Father,

As we come before you today, we are reminded of your servant, Paul’s words from the book of Romans when he says, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe-to the Jew first and also to the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, the righteous shall live by faith." We give thanks today for the gift of that faith-the faith that called us out of darkness into the glorious light of the risen Christ. Christ, who shed His blood for His sinful children-His chosen precious ones. The seeds of His mercy spread the word to every nation, tribe and tongue- to the Jew first and then the Greek and to those of us here today.

We give thanks today for the evidence of that faith recorded in Your Word, in the lives of the apostles and those who went before us and were redeemed by your mercy. Those who heeded the call to respond in faith and repentance. Just as it is for us today, they were dead in their trespasses, but were made alive in Christ Jesus. Saved by your grace, through faith-not a result of good works-but created for good works in Christ. We give thanks today for the evidence of that faith in the lives of those that you have, by your sovereign goodness, joined to us in this body of believers. What a joy it is to experience the love and the service to one another because of Christ. As we care for one another, bear with one another-exhort and admonish one another-not because of our inherent goodness-but we love because Christ first loved us, and it is in His name we give thanks

-Amen