Almighty Father, eternal Son, life-giving Spirit, we marvel at your majesty. Triune God, unfathomable in all your perfections, beauty beyond comprehension, grace that overwhelms our soul, infinitude that boggles our mind, mercy that draws us near, love that’s inexhaustible. We worship you. We praise you. How great is our God: matchless, unparalleled, incomparable, unequaled, unrivaled, unending, from everlasting to everlasting all glory and power and dominion and honor be unto your great, holy name.

O Jesus Christ, meek and humble of heart, hear us, intercede for us. We come boldly in prayer not because of our merit, but because of the mercy shown to us in your death and resurrection. We will not be at all ashamed because the gospel is the power of salvation, reconciling us back to our Maker, our Father. Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that you would be honored in our bodies, whether by life or by death. Holy Spirit, give us the wisdom and desire and holy ambition to live with every fiber of our being longing to seek the good of others and the glory of Jesus.

We praise you this morning for the adoption of J. As the Ts adjust to a family of four, give them deep joy and marvelous patience. We praise you for their sacrificial, gospel-motivated love and ask for your blessing upon their home. Bring both J and J to faith in Jesus at a young age, and use their lives to magnify Jesus. Father, we praise you that J’s birth mother chose life. Surround her with others who would comfort her and care for her and most importantly minister the gospel to her.

We pray for J and T. As they get ready to leave for Korea, flood their hearts with peace that surpasses all understanding. We praise you for the logistical details that have fallen into place. We praise you that P’s birth mom chose life. Surround her with others who would comfort her and care for her and most importantly minister the gospel to her. As J and T meet their son, continue to lavish your grace upon them that they might love with the patience and sacrifice with which they have been love; and may P come to know this love as it’s lavished upon him and modeled for him.

Father, we thank for the many stories of other-oriented love among the brothers and sisters of our church. Make us a church that is marked with a reckless, radical, other-oriented, agape, gospel love that’s compelling to the world around us. Use us Lord, make our labors fruitful helping each other progress in our faith and have deep abiding joy in Christ Jesus. Spur us on that our love might abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment. Fill us with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

Use us to advance the gospel, we pray. Give us a deep confidence in Jesus that we might speak boldly about Jesus. For the glory of your name, Lord, use our corporate gatherings and community groups and our gospel-driven lives to bring the good news of Jesus to those who have never heard, or who have heard but don’t yet believe. Work mightily among the students at American University – bring many to faith in Christ through Cru, Chi Alpha, American Friends. Advance your gospel to more and more residents at Friendship Terrace. Use the Ms to see many come to faith in Jesus and join their church plant. Do this Lord, for the glory of Christ and the joy of your family.

Father, your word commands us to pray “for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” And so we come praying for those who have been sovereignly elected and appointed to lead this country. Grant wisdom and a sense of justice to all leaders around the world who are charged with serving people made in your image. We pray for president Donald Trump. Bend his heart toward true justice and righteousness for all people. Give him a posture that rightly balances strong conviction and sincere kindness. Surround President Trump with men and women who give wise counsel that promotes the dignity and equality of all people – men and women, all races and ethnicities, all religious backgrounds, all sexual orientations, all ages – from the womb until natural death.

Lord, keep us from prideful gloating in the successes or failures public figures. Forgive us for wishing ill on others. Forgive us for slandering others with our words. Lord, keep us from despair when laws and regulations and everyday circumstances don’t turn out like we desire and hope. When we disagree with others, give us the grace to do it in a way that’s honorable and respectful, remembering that all people are created in your image. Let us, Lord, let us as Christians be a light of hope and happiness. We praise you that King Jesus is on the throne right now and forever more. We praise you that he is reigning and he is soon returning to restore all things back to perfection.

We look at Christ and we marvel. His kindness leads us to repentance. His grace melts our stony hearts. We confess our sin and idolatry. Instead of trusting in the death of Jesus Christ, we have tried to work of our guilt. You give us everything we need, yet we often remain unsatisfied. Forgive us, O Lord. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have disciplined our children out of personal anger and impatience. Forgive us, O Lord. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven. We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have grieved your Holy Spirit. We have doubted your love for us, despite all you’ve done. Forgive us, O Lord. Wash us clean. Create in us a new heart, and renew a right sprit within us. We praise you for the rest and reconciliation that’s ours in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.