10/15/17-Eph. 3:1-13-Responsive Reading

One: Lord, You have created us in Your Image, by your loving hands, and although we are broken by the sin we have chosen, You refuse to stop loving us.

 

All: You wrapped your strong, compassionate, and gentle arms of grace around us, and with Your nail-scarred hands, have dried our tears. We have all gone astray, thinking we knew better than You, but your great love brought us back and brought us home.

 

One: Dear King Jesus, You have seen our suffering, our alienation from You and from one another, and in your love, you have provided the way of grace, through your cross.

 

All: Rather than trusting in our own efforts, our titles, roles, and duties to attempt to stand on our own merit, may we instead always be reminded of Your grace and love that has provided a way. We stand confident, not on our own strength, but on the unchanging Rock of Christ.

 

One: Precious Savior, You care for each of us individually, for You have made us for You and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.

 

All: You look at each one of our hearts and the aches, pains, and troubles within. Yet, rather than see only these things and withdraw, You draw close to us, remove our hearts of stone and give us new hearts of flesh, of grace, and of desire to obey Your word.

 

One: Holy Spirit, You not only draw near to us, and in doing so, draw us as individuals close to You, You have also called us here together, as Conemaugh Brethren, to be the body of Christ, His presence in the world today.

 

All: As we depart from worship, we remember that as the church, we are the bride of Christ. Help us to remember our wedding vows to Him and keep us faithful.

 

One: You not only have called us together, but have done so in order that you would equip us with your grace. Make us administrators of grace, and may grace be a lifestyle for us.

 

All: May we be like your Son Jesus in that we embody your grace. May Your grace and truth touch and characterize everything we do, and turn us into a church community that does both well.