Prayers for Life’s Beginning and End--Dec. 5, 2021

[From Dec. 6, 2015 archive]

 

A child is born and we ponder, 

what will this child become? 

We pray that she will be worthy 

of your call, O God; that by your 

power you will fulfill in her every 

good resolve and work of faith,

and may your hand be with her.

 

And we, near the end of our life, 

ask you not to remember the sins 

of our youth or our transgressions; 

we ask you to overlook the times 

we have turned justice into poison, 

the fruit of righteousness into 

wormwood.  In your steadfast 

love, do not remember these 

bitter things, O God—

remember us. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110

Amos 6:1-14 

2 Thess. 1:5-12 

Luke 1:57-68 

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 25:7 

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; 
          according to your steadfast love remember me, 
          for your goodness’ sake, O LORD! 

 

Amos 6:12b 

But you have turned justice into poison
        and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood… 

 

2 Thess. 1:11 

To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith… 

 

Luke 1:66 

All who heard them pondered [the words of Elizabeth and Zechariah] and said, “What then will this child [John] become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.