Please find below the notes from the Elder's Prayer this past Sunday.

You are the Lord, the creator, the holy one. All of your works are great and worthy of our praise.

Among your many works was forming us. You created each one of us uniquely, knitting us together, naming us, appointing works for us to do – you give our lives focus and purpose and meaning.

All that we go through in life is according to your hand – whether good or bad, whether easy or struggle – all happen because you ordain it to happen.

Your word tells us that when we pass through the waters, the struggles, that you will be with us, and when we pass through the rivers, they will not overflow us.

You have not promised us a pain-free life, nor have you promised us that everything here on earth will be easy. But when life does brings trials, we know that you are with us. And when life brings pain, you will not leave us.

Help us to hold on loosely to the things of this life, even those things that we enjoy.

Help us to recognize the temporary nature of this life – everything will eventually fade, eventually fail, eventually die. Nothing we try to hold on to now will last. Remind us that we gain nothing in this life that won’t eventually be lost.

Help us to look ahead to eternity, putting all of our hope only in Christ and in his sacrifice.

Remind us that the things of this life – the good and the bad - pale in comparison to what lies ahead for those who trust in Christ, for those that you call by name, for those that you love.

You are the Lord our God, the holy one, our savior. You have formed us, you have redeemed us, you have called us by name. We are yours.

Amen.