The closing prayer from our 90th birthday celebration service this morning was based on Psalm 145. This acrostic psalm, meaning each stanza starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, catalogues reasons to praise God for his faithfulness in the past and his promises for the future, a truth evident in the testimonies, songs and preaching this morning.
It was a joy to celebrate this morning,
Jim & Lisa
Our God the King, we exalt your name in this sanctuary for you are great and most worthy of praise. We praise you for the many generations of men, women and children who have been part of Calvary Church over the past 90 years. We remember the stories that have been passed down from loved ones and friends of your faithfulness to our church. You have walked with our congregation as we have followed your leading in regard to the physical buildings where we have gathered to worship, the selection of leaders to guide us and as we have cried out to you in times of crisis and trouble in our own lives and when disasters have impacted our city, our nation and the world. You alone have been our provider during these 90 years. Our eyes have looked to you, and you have always opened your hand of blessing to us.
Lord, thank you for the men and women who have led this church through their faithful prayers, commitment to teaching your word, and a dedication to serving each other with humility and compassion. God, we are grateful for how you have used this church to share the good news of the gospel by raising up men and women who have served as global workers and proclaimed your name throughout the nations. Thank you for the people who have brought good news in our community, whether in a neighborhood, a school, a homeless shelter or a prison. Thank you for the generosity of so many that have given of their financial resources to enable Calvary to be a beacon of light and hope to this hurting and lost world. We are blessed for the many ministries of the church that care for this body of believers from our newborns to the senior adults. May our love for each other remind us of your love that watches over us from our first cry to final breath.
Father, as we celebrate all you have done and continue to do in our congregation, thank you that we are part of the story you are writing for future generations. Please continue to transform us into a people who stand firm on your Word, listen to your voice and prioritize prayer so that we might be able to tell of your mighty acts to those who come behind us. Do not let our love for you grow cold but help us to persevere remembering that the work we do for your eternal kingdom is never in vain. Encourage our hearts with the hope of heaven, the time when our faith will become sight, when we receive that eternal crown of righteousness and the final fulfillment of all we have hoped and labored for. Today we praise your name knowing tomorrow we will have reasons to praise you again and that for all eternity we will worship with every creature in heaven and people from every nation who will never stop proclaiming, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever. Amen.”