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God Of Love, It's Tough Being A Christian...

Intercession
Prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:

The Church of Christ

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

The local community

Those who suffer

The communion of saints


These responses may be used:


Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

God of love, it's tough being a Christian. You don't make life easy for me, you don't even stop awful things happening to me. But you do give me some fabulous and wonderful and thrilling times, even if they're sometimes followed by dark clouds and isolation and pain. God of love, help me to accept the principle that whatever happens, you love me passionately. And dear God, enable me to learn and to grow strong through my wilderness experiences, that I may be ready for whatever work you wish me to undertake.

God of love, it's tough being a Christian. Help me to accept the principle that whatever happens, you love me passionately, and enable me to learn and to grow strong through my wilderness experiences.

Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness.

Almighty God our heavenly father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.

God of Creation, your church isn't always very good at recognising patterns. Some of us want to be on a high all the time, and others of us are constantly in the depths of despair. Help your church to realise that church life follows the pattern you set through your son Jesus Christ. With the episcopal church throughout the world we pray for the church of Rwanda, asking that as it continues to dramatically increase in size, it may follow your pattern for its future.

God of Creation, help your church to realise that church life follows the pattern you set through your son Jesus Christ. With the episcopal church throughout the world we pray for the church of Rwanda, asking that as it continues to dramatically increase in size, it may follow your pattern for its future.

Strengthen N our bishop and all your Church in the service of Christ; that those who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

God of justice, when we look at the terrible conditions in the poorest countries in the world, life doesn't seem very fair. Help us all to identify with your children in their present pattern of suffering, that we may all learn through it and seek to relieve that sort of suffering by working together to follow your will.

God of justice, when we look at the poorest countries in the world, life doesn't seem very fair. Help us all to identify with suffering, that we may all learn through it and seek to relieve it.

Bless and guide Elizabeth our queen; give wisdom to all in authority; and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and of peace; that we may honour one another, and seek the common good.

God of compassion, we hover on the brink of yet another world war, and the whole world is reeling from shock. Somehow our patterns of family life and society become distorted, and we don't know how it happens. As you value and care for us even in the wilderness, so teach us to value and care for each other that we make all grow to love what is good and detest what is bad.

God of compassion, as you value and care for us even in the wilderness, so teach us to value and care for each other that we make all grow to love what is good and detest what is bad.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours; that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.

God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. Lay your healing hands upon them that their wilderness times may emerge into strength and health. We name them in our own hearts...

God of the future, we bring into your presence those of our friends and families who are sick. Lay your healing hands upon them that their wilderness times may emerge into strength and health. We name them in our own hearts...

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit...; give them courage and hope in their troubles; and bring them the joy of your salvation.

God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died, either recently, or in previous years at this time. May they feel your arms around them, giving them the strength and support and love they need. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....

God of love, some of our friends feel hurt and bereft because someone they love has died, either recently, or in previous years at this time. Especially we remember the family of ...., and those for whom this time of year brings a sad anniversary....

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ....; according to your promises grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of (N and of) all your saints, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love and we ask these prayers through him who set the pattern, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Merciful Father,

Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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John Jamison
Object: This message is a role play about Jesus and the fishermen. Use a fishing casting net if you can find one, but you can just use an old sheet if you can’t find an actual net.

Note: You can have some fun with this role play. Just follow the activities and expand on them as much as you choose. When the characters speak, you can either do it yourself or have the children repeat what the characters say after you.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
Tom Willadsen
For February 9, 2025:

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Frank Ramirez
I occasionally include short clips from a movie in order to illustrate a point. I always check and make sure our CCLI license covers films from that particular studio just to keep things fair and square. Either way, do not show the clip I’m about to reference — just quote it. Robert De Niro is credited not only with delivering the famous line, “Are you talking to me?” (Taxi Driver, 1976) but also inventing it on the spur of the moment.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Isaiah 6:1-8 (9-13)

StoryShare

Peter Andrew Smith
Henry peeked through the curtain and saw the crowd of people waiting. “Wow!”

“I know, right?” Liz closed the curtain. “Who would have ever thought that all these people would come to see us? I mean, I knew that the families would come and maybe that some other people might come too but I never expected that all those other folks would come too.”

“We did do a lot of advertising on social media and your posters were amazing,”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Call to worship:

Jesus said, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." In our worship today let us pray for courage to venture out from the safety of our church into deep water so that we may put down our nets for a catch.

Invitation to confession:

Lord Jesus, sometimes we cling to the boat and are afraid of the deep.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, sometimes we are so concerned for ourselves that we fail to trust you.

Christ, have mercy.

SermonStudio

Stephen P. McCutchan
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart ...
-- Psalm 138:1a

Harold C. Warlick, Jr.
The weather that Sunday was beautiful in Augusta, Georgia. The middle-aged minister and his wife, after being away eleven years, returned to their perch by the sixth tee at the Masters Golf Tournament on the Augusta National Golf Course. It was their spot. They'd sat there in former times, when they were younger, healthier, and, perhaps, less wise. Sitting beside them were two young college students. The young man was blonde and well-built. He was holding hands with a pretty coed. She was well-tanned, and had a ribbon in her long pony tail. They made a cute couple.
Ron Lavin
There are many wonderful passages in the book of Isaiah, but none lovelier than this gem - the call of Isaiah in the temple of God. This text is lovely and bright in spite of dark elements of sin and unworthiness, because the light of God calling is not overcome by the darkness into which it comes. The light overcomes the darkness. The mission of Isaiah is to represent God. The mission of the Church of Jesus Christ is the same. That mission begins with vision.


Vision
J. Ellsworth Kalas
It's funny what experiences and phrases will stay with you from childhood. I still remember a line from a song which apparently was popular, for at least a short period of time, in my early childhood. It was a half-funny, half-pathetic little lament from someone who felt rejected and unsuccessful. As I recall, each verse ended with the phrase, "I guess I'll go eat worms!"

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