Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Lectionary 5

February 5, 2012

(Congregation may be invited to be seated for prayer.)

With the prayer "Spirit of God" you are invited to respond…

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1. As God's beloved people made radiant by the light and Spirit of Christ, let us pray for ourselves, for the church, the whole human family, and for God's good creation.

A brief silence.

2. When your church grows weary and weak, give courage to our leaders, and strengthen your people for service, that all might share in the blessing of the gospel.

Spirit of God

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

3. Your love and your forgiveness builds up the community of believers. We pray for all communities of faith, for our partner Anglican Church of Canada, and for our sister congregations in the BC Synod: in particular for Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Langley and their pastors Bradford Senften and Kristen Steele; and for Hope Lutheran Shared Ministry in Mackenzie and their pastor Henry Dunbar. Sustain all who serve, and may we be open to your call to serve.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

4. When war and violence threaten innocent lives, and displaced people flee in search of shelter, renew the strength of peacemakers and humanitarian aid workers. Raise up leaders who value justice more than power.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

5. Where the brokenhearted and powerless cry out for relief, lift them to new hope. Comfort all who grieve losses of any kind and sustain the suffering with your healing power. And when we are frantic and troubled, lead us into quiet places of prayer, that we may be restored by your peace. We pray for all who are hurting or in need in particular we pray for those we name aloud or quietly in our heart at this time…

May all who are in any need receive strength from your promises and our presence.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

6. Holy God, where we have needed blessing, you have been there:

- we thank you for those who have the gift of another birthday or another

anniversary, and for those who have known the gift of new life.

- we thank you for how you have healed us in body and in spirit;

- we thank you for opportunities to care and encourage others in their pain;

- Finally we thank you for those blessings we name aloud at this time….

May we continue to recognize your healing presence in our midst.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER

7. When the earth is exhausted by our demands, and the waters are polluted with our waste, bring rest to creation and restore the health of your creatures.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

8. We give thanks for those who trusted in your steadfast love and promises. Give us the same patient hopefulness that sustained the saints before us.

Spirit of God:

HEAR OUR PRAYER.

9. Holy God we lift our prayers to you in hope, entrusting all for whom we pray to your great goodness and your great mercy. AMEN

Isaiah 40:21-31

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,

and speak, O Israel,

'My way is hidden from the Lord,

and my right is disregarded by my God'?

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the faint,

and strengthens the powerless.

30 Even youths will faint and be weary,

and the young will fall exhausted;

31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

Mark 1:29-39

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, 'Everyone is searching for you.' 38He answered, 'Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.' 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.