Gracious God, God of grace and glory, you call us to be your people, faithful and courageous. You created us, male and female, to love you and to love one another. Through disobedience our love for you became a fear of you. Let us once again hear your footsteps calling us to follow, so that our hearts fearlessly tremble with conviction and passion for your kingdom.
Holy Father, Father of Christ who embraced his mission in the waters of baptism, inspire us with the fire of your Spirit to join in Christ’s transforming work. By the power of the Holy Spirit, transform our fears and reservations to prayers of thanksgiving and resolution. Inspire us to live in community, embracing and carrying each other, so that through humility we may see your kingdom.
Sovereign Lord, Father of all by the power of the Holy Spirit, grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever as we pray with the confidence of the children of God, saying:
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
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.