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

Father you are to be blessed.

We pray that everything that is in us, all that we are would bless your name.

You are worthy of all blessing because you pardon our iniquities. You redeem us from the pit. You crown us with lovingkindness and compassion. You satisfy our years with good things.

You only do what is right.

You are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness.

This is who you are toward your people whom you have saved. You are not angry with us.

You do not deal with us according to our sins.

You do not reward us according to our iniquities because your lovingkindness is higher than the heavens are above the earth for your people who fear you.

You have removed out transgressions from us, as far as the east is from the west.

You have compassion upon us as your beloved children. You are tender and caring. Patient. Kind. Merciful.

You know how weak we are. You are fully aware of how limited we are. We are simply dust which you have breathed life into.

We are so limited. And despite our frailty, our weakness, our susceptibility, your lovingkindness toward us never ends.

You sovereignly reign over all.

Assure us of these truths.

Comfort our wayward, sin heavy hearts with the fullness of your love. Assure us of who you are for us in Christ.

We are so tempted to look to ourselves. We are so tempted to think we must do something to be pardoned. We must earn it. But we cannot. And we don’t need to.

You are gracious through Christ.

You are merciful through Christ.

You are compassionate through Christ.

Your faithful love for us will never fail through Christ.

Might we not think harsh thoughts of you, our Father. Might we humbly, fear, adore, behold, and worship you. Might we bless you with all that we are.

In Christ’s name. Amen.