Collects and Prayers - March 7, 2010 - The Third Sunday of Lent

Greeting
Leader: Come, let us find what we long for in the arms of a generous God,
People: Who pours out his love in word and wine, bread and blessing.
Leader: Come, let us return to the Lord all that is given,
People: As we are but stewards of God's bounty.
Leader: Come, let us find new life in generosity,
People: Giving of oursevles to God and each other.

Prayers of the People
Lord God,
Your servant Zaccheus was a sinner, but hearing the call of your son Jesus, his heart was changed and he gave of himself to others. This Lent, we pray that you will change our hearts so that we, like Zaccheus, may find the joy of carrying a generous spirit. Hear now the prayers we lay before you, open our hearts to your call, and fill us with the love of your son, Jesus.

O God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Save the community of your people from cowardly surrender to the world, from rendering unto Caesar what belongs to you, and from forgetting the eternal Gospel amid the temporal pressures of our troubled days. We pray that you would grace us with generous spirits, turning back our temptation to hoard that which belongs to you. Open us to the joy of self-giving, turning our possessions into fuel for the Kingdom of God. [Short pause] Merciful God...
Hear our prayer.

O God, we give you praise and thanks for those persons in our lives who have been examples of generous living, giving freely of their time, talent, and treasures for our benefit. For parents, teachers, pastors, benefactors, kind friends, and and all those who embody a generous spirit, may their presence in our lives bring us to a deeper understanding of Christ's bountiful and tireless loving care. [Short pause] Merciful God ...
Hear our prayer.

O God, in this season of Lent, give us the strength to discipline ourselves. Teach us temperance and self-control, that we may live in the Spirit and be mindful of all that Jesus endured and sacrificed for our sakes, and how your love was made perfect through his suffering. Help us to keep the fast that you have chosen, that we may loosen the bonds of greed and wickedness. Undo the heavy burdens, and let the oppressed go free. Lead us to new life through sacrifice and self-giving. [Short pause] Merciful God ...
Hear our prayer.

O God, teach us to be generous;
teach us to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to seek reward,
except that of knowing that we do your will.

We ask this through your son Jesus, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.