A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 2

A PRAYER FOR EPIPHANY 2

OT. Psalm. 40

11 Do not, O Lord, withhold

    your mercy from me;

let your steadfast love and your faithfulness

    keep me safe forever.

12 For evils have encompassed me

    without number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

    until I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head,

    and my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me;

    

O God

Deliver us

from the troubles that surround us

We who are unloved

feeling abandoned 

relationships torn and tattered

We who are aging

deserted in lonely rooms 

never visited in nursing homes 

Have mercy on us

Surround us

with your everlasting arms

and most gracious love

O God

Deliver us

from the troubles that surround us

We who are poor

finding no work 

no paycheck for groceries or rent

We who hunger

whose cupboards are bare

and children cry out 

Have mercy on us

Shower upon us 

With your bountiful harvest 

and fill our stomachs and souls

O God

Deliver us

from the troubles that surround us

We who lash out in anger

believing conquest silences foes

and satisfies our wants and needs

We who are targets

of gang violence and acts of terror 

living in fear and hiding from enemies

Have mercy on us

Protect us from war and violence

providing safe harbor

in your everlasting Shalom

Hear us as we pray 

Your Son's prayer

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil

For yours is the Kingdom and the Power

and the Glory

Now and forever

AMEN

NT. 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you Lord Jesus

for enriching our lives

by your presence within us

We can live with grace and courage 

knowing that you walk beside us every step

lifting us from our descents into

bouts of defeat and depression 

We can risk ourselves

our lives and our fortunes

trusting that you are with us

saving us from times of trial

and protecting us from evil

We praise you Lord Jesus

for enriching our voices

to preach your Gospel

We can lift our voices

to speak for peace and justice

for you give us the words

to call for an end to war and violence

We can march in the streets

and disrupt the money changers

for you March beside us

your spirit pervades every struggle

We praise you Lord Jesus

for giving us true knowledge 

to discern the needs and hurts around us

We can be present with an aging parent

or sick and terrified child 

because our hands become your hands

our ears become your ears

We can stay at the the bedside 

or embrace at the graveside

because your living presence

reminds us that death is never the victor 

We praise you Lord Jesus

for enriched us

with your presence and speech

and knowledge

in every way

every day

Amen