1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Prayer

10 Mar 2013

Here's the Puritan prayer from the book Valley of Vision, (slightly amended) that we used on Sunday 24th March in response to the sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.

Son of God and Son of Man,

You were incarnate, did suffer, rise, and ascend for our sake;

Your departure was not a token of separation

but a promise of return;

Your Word, promises, sacraments, show your death

until you come again.

That day holds no fear for us,

for your death has redeemed us,

your Spirit fills us,

your love animates us,

your Word governs us.

We have trusted you and you have not betrayed our trust;

We have waited for you, and not waited in vain.

You will come to raise our bodies from the dust,

and re-unite it to our souls,

by a wonderful work of infinite power and love,

greater than that which bounds the oceans’ waters,

ebbs and flows the tides,

keeps the stars in their courses,

and gives life to all creatures.

We sinners shall put on righteousness,

these mortals, immortality,

these natural bodies, spiritual bodies,

these dishonoured bodies, glorious bodies,

these weak bodies, bodies of power.

We triumph now in your promises as we shall do

in their performance,

for the head cannot live if the members are dead;

Beyond the grave is resurrection, judgment,

acquittal, dominion.

Every event and circumstance of our lives will be dealt with -

the sins of our youth, our secret sins,

the sins of abusing you, of disobeying your Word,

the sins of neglecting ministers’ admonitions,

the sins of violating our consciences -

all will be judged;

And after judgment, peace and rest, life and service,

employment and enjoyment, for your elect.

Father, keep us in this faith,

and ever looking for Christ’s return.