee giving me courage for hard times and strength for difficult places;
giving me determination for challenging tasks. I ask of thee no easy way, but just thy grace that is sufficient for every need,
so that no matter how hard the way, how challenging the hour, how dark the sky, I may be enabled to overcome
.
In thy strength, who hast overcome the world, I make this prayer.
Amen. 


The Daily Prayer of Mother Theresa link.

DEAR JESUS,
help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love
 Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine.
Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus.
Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.
Amen

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:25-30 (NASB Bible Gateway)

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation…"

A Prayer for Victims of Abuse link
(Remember the abuse victims this week)

“God, we pray for victims of sexual abuse. We pray for healing. We pray for deep comfort
 We pray that you will restore what has been stolen and broken.
While you do not alter history, you reveal your love in the present and the future.
What seems hopelessly shattered, in you can be redeemed.
For the many millions who have been defiled in sexual abuse,
show yourself to be loving and able – as you are willing – to give back life, and life abundant.
Yes, there is great pain in this world. There is injustice. There is evil.
We turn to you and cry out for help and healing. We cannot help but wonder why such horrible abuse happens.
But we turn from “why?” and ask instead, “how?”
How now will your perfect goodness and love find expression in the shadow of wickedness?
God, you are good and loving and also all powerful.
Yet you have risked giving humans the right to choose how we will live.
Some choose evil. For those who are victims of other’s vile deeds, we ask you for grace and healing.
For those who have suffered, come to them tenderly and with overwhelming and powerful love.
We join Jesus’ and borrow his words, “Be freed from your suffering..”
God, Heal the victims of sexual abuse, in Jesus name.”
Amen


A prayer for the week ahead by John van de Laar link.

Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
to care for all that are close to us,
to protect those who are threatened,
to welcome those who are rejected,
to forgive those who are burdened by guilt,
to heal those who are broken and sick,
to share with those who have little or nothing,
to take the time to really know one another
and love as you have loved us.
 
Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
to spread compassion to those who are far away,
to speak for those who are voiceless,
to defend those who are oppressed and abused,
to work for justice for those who are exploited,
to make peace for those who suffer violence,
to take the time to recognise our connectedness,
and to love as you have loved us.
 
Good Shepherd,
Teach us to follow you
and to be faithful to calling you gave us
to be shepherds in your name.
Amen.

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 5.18.14 — 4 Comments

  1. And just like that as a man, blessed by John Piper’s teaching I reassert male authority and patriarchy on e church!! :-p

  2. Hey Eagle, at least you you’re not attempting to brainwash me into believing how good and glorious God’s plan of your firstness is.