God who is our refuge and strength, not only a PRESENT help,
But a VERY present help in trouble,
we lift our prayers to you.
We confess that our prayers have no place to go but to you,
our eyes have no place to look but to you,
our hearts have no place to rest, but in you.
And so we pray in quietness and trust for one another and for this world you so love.
The scriptures teach us of your desire to make us whole, to restore us, to heal us,
for you are a God of unending compassion.
So we ask you to heal the sick and suffering among us,
console those who are grieving,
give light to those in the darkness of depression and discouragement.
Remind all who suffer, that the darkness they experience
only covers that which is present, for you are a VERY present help in trouble.
When we go through deep waters, we will not be overwhelmed by them.
When through fiery trials our pathway shall lie, your presence will sustain us.
For there is not a trial of fire or flood that we endure alone,
for you are a VERY present help and will never leave us alone.
Sovereign and Eternal God,
the Lord Jesus reminded us that nations and kingdoms will not last forever,
the temple of Jerusalem would not last forever,
and neither will this 100-year-old sanctuary.
Help us not to hold too tightly to things that will pass away.
And so, Lord, we pray for these temporary nations of the world.
For peace and respect among nations,
for political freedom, and educational development, and for the common good.
In this time of political transition in this country,
we pray for peace and understanding.
Remind us again and again that we are citizens of another kingdom,
lest we forget that our hope is not in the last administration
or the coming administration.
Our hope is in you and you alone, and there is none other.
Nations will always be at war, kingdoms of this world will disappear.
But you are forever.
The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.
Lord Jesus Christ, you are Ruler of all nature, you are Lord of the nations,
and your prophetic word is ever present
in the beauty of the fall colors that surround us,
in the clarity of the sky above us, and the prophetic word you left with us.
The Gospel Lesson we hear again today, this prophetic word
comes out of your rightful place
as Ruler and Lord and we hear it in a spirit of humility.
And so we pray in the name of the one
who is both Ruler of all nature and Lord of every nation on earth,