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Week of Prayer
September 7-12, 2014
St. Pauls
United Methodist Church
INTRODUCTION
John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, said,
God does nothing but in answer to prayer. Indeed, prayer is our
primary pathway of relationship to God.
Throughout Church history and into present day, authors
have penned myriad books about prayer. We will not recount all
that wisdom here, but Christians through the ages have found again
and again that prayer makes a difference. Prayer changes things.
The United Methodist News Service recently published an
article that attempted to condense the insights of spiritual sages,
teachers, and everyday believers into ten tips about prayer. They
are as follows:
1. You are worthy. Do not feel guilty about the quality of
your prayer life, or fall victim to doubts and despair about your
worthiness to talk to God. Remember John Wesley's words: "In
Christ we gain more than in Adam we lost."
2. The more you pray, the richer your prayers become.
Like anything in life, to become good at prayer you must be
disciplined. Just as running is an exercise in physical fitness,
prayer is a spiritual discipline.
3. Prayer is active. Prayer involves action; namely being
attentive to God's voice in your life. Listening for God means
stopping and sitting still. It means paying attention to what God
may be saying to you at any point in your life.
4. Prayer should not be an afterthought. Prayer was the
backbone of Jesus' ministry. Often, he broke away from his
disciples to spend time with God. In the same way, prayer is
essential to individual lives and to the life of the church. Break
away from your daily routine for quiet time in prayer.
5. Surround yourself with people who are seasoned at
praying. People who've established prayer routines have much to
teach those wanting to draw closer to God. Seek out those who can
help guide and encourage your prayer life.
6. God doesn't require eloquence. Don't worry if you
fumble for words when you pray. God is not looking for
Toastmaster's graduates, but sincerity. If the words won't come,
God still knows what's in your heart. Lift up that desire.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7:
A SERVICE OF HEALING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8:
PRAY FOR OUR WORLD
I.
Invocation:
God, you so loved the world that you sent your only
Son in order to save it. Hasten the day when all of
your people may know the joy, peace, and harmony
of your kingdom. Grant unto me this day the power to
live within your kingdom. In the name of Christ.
Amen.
II.
Psalm 46:
To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah
III.
IV.
Prayers:
V.
Reflection
VI.
VII.
Benediction:
Go forth to serve in the strength, love, and presence
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9:
Invocation:
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of
the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and
in peace: Give to me and all the people of our country
a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that
we may use our liberty in accordance with your
gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen.
II.
Psalm 33:
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.
Praise befits the upright.
Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
he put the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
From where he sits enthroned he watches all the
inhabitants of the earth
he who fashions the hearts of them all,
and observes all their deeds.
A king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
III.
IV.
Prayers:
Military/Armed Forces
The states and their leaders (governors, legislators, etc.)
V.
Reflection
VI.
VII.
Benediction:
Lord, allow me, your servant, to go in peace. I have
experienced your salvation which you have prepared
for everyone. Uphold me as I seek to serve in your
name. Amen.
Invocation:
Lord God, through your grace we are your people:
through your Son you have redeemed us; in your
Spirit you have made us your own. We pray for this
local community and for all people in their daily life
and work. We give thanks that you have placed us
here to show your love. Amen.
II.
Psalm 48:
A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.
Within its citadels God
has shown himself a sure defense.
Then the kings assembled,
they came on together.
As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic, they took to flight;
trembling took hold of them there,
pains as of a woman in labor,
as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God establishes for ever. Selah
We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
Your name, O God, like your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.
Let Mount Zion be glad,
let the towns of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments.
Walk about Zion, go all around it,
count its towers,
consider well its ramparts;
III.
IV.
Prayers:
V.
Reflection
VI.
VII.
Benediction:
As Jesus went about all the cities and villages
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, let us go
forth in the power of the Spirit to proclaim the good
news of the kingdom in our time and place. Amen.
Invocation:
Almighty and ever-living God, ruler of all things in
heaven and earth, hear our prayers for our church
family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless,
and restore the penitent. Grant us all things
necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be
of one heart and mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
II.
Psalm 84:
To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A
Psalm.
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise. Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
For a day in your courts is better
III.
IV.
Prayers:
V.
Reflection
VI.
VII.
Benediction:
You have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Go
forth empowered and equipped by the Spirit to be
Christs body, doing Christs work in the world. Amen.
Invocation:
O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the
multitudes who have been created in your image but
have not known the redeeming work of our Savior
Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and
labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to
know and worship you as you have been revealed in
your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
II.
Psalm 67:
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
III.
IV.
Prayers:
Family members: pray for those whom you love and care
deeply to turn to God for salvation.
Neighbors: pray for those with whom you have regular
contact to seek and find God.
The community
Our church: pray that we will reach out to, welcome, and
disciple the lost with open arms
Global missions
Unreached people groups
Empowerment to share our faith
V.
Reflection
VI.
VII.
Benediction: