The Cottage Church

06/29/2025

A prayer for this Pride Sunday (based on the song So Will I by Hillsong United):
"God of creation
There at the start
Before the beginning of time
With no point of reference
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the wonder of light.

And as you speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapour of your breath, the planets form
If the stars were made to worship, so will I.

I can see Your heart in everything You've made
Every burning star, a signal fire of grace
If creation sings your praises, so will I.

God of Your promise
You don't speak in vain
No syllable empty or void

For once You have spoken
All nature and silence
Follow the sound of your voice

And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said

If it all reveals Your nature, so will I
I can see Your heart in everything you say
Every painted sky, a canvas of your grace
If creation still obeys You, so will I."

We pray for those celebrating Pride today,
that your love and grace in the splendour and beauty of
creation marching will catch in the breath of the world
in the same way it catches yours.

Protect your beloveds, Oh God.
Silence the voices of shame, fear, doubt, and hatred
And replace it with your breath that creates light and life.
Let the world hear You in voices crying out
Like burning stars, a signal fire of grace,

Let your love pour forth
In our lives as every painted sky
is a canvas of your grace
Tune our hearts to your beauty marching forth, we pray.

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02/15/2025

Sabbath as Resistance
Rest as primary action
Working from reliance
We do not quit

When we rest
We can do justice
When we breathe
Loving mercy becomes an easy yoke

Our race is an endurance course
A good life, often long and slow
The faithful servants
Have seen some things, endured some things, persevered some things

Lord, give us what we need to walk humbly with you today, to accomplish the good works you prepared in advance for us.

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02/14/2025

To bear false witness
To spread lies, gossip, or rumours
about neighbours,
the people we are commanded to love.

God, where do we bear false witness today?

When we say, "all politicians are corrupt"
Or, "they all came illegally"
Or, "no one is doing anything"
Or, "they are frauds, scum, terrorists"

The all and none
Instead of some and few.
Catches us every generation.

God, help us to sharpen our witness today
Make our pens precise
Tune our ears to witness other' stories
One by one.

You have made us wonderfully unique
You have cowritten our stories
Moment by moment.
You know the truth.

Turn our eyes from those who
Bear False Witness
For financial gain
For the joke of it.

Vindicate the unjustly accused, oh God, we pray.

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02/13/2025

This week many in the global church are studying and praying over Luke 6:17-26. It is the sermon on the plain, where Jesus steps down to the level of the crowd and he heals the hurting and afflicted. From the level ground, Jesus sees the poor and the rich for what it is.

He calls the poor, the discriminated against, the excluded and grieving ones blessed. He sees through the rich ones, the ones with impeccable reputations who think the world is on their shoulders, the ones who think they speak for God when they exclude people from the good tables. Jesus invites them into healing too.

We know what it feels like to be woeful, don't we? Thinking we've earned our way, thinking what's the matter with the world is "their fault." Thinking it is up to us alone to fix our messy lives. Thinking we have all the answers and speak for God.

Jesus, invite us to your blessing once again. Remind us that when we follow you, it changes our relationship to wealth. Unite your church to work with all neighbours to relieve the suffering of the most desperate.

I think specifically of the child refugees in the US afraid of ICE. I think of the people of Gaza, those whose land powerful people are casting lots for, those who've lost everything this year. I think of those who think they have to clean up the world, as if they are God.

Give us your healing power, we pray.

02/12/2025

God, it is hard to be grateful sometimes.
There's so much more to seek,
More security
More certainty
More success
More savings

And yet, I woke up in a warm bed, in a heated home, with a roof over my head.
I have more than enough food to eat.

I but not all.
But I amongst billions.

Remind me oh Lord, how our cups overflow.

Remind me when all seems lacking
That our cups taken together,
Poured by you to overflowing,
Amount to a great flood.

Send that great flood to wipe out our fears and move us to compassionate action.

Wipe out our insecurities,
Cleanse the land of our incessant stockpiling
Sweep grandeur off the hill tops
Wash greed from the valleys.

Make us thankful again, we pray.

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02/11/2025

Today, we are continuing a prayer series to encourage all of us in all seasons. We’ve prayed for migrants in Chicago, DEI workers around the world who feel devalued, the generalized, the trans and q***r community, the homeless and hungry, and those coming home to destruction. We’ve sought peace from anxieties, wisdom, truth, and hope. You can check out those prayers on our profile soon.

Today, let’s pray for a deeper desire for connecting with God in a way that will sustain us and keep our heads above the water. We pray that God would take our burdens and that we would have the Spirit’s words and wisdom for when to use them. Help us, oh God, to discern if there are actions we need to take now to protect our communities.

We pray for all our leaders,
that selfless servanthood to your creation would be their guiding value.
Keep them from the temptations of power
replace narcissism with humility,
greed with stewardship,
bias with love for every human,
and trade all lies with your truth.

We want you for our king, oh God, we pray.

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01/20/2025

“What I say to you, I say to everyone: wake up!” Mark 13:37 “You have a reputation for being alive but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die.” Rev. 3:2 “Stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” -Isaiah 1:16b-17

11/06/2024

As a church, we are woven into Christ’s love, with his Spirit guiding our vision, enabling us to trust in God’s grace. Through Christ’s love, we are called to affirm the dignity and value of all people, made in God’s image and liberated by Christ’s sacrifice. We celebrate the full spectrum of humanity as our truest worship of God. Whatever the political atmosphere, our commitment to one another’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being remains unshaken. Today, that message feels especially crucial. If you find yourself in need of a listening ear or pastoral care, our contact information is in our bio links or at www.thecottagechurch.com.

06/02/2024

This Pride month, let’s celebrate belonging to one another. When we follow Jesus’ command to love one another, we live out a worldview that believes no one is ever fully rejected because every person is loved by God. This Pride and every day, God loves you!

05/24/2024

Join us Sunday 4pm at The Moonshine and help shape our community for good.