Opening Prayer: Romans 8:1-11

Here’s a suggested opening prayer for July 10, 2011 (Proper 10A), based on Romans 8:1-11, one of the suggested lectionary texts for that Sunday.  Feel free to revise it to suit your context.

Opening Prayer
(based on Romans 8:1-11)

Life-giving God,
we gather in Your presence
to offer You thanksgiving and praise
for all that You have done for us.

Through the life, death and resurrection of Your Son,
Jesus Christ,
we have been set free—
free from the power of sin that leads to death,
free to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit,
free to love You with all our heart and soul and strength,
free to worship!

May Your Holy Spirit inspire our praise and our prayers.
Open our hearts and minds
to Your presence among us and within us,
and to the Word You have for us today.

To You alone, life-giving God,
belongs all praise and honor and glory and blessing,
now and to the end of time.
Amen.