I have always found as much inspiration and grace in writing prayers for Sunday morning worship as I have found in sermon-writing – often more. It is a task that requires great care and which also invites the use of a faith-inspired imagination. In my best weeks, it is on Monday or Tuesday morning that such prayers are written, if only because on those days I am free of the mad-dash-to-Sunday-morning mentality that begins to take shape in me as of about Wednesday.
This is not to say that I always put in the time required to fulfill this task well, or that my prayers are inevitably careful, thoughtful, or faithful. But it is to say that prayer-writing is a like any other spiritual discipline, meaning that Christ can take our thoughtful and meagre offerings up into his good purposes. I am grateful for the privilege – and am reminded that this privilege is one into which all of God’s people are and should be invited.
For all of that, here is a prayer of approach for this coming Sunday, January 19th (inattentive to the lectionary, in good Reformed Tradition):
O living God, it is the first day of the week, the day of our Lord’s resurrection, and this morning we have gathered before you in his name. We come with a song of praise on our tongues, with prayers of longing rising from our hearts, and with our ears attentive to the word we know you will speak.
O living God, each one of us could have decided to be any number of other places this morning. We could be at home now, still snuggled under a duvet. We could be at the kitchen table reading the news on our tablet. The malls are open and we could be out shopping. The café’s are almost buzzing, and we could be sipping a latté. But we gather here this morning to remember and celebrate the one who is risen this day – even Jesus.
O living God, we claim no special merit for having made the decision to be here – for it is the merit and grace of Christ that have drawn us. We claim no particular holiness for having made the decision to be here – for it is his holiness and goodness that have sparked our love and our imaginations. We claim no special wisdom for having made the decision to be here – for it is the wisdom of Christ that we seek, a wisdom that will make sense of our lives and world.
O living God, may Jesus the living Word be among us as our worship leader this morning. May your Holy Spirit be among us to enliven our hearts and minds. In our worship together, renew us as your children, and strengthen us for life in Jesus’ kingdom. We pray in his name. Amen.
