Lord God heavenly Father, yours is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. All that is in the heaven and the earth is yours. We come before you in prayer, asking that you would open to us your bountiful and merciful hands and bestow upon us those things for which we ask:
We give you thanks and praise for the steadfast love that you have bestowed upon this congregation for the last 100 years and pray that you would continue to bless us in the days to come. Grant us a steadfast faith that we may walk before you with all our heart, holding fast to your words and remembering your faithfulness.
We know that heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this sanctuary, but you have graciously made yourself present here so that we can hear your voice and receive the real presence of your Son. Continue to bless and prosper the faithful preaching of your Word and the administration of your sacraments and grant us faithful hearts to receive their saving benefits.
Help us to be people of prayer, confident that your eyes are open towards us day and night and that you stand ready to hear and answer all of those who call upon your holy name.
By the blood of your Son Jesus Christ forgive us of our sins. For opportunities that have missed—for souls that we have ignored—for needs that have gone unmet—for all the times that we have not lived as your people—forgive us O Lord and empower us by your spirit to live new and holy lives devoted to helping our neighbor in his need!
Remind us that we are a pilgrim people-that as much as we love this place and are grateful for this house, there is something still better yet to come in the new heaven and the new earth. We give you thanks for the lives of our departed loved ones who now rest in your presence, those faithful men and women who have come before us; and we pray that you would draw us safely to the new Jerusalem where there is no pain or death or sorrow.
Like Zacchaeus, let your forgiveness and presence in this house make us generous stewards of the bounty you have given us. Because it is the mission of your Son to seek and save the lost, give us a fresh desire to share in his mission, witnessing to those in our community and joining with the church to reach the lost throughout the world.
Whatever else you see that we need and lack the wisdom to ask for---whatever is good for our neighbor and brings glory to you—we ask that you would grant to us dear Father for the sake of Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.
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