On Sunday I preached a sermon on Psalm 139 at St John's Presbyterian Church in Rotorua New Zealand. It is part of a four week Summer guest series called '4 Psalms for summer'. It had been raining almost none stop for the two weeks we've been in Rotorua and I though that this Prayer I wrote a few years ago was appropriate for the service. AS it picked up both the way in which changeable weather reflects the changeableness of our lives and in that is the constant love of God, acknowledged in this prayer in ways that reflect psalm 139.
Lord God
Our lives seem to reflect the unruly
weather around us
Some times we have damp overcast down days
Some times there are storms and it just
keeps on raining
Sometimes it’s warm and calm, clear and
bright
Our times and our lives seem so subject to
change
Yet through all that you O God are constant
and unchanging
You are there for us and with us,
Even
when it feels that our view is obscured
Lord God
You have created the world and all that is
in it
You made us in your image and you know our
innermost thoughts
Our night is like day to you
You are in the boat with us as we are raked
by storms
You shine your light even through the
thickest of clouds
You are our strong tower and our shelter
You are there to comfort and to guide
You turn our mourning into dancing
Lord God
We thank you that in Jesus you entered into
our experience
Jesus became one of us and shared our
sorrow and joy
He cared for the least of us and befriended
sinners and outcast
He bought wholeness and health to the
broken and sick
He proclaimed that your kingdom had come
He died on the cross to pay for us all
A great mystery that we can be forgiven and
have a new start with you
You raised him from the dead, he reigns
with you and dwells with us
Lord God
We come today to confess our sin
We blame you when it all goes wrong and
forget to thank you in the good
We don’t show grace and love to others as
you have shown us
We get caught up in our own ups and downs
and forget those who really need our care
We hold on to what we have and seek more
rather than give all we have to the poor
We do the things that we should not do and
leave undone the good we should do
Forgive O lord
Have mercy upon us
Lord God
Like the sunrise after a stormy dark night
we rejoice when we hear the truth
That as we have confess our sins that you O
God are faithful and just and forgive us our sins
That you cleanse us from all
unrighteousness
The slate is clean, not so that we can sin
again but that we may live for you
Thank you gracious God
Lord God
Let the wind of your Holy Spirit blow
again, filling us we pray
That in the midst of our weather beaten
lives we may know the truth
That we may be convicted of our need for
you
That we may be empowered to live for you
That we produce your good fruit even when
the season seems all wrong
That we may be equipped and made bold to
proclaim Jesus Christ
That we may serve you and show your love
and grace
To the Glory of God, Father Son and Spirit
amen
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