Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we give you praise this morning. Your grace is tangible to our church, not only as we welcome new members, but also in the numerous ways you’ve equipped our church body to serve and care for one another. For the glory of your name, for the honor of Christ Jesus, would you by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit continue to grant us gospel unity and deep fellowship with one another. Give us the grace to lay personal preferences that we might strive side by side for the faith of the gospel. Give us the humility to confess our sins against one another and to forgive each other. Give us the compassion to hold each other accountable to pursuing holiness. Keep us from legalism and condemning judgments. Build us up into Christ Jesus, we pray.

And as we pray for our church we’re mindful of our brothers and sisters around the world; we are particularly mindful of those being ruthlessly persecuted in Iraq. Father, we confess that we do not know how to pray for our brothers and sister, but you promise to help us in our weakness, so we come in faith knowing your Spirit will guide our prayers. Help them to believe that while they may be snatched from their homes, they shall never be snatched from the hand of your Son. Help them to believe that when they flee, that they can flee to you because you are good and stand as a refuge for them in their day of trouble. Help them have courage to proclaim the gospel to those who are doing them harm, and may you use their witness to turn terrorists into worshippers of the One true God. Help them to rest in the promise that one day soon you will take them to that glorious land where tears and death and mourning and fear shall be no more.

And we’re mindful, not just of Christians in this region, but all your image bearers, the Yazidis and Assyrians and others, suffering violence at the vengeful hands of ISIS. Grant these men and women, boys and girls, the basic necessities for life: food, water, shelter. Give them safety as they flee their homes and walk dozens of miles looking for refuge. And we also pray for the war in Israel and Palestine. Lord God Almighty, we plead with you to bring an end this turmoil and destruction. We plead with you to use these horrible events to draw many men and women to yourself. Turn the hearts of many members of ISIS that they might worship you, the one true living God. Save many Israelis and Palestinians that they might know you, and know true ultimate lasting peace. Yes, Lord, we plead with you to work, and above all things to hallow your name; your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Father, we pray for our sister Rachel as she’s in another part of the world, experiencing another kind of brokenness. Give her much grace during her mission trip; allow her to rekindle friendships and give her many opportunities to speak the gospel of grace to those hurting. Father, cause your goodness and sovereignty to saturate her mind and soak her soul that she might be your vessel.

We pray for our own church as we labor to speak the gospel to those around us here in DC. Give each member of Restoration Church an opportunity to share the gospel with a friend or classmate or co-worker or neighbor this week. Give us the grace to speak the gospel boldly and humbly to those around us. Use our ministry to bring others to faith in Jesus that they too might have the fullness of joy. We pray for our labors in Columbia Heights. Continue to use the Wednesday night Bible study to form relationships in the community. For the glory of your name, bring us a bi-lingual man that could lead the efforts to plant a Spanish speaking church.

Triune God, as we pray all these things we’re mindful that you are a God who not just takes requests, but deserves to be worshiped. So we praise you. We praise you that you are sovereign and good. We praise you that you are gracious and merciful. We praise you that you created the fresh smell of flowers and the sweet taste of honey. We praise you that you are unchanging and eternal. We praise you that you are all powerful and all knowing. We praise you for you are supreme and all satisfying. We praise you that you are infinite yet intimate. We praise you that you created the beauty of each sunset and the tingles of fall’s cool breeze. We praise you that you are self-sufficient and full of splendor. We praise you for you are majestic and beautiful. We praise you that you created us. We praise you that though we all sin against you, you pursue us in Christ Jesus. We praise you that Jesus lived a perfect live. We praise you that Jesus died a sin-bearing, debt canceling, wrath propitiating death. We praise you that Jesus victoriously and triumphantly rose from the dead on the third day. We praise you that you grant us repentance and faith that we might draw near to you in Christ. Forgive us our sin we pray that we might know the fullness of joy in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.