July 24th, 2022

Oh God we give thanks this day and rejoice in these words of healing and hope from

Isaiah 53. We give you praise for the gift of life through your Son, Jesus.

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression[a] and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.[b]
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes[c] his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life[d] and be satisfied[e]; by his knowledge[f] my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,[g] and he will divide the spoils with the strong,[h]because he poured out his life unto death,

and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Thank you God for the privilege of prayer, and for your invitation to bring all our needs to you.

We bring before you the members of the MDS/SYP Team, praying for your protection in travel and on the worksite, for joy and strength as they serve, and for deep compassion in each heart as they grow in their awareness of the needs of our world.

Oh God, help us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Grant comfort to those who grieve and may your presence bring peace to those who are lonely and discouraged. For those who are facing major life decisions grant Godly wisdom; where relationships are in tatters bring healing and restoration

We pray for all who are caregivers for aging parents and loved ones.

We pray for the many needs that our community of faith face. Grant courage, strength, and peace. Surround and keep safe all those in long-term care living with Covid outbreaks.

Thank you Jesus for your presence with those of our Households of Faith.

Be their strength, their peace, and their source of grace. Hold them in your hands.

We pray your peace and presence over Graham, Kara, Nathan & Iris Schwartzentruber. Hold them close to your heart, inviting them to rest in your love. We give you thanks.

We also pray for Luke & Delores Schwartzentruber. Hem them in, behind and before; grant them a deep awareness of your presence and your holy love. Grant wisdom and grace as they walk this road of life.

We give you praise!