Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.
From Psalm 86:
1 Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you--you are my God. 3 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. 4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. 6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. 7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me...10...You are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. 15...You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Father, how grateful we are that you are indeed merciful and gracious. You are slow in anger toward our sin - that though we deserve immediate judgement, you don’t destroy us in our rebellion, but you are rather patient and loving. You are faithful to both forgive us our sin and to preserve our lives for your own glory.
Teach us your way. That we might walk in your truth. And we would give eternal thanks to you that our lives would have the privilege of giving glory to you.
Make our hearts glad to serve you. Make us glad even to suffer for you. Hear us when we cry out to you for mercy, and help us trust in you and to faithfully call out to you both in times of trouble and in times of plenty.
Lord, be merciful to some in our own church family who are experiencing pain and physical failure. Be merciful to Sherry Mason who has again seen changes in her health - whose body has presented challenges that the doctors cannot explain. Let her not despair! Rather, give her ever deepening desire and capability to be faithful in her dependence upon you, faithful to articulate your grace and love, and give her yearning to be in your presence.
Similarly, we pray this morning for Gerald Wheatley, that he too would not despair at the failure of his own frame. That the bitterness of the pain he is enduring in his body would not cause bitterness of soul in his attitude toward you. Gladden this soul of your servant, Gerald! For to you, O Lord, do we lift up his soul. Be merciful to him, be faithful to him, and give both him and Sherry eagerness and ability to serve you unrelentingly until they stand in your very presence.
As we continue to worship you this morning, may our own hearts be singularly focussed upon your character - holy, faithful, and loving... Deepen our gratitude for your goodness, and for your Son and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
We give you all the praise and glory, in Jesus name, Amen.