[Our church received six people into church membership at our 10:30 service. Left to Right - Lina Blunk, Barb Ward, Sarah Mangen, Sophia, Kathy Mangen, Lewis Mangen. Our worship theme was on the various thirsts we have and how Jesus can use our thirsts to bless others and fill us anew. For the sermon, click here.]
O God, we’re thirsty. We’re thirsty for all kinds of things like love, power, freedom, fun, and security. Thank you for creating each one of us with unique thirsts for life and for people in our lives who know that we can never have enough ketchup bottles stored in our food pantry.
You know our needs. You know our deepest longings. Just like you did for James and John, help us to know when we’re thirsty and what you are calling us to do with those thirsts.
When we get thirsty, take us to that cold and clear flowing stream. When we need to cool down, help us to feel the mist of a water-fall. When we grow tired, like the Psalmist, lead us beside those still waters.
O God, baptize us afresh in the life-giving Spirit of Jesus.
Living Water, bless our thirsty world; thirsty for justice, thirsty for peace, thirsty for equality, thirsty for freedom, thirsty for the basic necessities of life.
Living Water, bless our thirsty community; thirsty for knowledge, thirsty for hope, thirsty for compassion, thirsty for a loving faith community that is authentic and truly cares.
And Living Water, bless our thirsty church family; thirsty for continued growth, thirsty for life-transforming loving, learning, and living faith ministries, thirsty for your healing presence, thirsty for being a haven of blessing and peace in this university community.
Just as the beautiful autumn leaves begin to fall around us, may we also allow our worries, our stresses, our sins, our brokenness, our unfulfilled dreams, our hurts, and our doubts to just gently fall to the ground.
Replenish us and fill us anew even as we pray the prayer you taught us to say together,
Our Father, who art in heaven…
No comments:
Post a Comment