Listening to God

Called to Listen (Mark 1:21-28)

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Gracious God, in today’s world, it can be hard to know who we should listen to.
Who should be our authority in a world that is too black and white?
Help us to discern the truth by listening to all sides.
As we listen to the stories of those around us,
help us to see ourselves in their stories and
help us to see you in their stories.
You should be our authority
but sometimes we allow ourselves to be pulled by the material worl

Gracious God, call us to listen to you
and inspire us to fulfill your plan here on earth.
Open our eyes to the vision you have for us here in this world.
Open our heart to your teachings.
Open our ears to the cries of those around us and
open our arms to share our talents and treasures with those in need.
We are your followers and in your authority, we share your good news.

Call on us, Lord, we are your followers.
We gather here each week in this sacred space.
We are your followers and we support one another as your family.
As we support those who are in pain or in need of healing,
we ask that you be with ___ and fill them your healing presence
and gift of grace.
As your community, we also celebrate and lift up fellow members in joy.
We lift up ___ .

Gracious God, we celebrate your authority in this world.
Remind us always that your word takes precedence over the world around us.
When we face conflicting views in our world today,
grant us the comfort of your never-changing ideals and guidelines.
Our understanding of the material world that surrounds us
may change over time, but your teachings remain constant.
Call us to understand, call us to listen, call us to fulfill your plan here on earth.

As we respond to your call, we use the words your Son taught us,
“Our Father…”

Called to Challenge (1 Samuel 3:1-20)

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Speak, Eternal One, because we are listening.

Or maybe we only think we are listening.
Maybe we are allowing the world to drown out your message to us.
Maybe we are filtering out what we don’t want to hear,
keeping only the part of your message that fits into our understanding.

Help us to find the quiet, to find a place that allows us to hear you.
Help us to find the courage to truly answer your call.
Help us to have the wisdom to follow your call.

Speak, Eternal One, and help us to truly listen to you.

Hearing your call is not always easy.
You call us when we are not ready.
You call us when we are not expecting your call.
You call us to do things we think are too hard.
Help us to be open to your call.
Help us to be ready to respond to your call.
Help us to be willing to accept your challenge.

Speak, Eternal One, as we remember those who answered your call.

We remember Dr Martin Luther King Jr.
We remember Rosa Parks.
We remember Jackie Robinson.
We remember Rachel Carson.
We remember Eleanor Roosevelt.
We remember Abraham Lincoln.
We remember Martin Luther, John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli.
We remember all those who fought for social justice,
to make all people equal,
to protect and nurture our environment,
and to bring your words and your teachings to everyone.

Speak, Eterrnal One, and remind us that we are your children.
Open our hearts to your teachings and your guidance.
Open our eyes to the needs of those around us.
As we support one another, we ask that you be with those among us,
who need your healing grace and your peace. We name ___.
And as you speak to us, we lift up our voices to you,
using the words your son taught to us, “Our Father…”

Live By The Spirit (Galatians 5:1, 13-26)

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If we are to live by the Spirit, Lord, help us to be guided by the Spirit.
Help us to set aside our own selfish desires and
to live fully within the Spirit.
Help us to love one another as we love ourselves.
Protect us from arrogance, anger and jealousy.
Open our hearts to the desires of the Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.

We have become a divided country,
politically, economically, and spiritually.
As we choose new leaders,
we ask that you help us choose leaders who will unite, rather than divide.
We pray that our leaders will govern with wisdom and compassion,
focusing on what is best for all members of society,
regardless of political parties.
We pray that they are committed to justice and peace
within our communities and within the global community.
Open our hearts to the desires of the Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray that we can come together as a nation,
choosing the best we have to offer and leaving behind the greed and angst.
In our disagreements, open our ears to hear the potential truth in others.
Give us the strength to seek peace and reconciliation rather than righteousness.
Open our eyes to see the pain others face and
to help us recognize solutions rather than assigning blame.
Open our hearts to the desires of the Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.

As your people, we gather together in this sacred space.
As your people, we support one another in times of sadness and worry.
We lift up the names of those among us who need your healing touch
and gift of strength, naming ___.
As your people, we celebrate with one another in times of joy.
We also lift up __ with thanksgiving and gratitude.
Open our hearts to the desires of the Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.

We live by and are guided by the Spirit,
the Spirit that has given us many gifts.
Help us, Lord, to see how we can use those gifts to help others
and to fulfill your plan here on earth.
As we lift up our hearts to the desires of that Spirit, we use the words
you taught us, so many years ago,
“Our Father…”

Listening for You (Luke 10:3842)

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Our world is a busy and chaotic world.
So many different things compete for our attention.
It can be hard for us to hear our own thoughts,
to take a moment to just be.
And, sometimes, we spend more time
dealing with day to day tasks
than we do in daily prayer and meditation.

In the morning, when we first wake,
before we think about our first to-do,
help us to give you thanks for a new day and a new beginning.
Help us to be present with you in the early morning quiet.
Open our hearts to your will in our lives.

During our day, as we cross items off our to-do list,
remind us to spend time with you again.
Open our ears to those we encounter during our day,
especially those who we may not know well or
who have different life experiences than ours.
Help us to be present with them and to truly hear their story,
and help us to hear the words that they leave unspoken.
What are they afraid to share with us?
Remind us that the gift of our attention is sometimes
the most valuable gift we can give to someone.
Help us to be present with you in the busy of our day.
Open our hearts to your will in our lives.

As we spend time with our friends and families,
remind us that this time is precious in our lives.
In what seems like moments rather than years,
children grow and become teenagers and then adults,
spouses and our relationships with them evolve,
and parents age and require assistance.
Help us to be present with our family,
to truly listen to their story and to know them fully.
Remind us that our time and our attention is worth more
than any material gift.
Help us to be present with you within the love of our family.
Open our hearts to your will in our lives.

As our day draws to an end, remind us again
to hear your voice in the quiet of the night.
As we think back over our day,
help us to hear when you spoke to us throughout the day.
Help us to be present with you in the stillness of the night.
Open our hearts to your will in our lives.

Ever-loving God, you are always present with us.
As we support each other, we ask that you be with those among us
who need some additional support and strength.
We name ___
And, while we seek out your voice in our daily lives,
we lift up our voices using the words Jesus taught us,
Our Father…”

Our Public Face (Matthew 6:5-13)

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Lord, we confess that we often wear a public face.
We say what we think that people want us to say
even if we think differently inside.
We do what others expect us to do
rather than what you would expect us to do.

We lift our prayers and concerns up to you
and know that you hear our every word.
You know our public words
and our private thoughts and actions.
You know what we ask for and
you know what we truly need.
You know us completely and you cherish us
as we are.
We know that you are with us and
we feel your loving presence with us always.

Help us to merge our private and public lives
into the life that you have modeled for us.
Help us to see what is important in our lives.
Remind us that worldly riches and earthly things
are temporary.
We say the words, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
Give us the strength and will to make those words come true.

You know our public words
and our private thoughts and actions.
Nudge us when you see us acting like hypocrites.
Nudge us when you see us ignoring those in need.
Nudge us when we begin following a different path.

We know that you are with us always.
We ask that you especially share your grace and strength with ___
We pray with the words that Jesus taught us,
“Our Father….”

Call Us Today (Isaiah 42:1-9)

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Some of us have grown up in the church,
and we cannot remember not knowing you, God.
Some of us have come to you through marriage,
through relationships, or on our own.
But, when we take the time to think about it,
we know when you called us to be your own.

You have called each of us to be here today.
You called out our names and we have responded.
We are in awe of you,
you who have created the heavens and the earth.
Before we were born, you knew us and loved us.

Call us today, set your plans before us.
Remind us that it is up to us to make this earth
as it is in your heaven.
You taught us to be a light to others,
light the flame within us.
You taught us to fight for those who are powerless,
give us the strength to take on those battles.
You taught us to share our resources with each other,
open our eyes to the needs of those around us.
You taught us to love our enemies as we love ourselves,
surround us with your love and forgiveness to soften our hearts
so that we can pray freely for our enemies.
You taught us that you are always with us, Lord.
Be with those among us who need your strength and grace today.

You have called us to be your followers.
We are here, Lord.
Call us to do your will.
As we lift our hearts to you, we also lift our prayers to you, using the words that your Son taught us,
“Our Father…”

In This Time of Lent (John 2:13-22)

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In this time of Lent, we place our earthly worries and concerns before you.
You came to us, Lord, assumed our world, and became man.
You know what it is like to be one of us, the frailty of our bodies,
the fullness of our senses and the range of our emotions,
the weakness of our will power, and the depth of our love.

In this time of Lent, we are raising ourselves up to you.
We are spending time thinking about how to give you our best.
Open our hearts to you,
Open our minds to you,
Open our eyes to you.

In this time of Lent, we are realizing that you were one with us
and we are one with you.
We are your children, Lord, each of us uniquely loved and equally cherished.
We embrace your love, and seek to do your will.
Show us how best to make our world your heaven on earth.

In this time of Lent, we seek not to give up earthly things,
but to seek out spiritual learnings and to become better disciples.
Open our hearts to you,
open our minds to you,
open our eyes to you.

As your children, we know that you are with us always.
We ask that you be with ___.
We ask that you be with us and teach us how to share the good news of your teachings.

In this time of Lent, and throughout all times, we use the words you taught us,
“Our Father…”

Imagining the Future (Luke 24:44-53)

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Jesus, you came to us as a baby,
a child of Mary and Joseph,
but also the Son of God.
As parents, we look at our children
and imagine their futures.
Mary and Joseph could not have imagined your future.
A child of man, a child of God.

Our church today, formed __ years ago,
was once an infant,
full of promise and potential,
full of hopes and dreams for the future.

Jesus, you came to us as a man,
a man who shared the teachings
and the love of his Father.
As your followers, we look to you
and imagine our futures.
Your disciples could not have imagined your future.
A child of man, a child of God.

Our church today has nurtured and taught us for the last __ years.
We celebrate the teachers among us, past and present.
We remember and honor those who saw the promise and the potential,
who faced their fears and set aside their own desires,
to fulfill their dreams of the future.
Could they have imagined the future that came to be?

Jesus, you were crucified and resurrected,
you left your disciples and ascended into the heavens,
changing our view of God forever.
As your followers, we know that it is up to us
to make your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
It is up to us
to share your love with those we meet,
to speak up for the voiceless,
to feed the hungry,
to share your teachings,
and to work for peace and justice in this world.

Father, we are your children.
Each of us uniquely cherished and deeply loved.
We are here in this place and time, by choice.
Our church has helped to shape us into the people we are today.
We celebrate one another and thank each other, and you,
for our history and for our future.

Our church today, formed __ years ago,
is still full of promise and potential.
We have hopes and dreams for the future.
We ask that you be with us to help us follow your plan,
your teachings.
We know that you are with us.
We know that you have shared our world
and that you know our pain and worries.
We ask that you be with ___ and
grant them your healing peace and strengthen them

As your followers, and as members of the body of Christ,
we lift our voices together using the words you taught us,
“Our Father…”

Born of Water and Spirit (John 3:1-17)

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We are the children of God, born of water and of spirit.
We come together as your church, as your body.
Fill us with your spirit, open our hearts to your will
and help us to trust your plan for us.
Stir up our lives as the wind stirs up our world around us.

We are the children of God, born of water and spirit.
We were born of the flesh,
but have become born again of the spirit
through your teachings.
We open ourselves to your spirit,
we allow ourselves to be blown about according to your will.
Stir up our lives, excite us with your passion and your desires.

We are the children of God, born of water and spirit.
And yet, our vision of our Father, our understanding of You,
is lacking in comprehension.
We know we are loved and uniquely cherished by you,
but we are still full of questions and sometimes doubts.
You understand our fears, our concerns, and our questions.
Your wind whispers to us, coaxes us, convinces us, and
pushes us in directions we may never have considered.

We are the children of God, born of water and spirit.
Remind us that we are your hands here on earth,
our voices are to speak for the powerless,
our gifts are to be used to feed the hungry,
our feet are to follow your path and your plan,
and it is up to us to share your teachings with those around us.
We are your children, and we know that you are with us always.
We especially ask that you be with ___ and grant them your healing touch.

We are the children of God, born of water and spirit.
We are your church, your community.
Your spirit, like wind, flows through us, moves us, and shapes us.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we feel your presence among us.
We open ourselves to your teachings and to your desire.
Open our hearts to your plan here on earth for us,
for both the people within and outside of your church.

We are the children of God, born of water and spirit.
We use the words that your son taught us, lifting up our hearts and voices to you,
“Our Father…”

What We Hear (1 Samuel 8:4-20)

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There is so much noise in our world today.
We fill our moments with this noise,
we fill our hours with the busyness of the world, and then
we lose our days to the never ending list of things to do.
Lord, help us to take a moment, to take a deep breath,
to stop and listen,
to be in the moment with you.

Whisper to us. Call us by name, as you have known us
before we were born.
You are with us always, but we sometimes focus too much
on the noise of the world around us.
Open our senses to your call, to your presence.
Lord, help us to take a moment, to take a deep breath,
to stop and listen,
to be in the moment with you.

Each of us has heard a different call,
but you have called each of us to be here today in this holy space.
Each of us is your child, equally loved and uniquely cherished.
You have called us, with a whisper, with a gentle voice, or with a shout.
Despite the how, the why is to fulfill your plan here in this place, on this earth.
Lord, help us to take a moment, to take a deep breath,
to stop and listen,
to be in the moment with you.

The noise around us can be deafening.
The world around us can be overpowering.
The pain we feel, or see in others, can overwhelm us.
Remind us that your message to us, here in Lancaster county,
is the same message that you would give to a single mother
on welfare in the inner city of Baltimore.
We are your children, each of us equal in your eyes.
We are your hands here on earth,
to make this world as it is in heaven,
to work for peace and justice for all,
to lift each other up and to support one another,
to share our gifts and talents with each other,
to treat the environment and the gifts of your creation with wisdom and protection,
and to share the teachings of your good news with all we meet.

Father, you are with us always even when we fail to listen.
We ask that you be with ___, members and friends of the congregation
who need your grace and your healing power.
We ask that you reach out to those in our neighborhoods who may not yet know you.
Open their hearts to joining us to ask their questions.
Open our hearts so that we can truly hear their questions and
help us to freely share our journey with them.

Lord, help us to take a moment, to take a deep breath,
to stop and listen,
to be in this moment with you.
As we open our hearts and ears to you, we use the words that your Son taught us:
“Our Father…”