The Weekly Prayer Project - Joy In Community
Welcome!
You mean praying for others fills me with joy? One of the most rewarding parts of being a Christian is having the hope and joy of community.
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Greeting & Announcements
Joy in Community
Pastor: The Apostle Paul lists joy as a key characteristic of a life led by the Spirit that flourishes in Christian community:
All: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." (Galatians 5:22)
Pastor: The Apostle Paul urged believers to pray:
All: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:1)
Pastor: Joy in community is expressed through worship, service, and Biblical encouragement:
All: "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16)
Pastor: Communities are places of joy as we lift one another up in prayer:
All: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippians 1:3-5)
Pastor: There is a tie that binds and a unity of heart and mind as we pray for each other:
All: “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)
Blest Be The Tie That Binds
Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love
The unity of heart and mind
Is like to that above
Before our Fathers throne
We pour our ardent prayers
Our fears our hopes
Our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares
We share our mutual woes
Our mutual burdens bear
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear
From sorrow toil and pain
And sin we shall be free
And perfect love
And friendship reign
Through all eternity
Scripture Reading
Colossians 1:3-6 (NIV) - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
STP KIDS Dismissal
STP KIDS is the Children’s Ministry at St. Peter’s Edina, designed for all children from 6 months to 10 years old (Grade 5). Older children are welcome to participate as helpers. Our vision is to partner with parents in raising up a generation of children that will seek their God-given Kingdom mission and impact their world for Jesus!
Message
Colossians 1:3-4 (ESV) - We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints.
Colossians 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Colossians 1:5 - …the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.
Focus on: Faith, Family, Friends
Where Charity and Love Prevail
Where charity and love prevail
There God is ever found
Brought here together
By Christs love
By love are we thus bound
With grateful joy and holy fear
True charity we learn
Let us with heart
And mind and strength
Now love Christ in return
Forgive we now each others faults
As we our faults confess
Let us love each other well
In Christian holiness
Let strife among us be unknown
Let all contention cease
Be Christ the glory that we seek
Be ours Christ's holy peace
Confession and Forgiveness
Pastor: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16
All: Father, before you and the Church, We confess our sins today.
We confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Communion
The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod holds the Biblical teaching that in Communion we receive the true body and blood of Jesus Christ with the bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins. If you are a baptized Christian who has been instructed in the Biblical teaching of the real presence of the Christ in this meal and grace through faith in Christ, and if you agree with our confession of faith, please join with the fellowship of disciples in Holy Communion.
“Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29)
Prayer for Joy in Community
Unity & Peace
Strength for the Weary
Healing & Comfort
Generosity & Kindness
Wisdom for Leaders
Protection & Safety
Overflowing Joy
If you are in need of prayer, we would love the opportunity to pray with you! You can post a prayer on our online prayer wall, or submit a private prayer to our prayer team.
Blessing
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) - Jesus promised, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing
Lord dismiss us with Your blessing
Fill our hearts with joy and peace
Let us each Your love possessing
Triumph in redeeming grace
O refresh us O refresh us
Traveling through this wilderness
Thanks we give and adoration
For Your gospels joyful sound
May the fruits of Your salvation
In our hearts and lives abound
Ever faithful ever faithful
To the truth may we be found
Savior when Your love shall call us
From our struggling pilgrim way
Let no fear of death appall us
Glad Your summons to obey
May we ever may we ever
Reign with You in endless day
