Pastoral Prayer, Sunday, August 21, 2011

Gracious God, our help in ages past, accept our worship as a living sacrifice so that we may be transformed by the power of your Holy Spirit, to be one in the body of Christ.  Fill our mind with the wisdom of saints so that we may not conform to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  Pour out your Holy Spirit upon our students and teachers.  As they begin a new semester of learning, may this year be fruitful in gaining wisdom, character, and friendship.

Holy Father, Father of Christ who put on flesh that we might be redeemed, give us the courage to follow Christ’s teachings.  By the power of your Spirit help us to go into the world confident of your saving work in Christ.  Help us to be witnesses of your grace through word and deed, action and abstention, so that as we have been transformed, we may transform the world.

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name.  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 continue to pray 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.