"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Luther's Small Catechism defines prayer as "an act of worship wherein we bring our petitions before God with our hearts and lips and offer up praise and thanksgiving to Him."  

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  Matthew 7:7-8

"Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philemon 4:6-7

Please pray for the following who are ill or have special needs and concerns, and remember to thank Him when He has healed them:

Anne Brann, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Jerri Carper, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Doris Harden, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Margaret Higley, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Alexa Jennings, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Pramila JES'Son, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Peggy Lorenz-Kitson, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Doris Smith, member of Christ Lutheran Church
Leland Tribble, member of Christ Lutheran Church

Praise God for our members and friends celebrating birthdays in July:

July 2, Theresa Allen
July 3, Julie Woelfel
July 6, Braxton Agnew
July 6, Ron Messall
July 6, Barbara Rose
July 6, Lindsey Woelfel
July 7, Candy Schoppa
July 12, Garrett Clark
July 12, Amber Clodfelter
July 12, Jane Goodpasture
July 12, Andrew Rushing
July 12, Leland Tribble
July 16, Rachele Duncan
July 16, Marky Edwards
July 16, Roger Pamperin
July 17, Bobby Breunig
July 17, Kirk Duncan
July 18, Gloria Grawunder
July 20, Jackson Buss
July 20, Pat Robinson
July 21, Mike Bunyard
July 21, Matthew Rushing
July 21, Sharon Tull
July 22, Susan Hinze
July 22, Alicia Wilson
July 23, Cathryn Asjes
July 23, Dan Sweetman
July 24, Aaron Jackson
July 25, Cheri Harper
July 27, Maddie Meyer
July 28, Emma Hinze
July 30, Grace Hinze
July 30, Rachel Holloway
July 31, Pete Asjes

Give thanks for another year of married life for:

July 1, Rodney and Jessica Donahue
July 1, Marvin and Ethel Horton
July 2, Bob and Linda Faber
July 4, Chris and Erica Vasek
July 10, Bill and Cheri Harper
July 12, Bruce and Pam Kennedy
July 12, Jerry and Donna Weaver
July 15, Jimmy and Chris Scroggins
July 26, Mike and Pat Bunyard
July 26, Chris and Stephanie Weiss

Finally, the Prayers of the Church for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost:

If we who are evil know how to give good gifts to our children, there is no doubt that our heavenly Father will give all good things to us His children.  So as dear children ask their dear fathers, let us pray to our Father in heaven.

    For lives filled with a grateful faith that knows we are sinners who deserve to be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah but that our merciful Father has spared us because there is One who is holy and righteous in our place, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For those celebrating baptismal anniversaries among us, and for all of us whom God has made His children, that having been buried with Christ in Baptism and raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, we may constantly turn from evil and trust in His promises, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For ears that will not listen to the words of those who prophesy falsely, and for faith to believe every warning and promise that comes from the mouth of our Father, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For pastors who declare the whole counsel of God and pay careful attention to themselves and the flocks in which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, that we may be spared from the spiritual wolves among us and kept safely as sheep of the Good Shepherd, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For hearts that believe it is better to give than to receive, and for a desire to help the weak, to care for those in need, and to reach out to everyone in Christ’s name, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For our daily battle against temptation, that the Holy Spirit would give us Christ’s strength to resist Satan and live according to God’s will, knowing that Jesus has disarmed every opposing ruler and authority at the cross, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For faithful prayer lives that speak to our Father and depend on His mercy, so that His name is hallowed by what we teach and how we live, and so that His kingdom comes to us and to those who do not yet believe, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For our nation and for those who defend us, that our Father would guide and protect our government leaders  and the members of our military, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For all who are sick, sorrowing, or struggling [especially those named above], that our heavenly Father would strengthen their faith and provide for their needs in the way He knows to be best, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    With grateful hearts for the many gifts of daily bread our heavenly Father provides for us, let us give thanks to the Lord.  That the Lord would continue to lead us each day to recognize His many blessing and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    For all who come to the Lord’s Supper today, that as we receive the body and blood of Christ in whom the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, we may walk in Him, clinging to His forgiveness, turning from the empty philosophies of this world, and trusting only in the Word of our God, let us pray to the Lord.
    Lord, have mercy.

    Into Your hands, dear Father, we commend ourselves and all those for whom we pray, trusting Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

    Amen.

Adapted from prayers published by the Commission on Worship, LC-MS, and used by permission.
The background music on this page is "Amazing Grace"

You are the since March 17, 2001