Full Joy

John 15:1-17 

Our Father,
Keep us in your Son.
Prune us,
Don’t cut us off.
May we bear abundant fruit for you.
Keep us abiding when we have little strength.
Give us the courage to ask boldly
That you may be glorified.
May we keep your commandments
Especially the command to love.
May we be defined by love.
May we be a people of love.
May full joy be in us.
May we marvel that your son calls us friend.
And has chosen us to bear abiding fruit
Amen

Not Anxiety; Now Joy
Philippians 4:2-13; 21-23

Father

Give us hearts of unity.
May we choose joy in you.
May we live as if you are at hand,
conscious of your presence and your coming.
May we not be anxious.
May we instead choose prayer, supplication and thanksgiving.
Enjoying your peace and guardianship.
May we think truth, honour justice and seek purity.
May we think lovely, commendable and excellent
May we be full of praise
And may we enjoy your peace, reveling in your grace forever.
Amen

What is my purpose?
John 10:10-18

Father our purpose is you
May we know you
Enjoy you
Glorify you
Love you
Cherish you
Always
Amen

 

Perseverance in Mission
Acts 18:1-21

 

Our Father in heaven!

What sheer privilege it is to be able to call you father and know it to be true.

We plead for stamina and patient endurance for the task of mission.

We long for courage to persevere faithfully in the face of opposition.

May the gospel so burn in us that it keeps us steadfast and fills us with joy,

So that others may also know your fatherhood.

Amen

Suffering and Growth - John 15:1-11; Hebrews 12:4-11

Father you have joined us to Jesus,

Grafted us into the vine.

From eternity past,

You have granted us the privilege of your son abiding in us and with us.

We need nothing else,

You have given us your joy,

And your love,

We ask that we might desire to abide in you.

Of ourselves we seek independence and freedom,

We seek to live apart from the vine,

Keep us abiding,

Give us the strength to abide.

And may your joy be fully manifest in us

For your glory alone,

Amen

Hope is Born - Christmas 2018 - 1 Peter 1:3-9

Father of Jesus,

You deserve our praise,

You have showered us with mercy,

Injected life into our dead souls,

Given us a sure and living hope,

Through the cosmic act of the resurrection of your Son.

Now our inheritance is sure,

We are shielded by your power,

And we are filled with joy.

Though now we suffer,

We are being refined,

Proven genuine;

So that you will be praised, honoured and glorified when Jesus is revealed.

You have filled us with joy,

For we are receiving the goal of our faith the salvation of our souls.