November 26, 2023
Pastoral Prayer
King of kings, we offer to you all of our praise and worship. As our prayer hymn says, “your name is wonderful.”
Your name is wonderful because you are a compassionate, loving, and gracious King. Your name is wonderful because you are our Good Shepherd who cares about each one of us as your sheep. Your name is wonderful because your rule is so different from earthly kings and politicians so motivated by self-interests and a desire for power. Your name is wonderful because you redefined what it means to be a King through your self-emptying and your willingness to die on the cross for our sins.
Today, we lift up to you those who are in need of a loving, just, and merciful King; for people who for whatever reason did not enjoy a Thanksgiving meal this past Thursday, for those who are struggling to make ends meet, for those searching for work and a more stable life, for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one especially during this holiday season, and for anyone who is in need of a new beginning. And for the hostages who have been recently released in Israel and for the continued pursuit of peace and justice in that region of the world.
And King of kings, hear our prayers for those on our church’s prayer list as well as others who are on our hearts and minds this day. May your gracious, caring, and healing love be with each of them and with each of us us as well as we lift them up in prayer. Sometimes when we pray for others, we are in need of reassurance that you really do hear our prayers. Thank you for being a King who doesn’t just rule from on high, but is also as close to us as each breath we take.
During this transition Sunday from between the long season of Ordinary Time to next week when we will begin the Advent Season, remind us to always keep you as our top priority in all that we say, think, and do.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, who is, who was, who is to come, and who has taught us to say together…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
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