Opening Prayer
O Lord God, remind us of your big-ness. Your word echoes forth over the stormiest waters, and all becomes calm. Your voice resounds, and thunder is stilled. There are storms in our hearts, storms in our relationships, storms in our lives that need to be quieted. Come, we pray; breathe your peace over us, that all might become whole, to the glory of your name. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
TEXT
Psalm 29
NIV (amended)
A psalm of David.
Ascribe to YHWH, O mighty ones,
ascribe to YHWH glory and strength.
Ascribe to YHWH the glory due his name;
worship YHWH in the splendor of his holiness.
The voice of YHWH is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
YHWH thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of YHWH is powerful;
the voice of YHWH is majestic.
The voice of YHWH breaks the cedars;
YHWH breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of YHWH strikes
with flashes of lightning.
The voice of YHWH shakes the desert;
YHWH shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of YHWH twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
YHWH sits enthroned over the flood;
YHWH is enthroned as King forever.
YHWH gives strength to his people;
YHWH blesses his people with peace.
Prayer of Intercession
YHWH, sit enthroned over the floods in our lives. Sit enthroned over the floods in this world. You give strength to your people, you bless them with peace, and you are more than able to calm this world.
Lord, we pray for the storms within our hearts. Come and calm them, as we name them before you…
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayers.
Lord, we pray for the storms in the hearts and lives of our friends and family. Let them know the peace of your presence. Let them know the awesomeness of your power. Let them cry, “Glory!”
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayers.
Lord, we pray for the vicious storms that encompass this world. There are actual, physical storms bringing disaster and devastation; there are also spiritual storms of oppression, darkness, injustice. Let your voice echo over these troubled waters. Give strength; bless with peace; let all the tribes and peoples who do not know you cry, “Glory!”
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayers.