“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18
CSP Community,
We are mindful that much is happening in the world around us today.
It is a core belief of the Christian faith that God has given us access to his listening ear through prayer. In moments where we aren’t sure what else to do, we can remember this: the God who is able to change hearts, bring peace, and again and again brings life out of chaos, has promised to listen us. Christ came to make all as it ought to be, and while brokenness and death persists, so does certain hope in our God who promises to make all things new.
As you meet, work, study, share meals, we encourage you to take time to stop and pray—on your own and with others—as an act of love to be mindful of and advocate for the care of our sisters and brothers around the world.
We invite you to join us in the prayers of the community from chapel this morning:
Father in heaven,
We praise you that you are the God of life. While we were enemies with you by our sin, you called sin and death itself your enemy and destroyed it forever, on the cross and through the resurrection of Christ. God, in the midst of our sins and shortcomings that entangle and weigh us down, you meet us with forgiveness, life, and freedom and for that we praise you.
Lord of all hopefulness,
We ask for your steadying hope to take root in our world today.
Lord, grant hope to those in the midst of war in Ukraine. Move leaders to believe that peace is possible. Move hearts to advocate for peace and dignity in caring for each person as a precious image bearer. We pray for those who are afraid, those who are fighting, those whose lives have been upended. Lord, be their refuge and strength—the ever-present help in trouble.
God, we thank you for Concordia St. Paul today, the whole Concordia University System, and your work through students, staff, and faculty in these schools. Be with these communities of learning today – guide leaders in wisdom and compassion, led and fed by your Word. Lead us to walk together, study together, and live together well in grace and truth as we pursue learning.
Lord, as we see there is trouble in the world, we are reminded of your promise: that you have overcome it. Send us out with the confident hope of the resurrection—that you bring life from chaos—that you are making all as it ought to be. Move us today to partner in your restoration work, until it is on earth as it is in heaven. In the name of our Risen Jesus, we pray. Amen.
May it be on earth as it is in heaven, and may the Lord use our hands and hearts in that work.
Peace to you,
Rev. Dr. Brian L. Friedrich, BA ‘79
President