Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Covered Bridge With Autumn Leaves
Here is our Order of Worship
A Prayer of Relinquishment by Richard Foster link
Today, O Lord, I yield myself to You.
May Your will be my delight today.
May You have perfect sway in me.
May your love be the pattern of my living.
I surrender to You my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions.
Do with them what You will, when You will, as You will.
I place into Your loving care my family, my friends, my future.
Care for them with a care that I can never give.
I release into Your hands my need to control, my craving for status, my fear of obscurity.
Eradicate the evil, purify the good, and establish Your Kingdom on earth.
For Jesus’ sake,
Amen.
A Prayer by William Barclay link
1907-1978 link
O God, you are our refuge
When we are exhausted by life’s efforts;
When we are bewildered by life’s problems;
When we are wounded by life’s sorrows:
We come for refuge to you.
O God, you are our strength.
When our tasks are beyond our powers;
When our temptations are too strong for us;
When duty calls for more than we have to give to it:
We come for strength to you.
O God, it is from you that all goodness comes
It is from you that our ideals come;
It is from you that there comes to us the spur of high desire and the restraint of conscience.
It is from you that there has come the strength to resist any temptation, and to do any good thing.
And now as we pray to you,
Help us to believe in your love,
so that we may be certain
that you will hear our prayer;
Help us to believe in your power,
so that we may be certain
that you are able to do for us
above all that we ask or think;
Help us to believe in your wisdom,
so that we may be certain
that you will answer,
not as our ignorance asks,
but as your perfect wisdom knows best.
All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB Bible Gateway)
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
A Prayer by St Patrick link
@460 link
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven,
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through a might, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
of the Creator of Creation.
Amen
Prayer of Teresa of Avila link
1515-1582 link
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
Amen
Thank you,
William Barclay and Teresa of Avila – really? You know neither was a Bible believing Christian because you posted links to their unbelief. Is this your idea of a drive-by spoofing?
Are there no real Christians you could use for prayer and spiritual guidance?
@ Rick Brentlinger:
Before you wrote this comment, I am sure that your read through the prayers. Why don’t you tell me why the prayers are theologically wrong?
Secondly, I am sure that you have read through all of the prayers of EChurch. So, what’s wrong with them?
A long time ago, I stopped judging the souls of those who claim to follow Christ. I leave that to the One whose pay grade is way above mine. Perhaps you can go to those churches who claim to hold the keys to deciding who is, and is not, a Christian. You might feel more comfortable.
I can assure you that many people sitting in the pews get some theology wrong as well.
Finally, I never spoof when it comes to a church worship service.
Hi Dee – didn’t mean to offend but it seems a bit odd that The Wartburg Watch, a title referencing the Reformation, now endorses prayers from a leader of the Catholic Counter-reformation, Teresa of Avila, and William Barclay, a Trinity denying Universal Salvationist who also rejected the virgin birth, the miracles of Jesus, the substitutionary blood atonement and the reality of hell, and Richard Foster, a leader of the contemplative movement which teaches the pagan practices of Eastern religions AS IF those will help Christians get closer to God.
“A long time ago, I stopped judging the souls of those who claim to follow Christ.” – Dee
Your comment is astonishing, simply astonishing.
Rick Brentlinger wrote:
My husband is astonished by me on a daily basis! I am glad to have brought excitement into your Monday.
Dee…Rick…always good to see comments that point to further research. Catching up on the echurch services…and saw these comments…and at this time, was in the throes of finishing the Commentary series by William Barclay for Romans & the James/I & 2 Peter series. Saw minor issues with his observations but upon further research as Rick Brentlinger pointed out, I would agree in substance that a printed prayer by Rob Bell would be no different than that of William Barclay. They both shared many attributes of beliefs that are in conflict with the creeds and the basis of why we believe in our faith. Anyway, up until researching what was discussed above…I too would have posted prayers by Barclay…but upon doing due diligence which is what the girls of Wartburg are known for, I would have to say….Barclays prayers as viewed sound great, but his theology sucks. Thanks Dee, thanks Rick for the comments. Allowed further research on my end….
I don’t agree with everything the Apostle Peter “said” and “did” but I would read his prayers in public, unless he was denying Jesus or cutting off ears. I would skip those moments. He was wrong, yet he was very much valued by Jesus. Peter had other wrong beliefs that you may recall.
Bridget wrote:
Bridget, here is where the foundational beliefs of the creeds and the early church fathers arise so that neither you nor I can determine what we agree with or disagree with in terms of essential doctrines. Everything you read on Wartburg is usually concerns addressed on secondary issues by those claiming some divine authority. Not to debate on Peter/Paul, but I kinda think the issue on the prayer by Barclay would be in similar terms to posting a prayer by Robert Morris, or John Piper, or CJ Mahoney….guys whom are held in high esteem by the evangelical community but hold positions and teach doctrines that are devastating for the church…yet,….I could bet you would find some well designed prayers for these men to post. If a man takes a position that is absolutely contrary to scripture and potentially eternally damning to those who follow, we need to be more wise in validating said person. Therefore, we must dig deep and review all aspects otherwise the pastors whom Wartburg criticizes would themselves find their prayers posted here if not for the solid research that goes into looking behind the doors of their faith. What we see on the outside might hide dangers from within…until I saw Ricks comments, I had no idea of Barclay and now have done much much more research which concerns me greatly on how Barclay presents the Gospels. Just saying….