August 1-7, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

Life Giving Prayers for Your Church

Saturday, August 1: Lord, I lift up my pastor to You. Thank You for his servant's heart. Keep him from losing heart when ministry gets tough. Help him prove faithful with the things you have entrusted to him. Teach him Your ways so that he knows You and finds favor with You as he leads us. Keep him open and honest before You and help him to represent the truth plainly (2 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 4:1-3; Exodus 33:13).

Sunday, August 2: Lord, I lift up my elders to You. Help us respect and honor them as they direct the affairs of our church. May they wholeheartedly give their attention to prayer and ministry of the Word. Keep them above reproach, devoted to their families, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable and able to teach. May they be gentle and honest as they deal with people (1 Timothy 3:1-2 & 5:17; Acts 6:4; Titus 1:7).

Monday, August 3: Lord, I lift up my deacons to You. May they walk worthy of respect with sincere hearts. Keep them from indulgence and greed. Help them keep hold of truth. May they keep short accounts with You so that their conscience is clear. Bless their households with peace and respect. Fill them with Your Spirit and let them operate in wisdom as they carry out their responsibilities (1 Timothy 3:8-9, 12; Acts 6:3.

Tuesday, August 4: Lord, I lift up the adults in my congregation to You. May we live worthy of Your call on our lives. As we respond to that call, fulfill every purpose, every faith-filled act of service by Your power. May we be clothed in righteousness with hearts that sing for joy and delight greatly in You. We want to walk with You, Jesus, dressed in white, adorned with jewels (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Psalm 132:9; Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 3:4).

Wednesday, August 5: Lord, I lift up the children and youth in my congregation to You. May the little ones remain humble examples of what we adults need to become in the kingdom. Let their conduct always be pure and right with reputations that show that they remember You, Creator God. Teach them to declare Your marvelous deeds. May they flee evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (Matthew 18:3-4; Proverbs 20:11; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Psalm 71:17; 2 Timothy 2:22).

Thursday, August 6: Lord, I lift up the senior members of our congregation. Thank You for every gray hair attained by righteous living. We are blessed by their example and ability to train us. Help us to be humbly submissive as we benefit from their wisdom and understanding. Help them receive the strength and power You've promised to the weary and weak. May they put their hope in You and be renewed in the process (Proverbs 16:31; Titus 2:4; 1 Peter 5:5; Job 12:12).

Friday, August 7: Lord, I lift up the lost members of our congregation. Let the gospel be presented to them not only through the sermon but also with power, the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. Teach us to make the most of every opportunity to share Your salvation. Help us to be the fragrance of Christ to them. We stand against the enemy and his attempts to keep them blinded to Your truth (1 Thessalonians 1:5; Colossians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 2:15, 4:4).

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July 25-31, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of prayers focusing on GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Saturday, July 25: “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures” (Psalm 119:89-90). We praise You as Creator of heaven and earth.  Everything You made still exists today because of Your faithful, loving care.

Sunday, July 26: “Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you” (Psalm 143:1-2). God is faithful to hear our prayers and answer us in His righteousness. He sees us as righteous because of Jesus blood, shed for us.

Monday, July 27: “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago” (Isaiah 25:1). We exalt You, Lord, and praise Your name, for You alone are God, and You alone do wonderful things. You are a God of plans and purposes, and Your plans are always carried out.

Tuesday, July 28: “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things’” (Luke 24:44-48). We praise You, Jesus! You were faithful to keep every detail of the centuries of prophecies given about You in scripture. Because of Your great love and faithfulness we can be saved and released from our bondage to sin.

Wednesday, July 29: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18). We thank You, Jesus, for taking on our flesh and successfully defeating sin and temptation. We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who strengthens us to win the victory over temptation.

Thursday, July 30: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in us and empowers us to develop godly character.

Friday, July 31: “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever—holy and awesome is his name” (Psalm 111:7-9). Everything that our God says and does is full of His faithfulness, justice, perfection, and trustworthiness. Holy and awesome is His name!

July 18-24, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of prayers focusing on GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Saturday, July 18: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23). We praise You for Your great faithfulness to us.  You faithfully love us every day and treat us with compassion.

Sunday, July 19: “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill” (Numbers 23:19)? Rejoice today in the truth that our God is unchanging, and He faithfully keeps all of His promises.

Monday, July 20: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Because of God’s constant presence with us, we can have strength and courage - He will never leave us or forsake us.

Tuesday, July 21: “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant” (Psalm 25:8-10). We praise You for Your goodness and uprightness. Thank You for being our teacher, for faithfully leading us in Your ways.

Wednesday, July 22: “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God” (Psalm 31:3-5). Praise God, our faithful rock and fortress, our refuge and our Redeemer.

Thursday, July 23: “So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:43-45). We praise You, Lord, because Your Word is upright, perfect, and trustworthy. All of Your works declare Your faithfulness.

Friday, July 24: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4). Your faithfulness, Lord, is a protective shield around us. Thank You for defending us from our enemies and for covering us and drawing us close as a mother bird covers her chicks.

July 11-17, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of prayers focusing on GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Saturday, July 11: “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Call on the Lord to guard you against the evil one, knowing He is faithful to do it.

Sunday, July 12: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’  …What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do” (Isaiah 46:10-11). Thank you, Lord, that we can know that your purposes will stand and that which you have said you will certainly do.

Monday, July 13: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail” (Isaiah 51:6). Lord, in times of uncertainty, remind us that your righteousness will never fail and your salvation will last forever.

Tuesday, July 14: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Lord, I know that too often I am not faithful in my relationship with you. Thank you that I can know that you are always faithful even when I am not.

Wednesday, July 15: “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10). Thank you, Lord, that no matter what is happening around me I can know that your unfailing love for me will not be shaken.

Thursday, July 16: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5). We praise You, Lord, for Your goodness, Your steadfast love, and Your faithfulness that continues from generation to generation.

Friday, July 17: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (I Thessalonians 5:23-24). We are thankful, God, that You are faithful to sanctify us completely through the work of Your Spirit living in us.

July 4-10, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of prayers focusing on GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Saturday, July 4: “O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption” (Psalm 130:7). Thank you, Lord, that your love for us never fails and you are the one in whom we can put our hope.

Sunday, July 5: “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Thank you, Jesus, that we have the assurance that, though people may leave us and many things around us may change, your words are eternal.

Monday, July 6: “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). Lord, thank you that we can trust you to keep us strong to the end because we know that you are a faithful God.

Tuesday, July 7: “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). Trust in the Lord’s faithful, unchanging character.

Wednesday, July 8: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Spend time in confession, knowing that God is faithful to cleanse and forgive you.

Thursday, July 9: “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:3-4). Give thanks that the Lord who made you is the one who sustains you and carries you even to the end of your days.

Friday, July 10: “ …to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…” (Psalm 92:2). Lord, help us to have eyes to see your love and faithfulness that we may proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

June 27 - July 3, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of verses about PRAYER

Saturday, June 27: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We are thankful that You never tire of hearing our prayers, but desire for us to communicate with You continually.

Sunday, June 28: “To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place… Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” (Psalm 28:1-2, 6-7). Lord our Rock, when we cry to You for help, You hear us and come to our rescue. We are so thankful for Your constant attention and care!

Monday, June 29: “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). We praise You, ascended Lord Jesus, for Your place of honor at the Father’s right hand. We praise You for interceding for us.

Tuesday, June 30: “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God” (Psalm 42:1-2)? We ask that You would give us a deep passion and desire to cry out to You, to seek only You, the Living God.

A month of prayers focusing on GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

Wednesday, July 1: “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’” (Exodus 34:6). We thank you, O Lord, that you, our God, are abounding in faithfulness – that is who you are.

Thursday, July 2: “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness” (Psalm 33:4). Holy Spirit, help us to know and remember that all that the Lord does is done in faithfulness.

Friday, July 3: “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). When you are tempted, call on God. He is with you. He is faithful to strengthen you and provide a way out.

June 20-26, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of verses about PRAYER

Saturday, June 20: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). You alone, Lord, know our hearts and all of our thoughts. Help us to submit to Your examination of our hearts and to agree with You about what needs to change in our lives.

Sunday, June 21: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Father, may we see prayer as a great gift from You, a way to deepen our relationship with You, a way to get to know Your heart.

Monday, June 22: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (Psalm 95:6-7a). We are so privileged to know our Maker, to experience His faithful, loving care. We worship You! 

Tuesday, June 23: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:16-19). Lord, we thank You for the wondrous gift of Your Holy Spirit and His power within us to give us strength, to grow our faith, and to experience Your love for us.

Wednesday, June 24: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (Psalm 34:4-7). We praise You, God, because You hear our prayers and answer us. You send us help and deliverance.

Thursday, June 25: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:11-13). We praise You as a God of plans and purposes, Who makes promises and keeps them. Thank You for listening to our prayers when we seek You with all our hearts.

Friday, June 26: “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me” (Psalm 66:16-20)! Thank You for calling us to confess our sins and for cleansing us every time we confess. Thank You for the wonderful way confession restores us to comfortable fellowship with You.

June 13-19, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of verses about PRAYER

Saturday, June 13: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Colossians 4:2).

Sunday, June 14: “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Thank you, Father, that we may approach your throne with confidence because of Jesus. Thank you that you desire to give us mercy and grace.

Monday, June 15: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Spend time in confession and thanks – that our God is faithful and forgiving.

Tuesday, June 16: “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:1-3). Our Father God, we praise You today and exalt Your Name. You alone are worthy of our praise!

Wednesday, June 17: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). We thank You, Lord, for inviting us to come to You in prayer again and again to lay our requests before You.

Thursday, June 18: “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11). Thank you for teaching us Your ways and guiding us in Your truth, for giving us new hearts that are like Your heart.

Friday, June 19: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). We are grateful, Father, that You understand our tendency to be anxious and to worry and You invite us to transfer our cares to You through prayer. Thank You for bearing our burdens and giving Your peace that calms our fears. 

June 6-12, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of verses about PRAYER

Saturday, June 6: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things” (Jeremiah 33:3). Father, thank you that you say you will answer when we call and that you will reveal things beyond what we could know on our own.

Sunday, June 7: “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Matthew 9:37-38). Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of all his people to all be laborers for his harvest.

Monday, June 8: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3). Wait in anticipation to the Lord’s answers to your prayers.

Tuesday, June 9: “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). Father, sometimes we admit we get tired in our praying.  Forgive us and thank you that call us to keep coming to you and not give up.

Wednesday, June 10: “In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26). Give thanks that we have been given the Spirit, that he helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us.

Thursday, June 11: “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling” (1 Timothy 2:8). Pray for people to be able to gather in prayer in worship of God without discord.

Friday, June 12: “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18). May we always be alert to all the ways the Lord calls us to prayer -on all occasions, with all kinds of prayer, and for all his people and to do so in the Spirit.

May 30 - June 5, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of praying for our government leaders:

Saturday, May 30: Help us, Lord, to set our hearts and our souls to seek first You and Your righteousness.

“Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the sacred articles belonging to God into the temple that will be built for the Name of the Lord” (I Chronicles 22:19).

Sunday, May 31: Pentecost Sunday: We thank You, Lord, for the amazing gift of Your Holy Spirit, given to all who believe in You.  We thank You for Your constant presence and power dwelling in us! 

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4).

June 2020: A month of verses about PRAYER

 Monday, June 1: “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (1 Chronicles 16:11). Lord, we thank you that you call us to yourself, to be a people of prayer.  May we seek your face always.

Tuesday, June 2: “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right” (1 Samuel 12:23). Take time to specifically remember others in prayer and be reminded of what a privilege it is to do so.

 Wednesday, June 3: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened“ (Psalm 66:8). Lord, help us to recognize the sin we hold onto that we may confess it and come before you in prayer with a clean heart.

 Thursday, June 4: “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2). Thank you, Lord, that our prayers bring you delight.

Friday, June 5: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Father, it can be hard to pray for those we are at odds with. Help us though to be obedient to your call to pray for them.

May 23-29, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of praying for our government leaders:

Saturday, May 23: We thank You for our leaders who are Christians, and pray that You would empower them to live righteously and blamelessly before You, and to keep them firm and strong.

“For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it” (Proverbs 2:12).

Sunday, May 24: We lift up our government leaders and ask that You would bring to light any hidden things done in darkness, and expose the secret dishonesty of their hearts.

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God” (I Corinthians 4:5).

 Monday, May 25: Father, bring our nation to repentance and help us to return to righteous and godly works and ways.

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5).

Tuesday, May 26: Our Father God, we ask You to once again send forth Your Word in power to to the people of our nation and rescue us from evil and destruction.

“He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave” (Psalm 107:20).

 Wednesday, May 27: Father, we are thankful that You have been long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

 Thursday, May 28: We pray that You would raise up intercessors, mighty men and women of prayer, who will stand watch over our nation.

“He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him” (Isaiah 59:16).

Friday, May 29: Arise, shine through Your people and fill our land with Your light and truth.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip” (Isaiah 60:1-4).

May 16-22, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of praying for our government leaders:

Saturday, May 16: We pray Lord that your glory would be revealed in our land.

“And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:5 ).

Sunday, May 17: Heavenly Father, we ask that You would pour out Your Spirit upon those who govern us and make Your Word know to them. 

“Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings” (Proverbs 1:23).

 Monday, May 18: We pray that You would help our government leaders to be men and women of integrity with an understanding of Your principles, that they may act justly and righteously.

“May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord, is in you” (Psalm 25:21).

Tuesday, May 19: Lord, please empower our leaders and guide them to make wise and godly choices; guard them and protect them from danger. 

“Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you” (Proverbs 2:11).

 Wednesday, May 20: We ask that You would deliver our government leaders from evil ways and from evil men. 

“Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse” (Proverbs 2:12).

 Thursday, May 21: Ascension Day: We praise You, Lord Jesus, that You have ascended to heaven and are reigning in power. 

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Friday, May 22: We pray Lord, that You would give us upright, just and fair men and women at all levels of government, that our nation would be secure.

“In righteousness you will be established, Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you” (Isaiah 54:14).

May 9-15, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of praying for our government leaders:

Saturday, May 9: Lord, we pray that you would pour out your Spirit on us all.

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:28-32).

Sunday, May 10: Lord, may we as your people, citizens and leaders alike, humble ourselves before you and seek your face.

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land“ (2 Chronicles 7:14).

 Monday, May 11: Pray that those in authority over us would lead us in turning from darkness to light

“… to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18).

Tuesday, May 12: Pray that our leaders would know that they are called to maintain justice and righteousness.

“Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness” (2 Chronicles 9:8).

 Wednesday, May 13: Pray for those in authority who are Christians.  Ask God to help them be strong and courageous, standing firm in their faith.

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

 Thursday, May 14: Lord, remind your people that they engage the world not with worldly weapons but with your divine power.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Friday, May 15: May our leaders know that they are God’s servants to do good.

“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good” (Romans 13:4a).

May 2-8, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

A month of praying for our government leaders:

Saturday, May 2: Lord, we pray that the decisions of those in authority may enable us to live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and holiness.

“..that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2).

Sunday, May 3: Lord, give our leaders hearts that are obedient to you.  May they be willing to do what you ask of them rather than seeking approval from men.

“Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’” (Acts 5:29).

 Monday, May 4: Pray that our leaders would desire and seek out Godly wisdom and knowledge and turn away from the counsel of the wicked.

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).

Tuesday, May 5: Ask the Lord to enable our leaders to do what is right in His eyes.

“He followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:32).

 Wednesday, May 6: Ask the Lord to reveal any areas of evil or corruption that need to be removed.

“In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there” (1 Kings 22:43).

 Thursday, May 7: Lord, we pray that our leaders would live lives that are above reproach.

“Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect” (1 Timothy 3:2-4).

Friday, May 8: Ask the Lord to be the defender and protector of our leaders, that He would always keep them on their guard.

“…for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you” (Proverbs 23:11). “The Lord protects and preserves them—they are counted among the blessed in the land—he does not give them over to the desire of their foes” (Psalm 41:2).

April 25-May 1, 2020: Weekly Prayer Calendar

The following prayers and scripture passages remind us of what we have because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Saturday, April 25: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I am His dearly loved child and His love enables me to love others.

Sunday, April 26: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14

When Jesus conquered sin, death and hell, He rescued me from the kingdom of darkness and brought me into His kingdom, where I am redeemed and forgiven.

Monday, April 27: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:12-13

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection and my belief in Him, I am forgiven and empowered to forgive others.

Tuesday, April 28: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26

Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life and I belong to Him, I have eternal life.

Wednesday, April 29: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” I John 4:7

In Jesus death and resurrection, He showed His amazing love for us, and empowered us, through His Spirit, to know the depths of that love, and to love others.

Thursday, April 30: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” I Peter 2:9-10

Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and the mighty power shown in His resurrection, He opened the way for us to belong to God, to be His chosen people.

Friday, May 1: Lord, in this time that we find ourselves, we desire to be obedient to you and bring before you our government leaders and all those in authority over us. Lord, as you have commanded, we give thanks for them and intercede for them.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority“ (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

April 18-24, 2020: Weekly Prayers

The following prayers and scripture passages remind us of what we have because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Saturday, April 18: Praise God that through Jesus we have overcome the world. “….for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4-5

Sunday, April 19: Father, since we are united with Christ, help us through your Spirit to be one in spirit and mind with Him. “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2

Monday, April 20: Thank you Father, that through Jesus’ blood we are reconciled to you. “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-20

Tuesday, April 21: Give thanks that through Jesus we may know the one true God. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20

Wednesday, April 22: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I have been justified.

Thursday, April 23: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Because Jesus died and is risen, I have His Spirit, a Spirit not of timidity, but I am given power, love, and a sound mind.

Friday, April 24: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). After Jesus ascended, He sent His Spirit to dwell in all believers, enabling us to bear much good fruit.

Easter Worship

Dear Maranatha Family,

Christ is risen! Indeed!

May this glad announcement prompt you to rejoice today, even amidst the circumstances we face. We invite you to join together in worship by clicking here. Once again you will be directed to a video playlist that will proceed automatically through our service.

And now, come. Let us worship Jesus the risen King!

Much joy and peace to you,

Pastor Matt

April 11-17, 2020: Prayers for Lent

These Prayers for Lent (April 11-13) are taken from “Lent and Easter Wisdom” compiled by John V. Kruse.

Saturday, April 11: Lord God, I give you thanks for all of the blessings with which you have showered me: the  gift of life itself, my family and friends, the beauty of creation, and all that which sustains my life. I give you thanks not only for the seemingly good things of life but for all of my life, including the times of challenge, trials, and suffering. I thank you especially for calling me to share in your Son’s victory over sin and death.

Sunday, April 12: Resurrected Lord, I join with all creation in celebrating the feast of your victory. Alleluia! The light of your resurrection gives new meaning to all of life. Death and suffering no longer have the final word.  You have conquered the night and death and brought to us day and life. May the joy of Easter be with me always. Renew me and fill me with your risen life as I seek to bring the good news of your resurrection to the world.

Monday, April 13: Christ, through these past days of Lent and Easter, I have entered into the sorrows of death but have also risen to the joys of new life with you. Fill me with your Spirit so that I may remain faithful to you.  Help me to share through word and deed what I have gained this Lent and Easter with all whom I encounter.

The following prayers and scripture passages remind us of what we have because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Tuesday, April 14: Give thanks that in Christ the fullness of God lives and you have been given fullness in Christ. “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10

Wednesday, April 15: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

Thursday, April 16: Give thanks that there is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Romans 8:1, 34

Friday, April 17: Confess the times you live in fear, forgetting you are a child of God. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:15-17

Maundy Thursday Worship

Dear Maranatha Family,

The Lord be with you.

Ordinarily we would be making preparations to gather together this evening to worship seeing that today is Maundy Thursday. As we are all too well aware by now, though, the times in which we find ourselves are anything but ordinary. Accordingly, we have once again prepared resources for this service that you can access by video while at home. The videos have been incorporated into a single playlist which you can find by clicking here.

As you make your way through the service, you'll note once again that a number of people contributed their time and efforts. We are, once again, grateful for their participation--and for the technology that allows us to see each other while apart.

Now, one note about an element of this service:

The second half of this service is a remembrance of the events Jesus endured after leaving the Upper Room. We will hear seven passages read from John 18-19. Following each reading, we will sing one verse of a hymn. At the end of each verse, we will be prompted to extinguish a candle--if you wish, of course. Candles are often included during this evening in Tenebrae services. "Tenebrae" means "shadows" or "darkness," and as a Tenebrae service proceeds, the darkness grows. If you so choose, we invite you to participate in this aspect of the service. What you will need are seven candles. They do not all need to match :) You could even use birthday candles if that's all you have at home! In any case, you might choose to light the seven candles at the beginning of the service (or, if they are shorter or fast burners, when we get to the hymn "Go to Dark Gethsemane"). Then, as you are prompted, extinguish one candle at a time. By the end of the service, all seven candles will be extinguished to remind us of the darkness Jesus endured on our behalf.

Whether you choose to incorporate the use of candles or not, we pray the Lord will bless you and draw you ever closer to himself as you pause to worship him on this Maundy Thursday.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor Matt

Sunday Worship - April 5, 2020

Dear Maranatha Family,

The Lord be with you!

Today marks the fourth Sunday already that we worship together though apart due to "social distancing". I suspect that with me you are eager for the day when we can gather together again in the sanctuary. May the Lord bring about that day in his good timing.

Until then, we will continue to provide resources for you to worship at home. This week we are attempting a more user-friendly way for you to access our service. We are making the same "moves" we've made in previous weeks, but instead of moving back and forth between a liturgy and video links we have created a single YouTube playlist. Once you click on the link, the service should proceed on its own. In the playlist are several videos that help us move through the liturgy and facilitate our singing. To access the playlist, click here (and then click "Play All").

For an overview of the service, and a quick way to access specific parts of the service, here is the order with individual links:

Prelude: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Call to Worship (Led by the Klinkmans)

Opening Song: Hosanna, in the Highest

Our Cry (Led by Brent & Karmen Pollema)

Song of Response: Hosanna (Hillsong)

Scripture Reading: John 12:20-36 (Read by Toni Larson)

Poem (Read by Chris Larson)

Message: "Seeking Greater Glory and Honor"

Closing Song: Hosanna (Paul Baloche)

One element that is not incorporated into this order is a time of prayer. With that in mind, we encourage you to spend some time today praying for the Church, for the world, and for the needs of our community. In particular this week, we lift up Art Wyma as he grieves the passing of Joyce and anticipates a private graveside service on Monday morning.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Matt