August 25, 2010

Gracious God, who has redeemed us from the oppression of our sin, give us the courage as Your people to assume our responsibility to speak up for those who have been oppressed because of their sins or the sins of others.  We know You will hear our prayer because we ask it through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

Prayers

Pastor: Father, thank You for giving us a wonderful message to speak.

People: Thank you for promising that if You are for us, nothing can be against us.

Pastor: Thank You for giving us a wonderful message to speak.

People: Thank you for the forgiveness and the hope we have in Jesus.

Pastor: Forgive us when we fail to apply this wonderful message to the life issues facing our nation and Your people.  We have been silent too long. Help us speak …

People: For the children still in their mother’s wombs that the brutality of abortion will come to an end.

Pastor: We have been silent too long. Help us speak …

People: For those experiencing a crisis pregnancy, those dealing with terminal illness, and others who are vulnerable and in distress that they might know, through us, God’s love and support.

Pastor: We have been silent too long. Help us speak …

People: For those who are burdened by the sin of abortion that they might know, through us, the forgiveness, hope, and healing that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor: We have been silent too long.  Help us speak …

People: So that fellow Christians might better understand the spiritual nature of these life issues and join their voice with ours.

Pastor: We have been silent too long. Help us speak …

People: And bring change to our nation, which more and more seems to offer death as the solution to the problems of life.

Pastor: We have been silent too long. Help us speak …

People: And help us speak not just with words but also with actions.                                   

Pastor: As a congregation, help us speak and do more. Help us understand that the life issues give us occasion to share the message of Your Gospel. Give us direction and opportunity for our speaking and doing.

People: Give us the courage and the resources to take advantage of the opportunities You will send so that we can be this world’s salt and light.

Pastor: We thank you for Lutherans For Life and for speaking Your message of life through them. 

People: Continue to provide them with the resources they need, not to speak for us, but to equip us to speak with them.