Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.
God the Father, we praise you that you are our Shepherd and you have provided us all that we need for life and godliness through your Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We thank you for your divine protection and provision in Christ Jesus.
We praise you Lord Jesus for you are our good Shepherd who entered through the door and laid down your life for us.
We thank you because when we were afraid and defenseless, you did not flee like a hired hand but kept us together by shedding your precious blood. We are indeed - safe in the arms of Jesus. We thank you for that.
We praise you that you know us completely and have graciously opened our eyes through your Holy Spirit to know you from your Holy Word, even as the Father knows you and you the Father.
What a blessed privilege it is - to know and to be known - by the only Begotten Son of the Most High God.
We thank you for the assurance that you own us and that you will never abandon us. We thank you that you will guard us and will keep us in you. We praise you for that temporal and eternal hope in Jesus.
We praise you that no one is powerful to snatch us out of the Father’s hands.
When we do wander away - as we are sadly known for - please lovingly discipline us that we might get back in line to follow you steadfastly.
Thank you for not leaving us to our own devises. Please save us from ourselves and from the sins that deeply entangle us.
We long to follow you, our one and only Shepherd as one flock washed and united by your propitiation on the cross in our rightful place.
Please tend to us, gather us, carry us and gently lead us into eternal life in your holy presence.
We also remember those who are not of the fold yet. Please have mercy upon their souls may they know you personally as their Shepherd like we do by your grace.
Please help us to proclaim the good news of our Shepherd faithfully till you come or call us home.
We pray this in the name of our Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.