Pastoral Prayer for Christ the King Sunday

Holy God:

We come before you acknowledging you as King of our lives and inviting you to reign supreme in our world.

So often, we are tempted to feel as if you are distant, and that the arrogant and evil forces that seem to rule our world are truly in charge.  

You came preaching a kingdom of love.  And yet, our world is full of hatred.  You called yourself the prince of peace, and yet wars and rumors of wars are all around. You came with a promise that your kingdom would bring the wiping away of every tear, the end of suffering and heartache.  We seem overwhelmed by the poverty and brokenness that surround us.  You came saying that your kingdom had come near, but it seems as if your coming has been delayed and the world you described is  fantasy.

So teach us, holy God, to have no king but you.  Teach us to build the New Jerusalem.  Teach us to establish you reign of love in all our living and doing.  Make us citizens indeed of your kingdom that is not of this world.  Strengthen us and empower us to be salt and light, agents of reconciliation and redemption.

We give ourselves entirely to you.  Have you way.  Be our King.  May your Kingdom come.  May your kingdom come in us.  May your Kingdom come through us.

Amen.

Pastoral Prayer for Thanksgiving

Holy God:

We have no words to express the gratitude we feel for all you have done.  You have given yourself to us in Jesus.  You have given us your life.  You have loved us long before we were aware of you.  You have been gracious to us in our failings and never held our sins against us. 

You have poured out the blessings of life upon us.  You have given us food to eat, clothes to wear, friends and family who love us, homes in which to live, cars to drive, and so many other things we so often take for granted or are tempted to think we have gotten for ourselves through our own diligence.

You have given us so much more—you have given us the privilege to live in a free and peaceful land where we can worship according to the dictates of our own conscience.  You have given us health.  You have given us a sound mind.  You have filled us with joy.

You have also filled our lives with purpose and meaning by making us agents of redemption and ministers of your Gospel.  You have given us an open heaven and the ability to speak to you in prayer anytime.  You have given us your spirit, your wisdom, you guidance. 

Our hearts overflow with all the good things you have given us, all the ways you have shown your love and shown us that we are deeply loved. 

We ask you to make us truly thankful.  To always take time to say what it has meant to us that you have shown your goodness to us.  You have made us beloved children and treated us like no earthly parent ever could.  And so, we thank you.  We are eternally grateful to you.

Amen.