Week of Feb. 17- 23, 2013

Heavenly Father, we come asking the blessing of wisdom for our elected officials across the nation. Thank You for giving each an extra measure of enlightenment to govern. May they be strengthened by Your teachings in the Holy Scriptures to better fulfill their duties. May these teachings enlighten their decisions. May they put aside personal ambitions and speak truth in all situations. May God direct their thoughts and behaviors as they strive to govern for the betterment of all the people. We pray for our elected leaders to be your dutiful servants, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

— Romans 13:1 (NIV) (Jerusalem)

Week of Aug. 12 - 18, 2012

Dear Lord, You are amazing to declare such a promise to Your children! Your bond of love is unbreakable, unstoppable, and unconditional. We pray for each other to remember these words when we feel betrayed, lost, forgotten, or broken hearted. We will never be separated from Your love, but only saturated in Your love. Help us to embrace this truth with all of our mind, heart, and spirit. Thank You, Lord, that You care that much to extend Your hand of hope from heaven by way of our Savior, Jesus. We pray this in His holy name. Amen.


“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8:38-39)  NIV

Week of April 22 - 28, 2012

Our great God and Father, we are overwhelmed as we contemplate the reality of the cross and the resurrection of your only Son. Father, we are not deserving of such love and compassion, but You gave it anyway, motivated by your love for us.

Jesus, thank you for willingly going to Calvary's Cross to die for our sins. Now guide us, Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we would accept and cherish this free gift of forgiveness. May we also forgive all those who have done us wrong. Help us to love like You, Lord.

This we pray in the loving name of Jesus. Amen.  

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Romans 5:8 NIV)

Week of Feb. 19 - 25, 2012

Merciful Father, we are reminded of what St. Paul said to the Romans as he urged the casting off of the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light.

Help us as we begin the preparation of the observance of the supreme sacrifice of Your Son, to make a greater effort at loving one another as You have commanded. Assist our prayers, our alms-giving, and our fasting as we turn our faces and our minds to the message of the Cross.

We pray in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

“The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”

Romans 13:12 (ASV)

Week of Sept. 25 - Oct. 1, 2011

Dear Lord, I pray that my day may be blessed with the peace of finding little ways to slow the pace and quiet my soul. May this day be blessed with simple moments of thanksgiving, and the joy of knowing that You are present here within me. You bless me with every good gift from above. I ask that today I may come to know You better, and to seek to do Your will in my life. All honor and glory be Yours forever. I ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

Romans 11:36 (NIV)

Week of Sept. 11 - 17, 2011

We pray today, Lord, that from the ashes will rise a new spirit of beauty and unity in America. Already, all across this nation our hearts have been knit together into a new tapestry of one America. Because of this tragedy, we have been bound together by a silver chord of hope and brotherhood and sisterhood. What was meant to drive us apart has really drawn us together. May we always remember. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

-Rev. Wintley Phipps

“For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39 (Jerusalem)

Week of December 13

God, Father and loving Creator, may we be lights shining brightly in this world, a world that often forgets that You sent Your beloved Son, Jesus, to be the Light, vanquishing the darkness of sin and death. Fill us with Your Spirit of love, peace, and hope as we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Christmas, when Your Son came as a humble, lowly infant to save and redeem us. May the light of His truth be in every person’s life so that God can continue loving the world through us. I pray in Jesus’ name.

"The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

(Romans 13:12, NIV)

Week of November 1

Dear Lord, You made us for lives in families and in community. What I say and do reveals who I am as a follower of Christ. I am to be Your hands and feet in the world today. What a tremendous responsibility, but also a tremendous opportunity to share Your spirit of love, compassion, and justice with others. May I embody all that You want me to be. Be my source of grace as I go about my work today. I ask all of this in Your holy name. Amen.

“…The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

(Romans 5:5, NAB)