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Prayer Corner Are we being persistent in prayer?
Do we pray in faith believing that God hears and answers our prayers? Are we agreeing in prayer
for the work of the transition team and self-study process? Did you use the prayer list in the July newsletter?
We are to PRAY ALWAYS with PERSISTENCE, WAITING WITH PATIENCE AND HOPE depending on PRAYER, one of our chief sources
of POWER that enables us to connect to God.*
The Power of Prayer is not dependent
on the person praying; rather, it resides in the One who is being addressed in prayer. Scripture reveals
that God hears and answers prayer. In Matthew 7:7-11 Jesus assures us that our prayers will be answered;“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and
the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for
everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread,
will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then,
who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those
who ask him!” The power of our prayers is not dependent of the person praying,
the passion behind the prayer, or even the purpose of the prayer, for God answers prayers that are in accord with God’s
will. Sometimes God’s answers are hard to discover and even harder for us to accept. But if we listen
carefully, we will eventually discern what God is saying to us. We pray in
the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer, “Your will be done, on earth as in heaven.” Martin
Luther explains in the Small Catechism, “What does it mean when we pray that God’s will be done?”
His explanation: “In fact God’s good and gracious will comes about without our prayer, but we ask in this
prayer that it may also come about in and among us.” For August let us be persistent, as
we wait with patience and hope, depending on the One to whom we pray fervently to hear and answer our prayers according to
His will. Our Father, enable the Covenant congregation to be faithful in fervent prayer as we wait for your plan and
purposes to be revealed for future mission and ministry. Sustain the Transition Team, Church Council and
Pastor Terry as together we wait with patience and hope for our coming transformation. In Jesus’
name. Amen *Important points made in the Lutheran Woman Today Summer Bible study. + + + + Serenity Prayer God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the
things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other. Living one day at
a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as
it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be
reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.-Reinhold Neibuhr- Sun | Mon | Tue |
Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | | 1 10th Sun after Pentecost Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide,
& the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you,
& to treasure what is precious in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior & Lord. | 2 Praying together for Synod Mission & Ministry: Texas Impact; Ascension, Garland; San
Miguel, Ft. Worth. Lord, increase, inspire & expand TX Impact & these churches to make the love
of Jesus known. In His name. | 3 Lord, as school adminis- trators secure
needed staff for the new school year may they be effective in their role to inspire learning. May students
& teachers be refreshed and ready for the new term and hopeful for their future. In Jesus’ name. | 4 God, search my heart and the hearts of Your people. Bring revival
in the church & to the people in our nation. Open our eyes and change the direction of our nation so
that we return to You, sovereign Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen
2 Chronicles 7:14 | 5 Lord Jesus, you command- ed us
to love God & neigh- bor. Stamp this command on our hearts as a promise, a destiny & mandated hope.
We have failed & need your Holy Spirit to infuse us with unconditional love to fulfill the greatest commandment. | 6 Jesus, heal and restore broken families with an outpouring of
your incredible healing grace. Turn the hearts of parents toward their children. Reveal
yourself as the wonderful counselor who brings peace in homes. | 7
Holy Spirit, reveal all that is needed to the Call Committee to be named as Covenant moves ahead in transition
with hope & vision for the future. Pre- pare the pastor that will be your choice to be our Shepherd.
In Jesus name. | | | 8 11th Sun after Pentecost
Almighty God,
you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life & light of your church. Open our hearts to the riches of your
grace, that we may be ready to receive you wherever you appear, through Jesus Christ, our Savior & Lord. | 9 Praying together for Synod Mission & Ministry: Hope, Comanche;
Santa Maria, Irving; St. Peter, Malone. Father, use these churches to bring forth fruit
in the kingdom that will help fulfill the Great Com-mission In Jesus name. | 10 Lord, raise up godly & righteous men & women who will stand strong &
represent your values. Guide & bless our Congress that they may enact laws that will please You, to the glory of Your
name & the welfare of our people. Amen. | 11 Jesus, in You we have seen the glory of God.
Open our eyes to encounter you afresh. Finish what you came for: to make your dwelling among Your
people. Get our attention & master our affections. Reveal yourself to all. In your
name. John 1:14 | 12
Father, use military life to spread the gospel. Give soldiers wisdom & the fear of the Lord in their
duties. Supply grace for chaplains & other spiritual leaders. Fortify families stretched by numerous
moves and separations. In Jesus’ name. | 13
Lord, thank you for the gift of music and all who share their talent; for those who serve
as acolytes, ushers, lectors, prayer & assisting ministers & greeters that keep worship orderly
& meaningful. | 14
Lord of the Church, as Covenant moves forward with hope for our future ministry, open our eyes to the blessings we have. Give us vision & courage to be a bright beacon of light and fill us with your love. In Jesus name. | | 15 12th Sun
after Pentecost O God, you love justice & hate oppression, & you call us to share your zeal for truth.
Give us courage to take our stand with victims of blood shed & greed, & look to Jesus, perfecter of our faith. | 16 Praying
together for Synod Mission & Ministry: Grace, & St. Mattews, Ft. Worth; Disciple Life goal: Lutheran
Identity. Holy Spirit, empower all Synod churches to meet the goal of peace & justice.
| 17 Lord, help us to fulfill the word: “whatever
you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Amen. Colossians 3: 17 | 18 Father, your mercies are
new every morning. Help me see those I encounter today & the opportunity to serve them in the spirit
of love & grace with which Jesus has loved & served me. In serving others I serve you. | 19 God of Mercy, touch the sick with healing & comfort. Provide
for their financial needs. Sustain their care- givers & families. May they renew
their trust in Christ & follow him boldly, even in affliction. Amen. | 20 Good Shepherd, as pastors shepherd their flocks, fill them with wisdom & honored
by those they serve. Pour out the Holy Spirit in power & humility, giving a fresh touch from you. | 21 Father, draw young people to commit their lives to Christ and make wise choices. Provide solid friendships with their peers who follow Jesus
& openness with parents,
so they are your witnesses. | | 22 13th Sun after Pentecost Mighty God, as sinful creatures
we cannot stand upright by ourselves. In our suffering caused by human
sin, forgive us so that, we may rise victorious through Jesus Christ, our Savior. | 23
Praying together for Synod Mission & Ministry: Faith, Wichita Falls; Christ the Servant, Allen; Central, Dallas.
Lord, make these churches instruments of your love & grace with all they serve. In Jesus’ name. | 24 You who seek God, let your heart revive. For the LORD hears
the needy, & does not despise His who are prisoners.” Ps. 69:32-33 Lord Jesus make your presence known
to all prisoners & their families. | 25 Healing
Lord, make your presence known to those who have wounded relationships. Shield them from bitterness, anger,&
hopelessness. Heal them emotionally, physically, & spiritually. In
Jesus name. Amen . | 26
O God, meet the needs of those without work in a way that they can clearly thank you for your provision.
May they find meaningful employment & glorify you for it. Provide for righteous trade.
Amen. | 27 Lord, reveal to us someone who needs
a touch from you that we might do some act of humble service with no strings attached. Make your love known
to them through us. Amen | 28 Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Let all my words today reflect your love for me.”
Amen. | | 29 14th Sun after Pentecost
O God, you resist
those who are proud and give grace to those who are humble. Give us the humility of your Son, that we may
embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | 30
Praying together for Synod Mission & Ministry: N/Central E. Conf; King of Glory & Emmanuel, Dallas. Rain down your
grace on these churches that will refresh them to send forth workers to share the good news of Jesus. Amen. | 31 Lord Jesus, impart godly wisdom to
teachers & mentors to help form character in their students. Raise up intercessors who would know how
to pray for students, faculty, staff and the administration in all schools. In your name. | Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel
by using the prayer calendar each month. We share the holy calling as intercessors who uphold the work
of God’s kingdom. Our prayers go where we cannot. | Sunday
prayers are from Sundays & Seasons worship resource published by Augsburg Fortress. Monday prayers are from the 2010 Praying Together for Mission & Ministry of the North Texas/North Louisiana
Synod. | August
NT/NL prayer focus is Campus Ministry & Lay Ministry Academy
ELCA
Prayer Ventures “Portals of Prayer” are available in the narthex. . | Personal prayer concerns may be shared by phone, email, or written at Sunday worship. Prayer ministers are available after each Sunday service. Pat Dalrymple is Prayer Coordinator. 742-1029 psalm146two@att.net | ELCA Prayer Ventures, Freedom Five Guides,The Word in Seasonare available in thenarthex. | | | | | | |
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