Here’s a pastoral prayer for the first Sunday of Lent, Year A. It was written by Paul Sauer, and posted on
the Lutheran Forum website.
Pastoral
Prayer
for
the first Sunday in Lent
Heavenly Father,
like Adam and Eve we often listen to the wrong voice,
turning away from your Word.
We are shamed by our disobedience, our deafness,
our limited ability to do the right thing at the right time,
or even sometimes to know what is the right thing and the right time.
Forgive us, Lord, for we are weak.
The day of the Lord
is coming:
He abounds in steadfast love.
Hear our confession, Lord Jesus Christ,
for we can hide nothing from you.
Holding on to our sin only multiplies our sin,
so help us say to you what we can barely admit to ourselves:
we are sorry for our wrongs.
The day of the Lord
is coming:
He abounds in steadfast love.
Holy Spirit, we do not like to talk about sin,
for it is all too personal.
Governments, leaders, persons of all persuasions
seek to justify themselves in all they do and say.
We join with them when we refuse to come before our Lord Jesus Christ,
standing in the need of forgiveness.
The day of the Lord
is coming:
He abounds in steadfast love.
Lord Jesus, you taught us to pray to Our Father,
“Lead us not into temptation.”
As you were tempted in the wilderness
and used the mighty Word of God to prevail against your tempter,
help us do the same, that the evil one may have no power over us.
The day of the Lord
is coming:
He abounds in steadfast love.
As the season of spring nears,
help us sense the miracle of the seed, the sun, the earth, the water.
Warm our hearts, water our spirits with the memory of our baptisms,
and help us grow in grace, that we may produce fruit for you.
The day of the Lord
is coming:
He abounds in steadfast love.
For those known to us with special needs,
hear us as we name them aloud or silently,
believing that all healing is a gift from you: ______.
The day of the Lord
is coming:
He abounds in steadfast love.
Though we remember we are dust and to dust we shall return,
we remember that we are your precious dust. Amen.
~ written by Paul Sauer, and
posted on Lutheran Forum. http://www.lutheranforum.org/
