Call to Worship/Pastor's Prayer for January 4, 2026

Call to Worship

We are gathered here today because of the encouragement which we have in Christ, who willingly humbled Himself to leave His throne in heaven and become a man, so that He could die. And in His sacrificial death He paid the penalty for our sins, and thus, brokered a peace treaty between us and God.

He also rose victoriously from the grave giving victory over sin and death.

So, today, we come to remember Him. And the best way for us to remember Him is to have the same mind with one another, have the same love for one another, and be in full accord with one mind.

Let’s pray.

Holy Father,

We are gathered here today to remember our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We remember His life here on earth, and the wondrous things which He accomplished. We remember His substitutionary death on the cross. And we remember His resurrection, giving us the hope of a resurrection to life.

May we, Lord, set aside the things which are on our minds, and tune our hearts and minds to remember Him.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor’s Prayer

Ah, Lord God, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power. Nothing is too difficult for You. And so, we bring to You, both our praise, and our petitions.

We praise You for Your wondrous wisdom and power. Your wisdom is unsearchable, and Your power is unstoppable.

Lord, we thank You that You have chosen to give us new life in Christ. You chose to love us when we were unlovable. You chose to redeem us from our lives of destruction, and to crown us with loving kindness, and tender mercies.

Lord, we bring to You our petitions. Father, I pray for the leaders of our nation during this turbulent time. I pray for President Trump, Vice-President Vance, for Senate Majority Leader Thume, and Minority Leader Schumer, for Speaker of the House Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries, and for the rest of congress and the senate.

I pray that those who are not believers will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth so that we who are believers can lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and tranquility. I pray for those who are believers that they take in the things which they say and do, knowing that they reflect on You. I pray that they would be full of grace, full of truth, and full of courage.

I pray for this, Your church, that we too would careful in the things which we say and do, knowing that they reflect on You. I pray that we would be the people whom You have called us to be. I pray that we would be zealous for Your Word, and zealous in sharing the gospel with the dying world around us.

I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.