Ship at Anchor

God of Grace and God of Glory: You set the creation process in motion and called it good. You give your children free choice, but redeem us when we make the wrong choices. When we are shipwrecked and become captives on lonely islands of sin and despair, you make for us a "Ship of Grace" and set us free. We thank you that we are not alone on that ship. We are a great company in search of your kingdom. That is our "Holy Grail." With Christ at the helm, we know that the journey will end in victory.

We are ordinary people, and for the most part we commit ordinary sins, and we have ordinary needs. We thank you for providing an extra-ordinary amount of grace. You are so patient with us when we really deserve a good thrashing. You give us new blessings, even when we are not thankful for the ones we already have. Please forgive us for these sins.

You have given us a beautiful world, and for this we thank you. We have wonderful friends, and for this we thank you. We have a wonderful church, and for this we thank you. But, most of all we have a wonderful Christ, and for Him we owe you our very beings.

But, we are terribly concerned for those who are suffering in a world seemingly gone mad; so many are suffering from natural disasters, while others are suffering because of the evil which seems to abide in us all. We learned this week of terrible atrocities committed during the Korean war. We teach our young people to kill and then are shocked when they do it. Teach us the ways of peace.

Now we bring our ordinary needs and extra-ordinary needs to the throne of grace. Some are desperately trying to hang on with limited financial resources. Some are ill and in pain; perhaps even unto death. Others are grieving the loss of loved ones. Still others are experiencing anxieties in their lives that are at times almost debilitating. We ask you not only to calm the troubled sea, but to use this church as a means of grace to our brothers and sisters in need.

Guide us through these treacherous channels and bring us safely to the calm waters in that great harbor of love where we are washed by the gentle swells of your grace. Make each of us a lighthouse that we may guide others to that Rock of Ages where you have anchored your church. We beg forgiveness for saying and doing those things that make access to the harbor more difficult for ourselves and for others.

Jesus, we find unity in praying with you the prayer you gave us, "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 debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever." Amen.