This opening prayer office for the pastors’ seminar features a short homily on Genesis 2, where the Lord forms the man from the dust and breathes into him the breath of life. The preacher dwells on the creaturely truth that Adam, Eve, and every person are God’s own handiwork, and that complete dependency on the Creator is a creature’s “sweet spot” that frees us for vocation and doxology even when world events frighten. He presses that God does not destroy or redesign what he made but regenerates it, pouring the blood that gushes from Christ’s side upon body and soul in baptism, so that a person can confess to being God’s perfect imprint, declared righteous and redeemed exactly as made. Reflecting on Revelation 13’s mention of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, he wonders whether the pre-incarnate hands that shaped Adam from the dirt already bore the marks of the cross, and concludes that the whole created order is affected when we rebel against our design. The office closes with the Lord’s Prayer and prayers for peace and concord.
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Transcript (edited for readability).
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Listen to my prayer, O God; do not ignore my plea. Evening, morning, and noon, cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Genesis 2. Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
No superficial preaching by Moses here. A simple description weighted with joyful, practical result and truth. Adam, and then Eve, are God's creatures. So are you. It's reality. Much hangs on this: God's creature — fundamental is dependency. Complete dependency is a creature's sweet spot. Dependency brings freedom to go out and play in the Creator's world, with others, for others. Vocation. Live a life of high doxology.
And when world events crumble or frighten: he's got me. I'm God's creature. I'm baptized. Water and Word are splashed on soul and body. It encompasses all of you, how he made you. God doesn't destroy or redesign what he made. He didn't make a mistake. Rather, he regenerates. Baptismal therapy teaches his own pleasure in how he made you — his stamp of approval. He doesn't start over with another body or soul. Hear that again: he doesn't start over with another body and soul. That preaches. He simply pours out divine blood that continually gushes out of his side — water and blood — on what he's made. Faith says amen to both body and soul, and redemption.
Confession: I always wanted to be taller. I wanted to have total recall. Calculus was never in my wheelhouse. I'm an ENTJ, people say. But I'm God's perfect imprint of his image. A declared righteousness. Redeemed body and soul, drenched with his regenerating blood. I am the potter's pot, his design, on an assigned creation among all the other assigned creations. Each is given a proper place. Each bears its own signature, as does the whole lot. Faith says amen.
It's reasonable that the rebellion of my design affects the whole, like removing a brick from an arched brick wall. Yes, this gender discussion involves the whole community.
Real, divine, fleshly hands of the pre-incarnate Christ reach down into the earth and created the first Adam out of dirt. Pondering those hands — were the pre-incarnate hands already pierced as they dug into the dirt? Revelation 13:8, New King James: "All who dwell on the earth will worship the beast, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Stigmata after the resurrection. Stigmata at creation. Ponder that.
Bottom line: I am God's creature, redeemed. So are you. Amen.
And the peace of God, that passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We may kneel.
O Lord, O Christ, O Lord. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Heavenly Father, God of all concord, it is your gracious will that your children on earth live together in harmony and peace. Defeat the plans of all those who would stir up violence and strife. Destroy the weapons of those who delight in war and bloodshed, and according to your will, end all conflicts in the world. Teach us to examine our hearts, that we may recognize our own inclination toward envy, malice, hatred, and enmity. Help us by your Word and Spirit to search our hearts and to root out the evil that would lead to strife and discord, so that in our lives we may be at peace with all people. Fill us with zeal for the work of your church and the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ, which alone can bring that peace which is beyond all understanding. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, at this hour you hung upon the cross, stretching out your loving arms to embrace the world in your death. Grant that all people of the earth may look to you and see their salvation. For your mercy's sake, we pray. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.