Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth:

To the ends of the earth. You call us from our comfort, from our lives, to the ends of the earth, to witness to the freedom of Jesus Christ. Far beyond the arctic and antarctic poles, you call us to the ends of ourselves, finding in our surrender your power resurrecting our very lives.

For we know the ends of the earth. We know the ends of our love, for we sometimes runout. We know the ends of peace, for we too often know strife. We know the ends of our labor, for we are weary from work. We know the ends of our fortitude when we lose our composure. We know the ends of the earth, for we know our limits.

Speak into our limited nature with your limitless power. Grant us the courage to accept our limits, trusting that you will do what we cannot. For while we may reach the ends of the earth, you know no end. But to know your limitless power, we must reach our end. We pledge, in your presence this morning, to be brave as we find where those ends are; knowledgeable that, as we do, we serve as witnesses of your freedom to the ends of the earth.

This morning, we acknowledge that we know too well the limits of health and of modern medicine as so many around us fall sick with the flu. Protect us from its scourge, heal those who have this virus within them, and bring our community back to health. Show us the ways we can contribute to health, in body, mind, and spirit, that even in the midst of illness, your light would shine.

As we reach our ends, use our very lives to witness to your light, that others might know freedom.