SUNDAY, JULY 5

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18

DECORATE YOUR CAR

Get some shoe polish, window markers or just tempera paint and decorate the windows of your car with any of our Power Launcher phrases, Vector Verse, VBS 2020, To Mars and Beyond. Make some posters to hold up or tape to the sides of your vehicle. Do this on Saturday night or early Sunday morning as a family.

ARRIVE AT CHURCH BEFORE 10:00 AM

Park in the back parking lot. Stay in your cars with your windows down or pop your back hatch and sit there. Feel free to shout greetings across the parking lot to the other cars.

10:00 AM BLAST OFF

Commander Cade will be there with a greeting and will send us off with the Lord’s Prayer to cover our community in prayer.

PRAYER PARADE MAP

On the next page is a map of suggested locations to visit and pray. Start anywhere on the list and go in any order. (We don’t want to all show up at the same place at the same time). Pray the suggested prayer or one of your own. Pray at as many loca-tions as you can. Feel free to add locations that are meaningful to your family. If you only have the time to do a few locations today, take time in the coming weeks to visit the other locations and pray (either the suggested prayer or your own).

MAP LOCATIONS

1. BAGDAD HEAD START/BAGDAD ACTIVITY CENTER MEALS ON WHEELS 351 N. Bagdad Rd.; Leander, Tx

2. CITY OF LEANDER 200 W. Willis St.; Leander, Tx

3. CAMACHO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 501 Municipal Dr.; Leander, Tx

4. DANIELSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 1061 Collaborative Way; Leander, Tx

5. LEANDER HIGH SCHOOL 3301 S. Bagdad Rd; Leander, Tx

6. LEANDER FIRE DEPARTMENT 101 E. Sonny Dr.; Leander, Tx

7. LEANDER POLICE DEPARTMENT 705 Leander Dr; Leander, Tx

8. H.E.B. 651 N. Highway 183; Leander, Tx

9. ST. DAVID’S EMERGENCY CENTER 601 St. David’s Loop; Leander, Tx

10. BELMONT SENIOR VILLAGE 11450 Old 2243 W.; Leander, Tx

11. GATEWAY SHOPPING CENTER HWY 183 & Crystal Falls Pkwy; Leander, Tx

12. 12. LEANDER PUBLIC LIBRARY 1011 S. Bagdad Rd.; Leander, Tx

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#1 BAGDAD HEAD START/BAGDAD ACTIVITY CENTER MEALS ON WHEELS

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” JOHN 16:33

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Je-sus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ACTS 20:35

Heavenly Father,

As we stop by this facility that houses both Meals on Wheels and Head Start, we pray for those people (whether paid or vol-unteer) who work to help those who are unable to help themselves. Regarding the Meal on Wheels Program, we thank you for the people and organizations who provide food, for the people who prepare the food, and for the people who deliver the food to homebound individuals whose low income does not allow them to adequately provide for themselves. We also pray for those receiving the meals. Many of them are ill and with serious health problems. They need the meals and kind words and actions that are brought to them, and they are so grateful for the assistance.

Regarding the Head Start Program, Lord: We know this is a federally funded program that also gets financial assistance from local groups and individuals to help children from low income families whose ages are birth to five, as well as some pregnant mothers. We pray that these two programs that help the least among us continue to receive funds for their mission. Help this program and the people who work in it, give children the tools of learning that will prepare them for school and further edu-cation. We pray for the workers, as well as the children and parents participating in this program.

Help us to remember both Scriptures stated above as we pray for these people. And, as we pray for them, touch our hearts so that we may someday, and in some way, be able to give of ourselves and our resources to those who are weak, in poor health, in need of training and help.

Amen.

#2

CITY OF LEANDER

“He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” LUKE 10:27

“Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.” 1 KINGS 3:9

Lord God,

We pray for the leaders and employees of our city. There are people here who help us live in this beautiful, thriving town which is growing so fast that it seems we see new construction everywhere. In fact, Lord, we now know that a U.S. Census report which describes national growth trends among cities in the last decade ranked Leander as THE nation’s fastest-growing city of 50,000 or more in population between 2018 and 2019. That is hard for us to comprehend, Father. With that growth, there are strains on our city/local government along with exciting new adventures. So, while we stop here to pray, we thank You for the many things that our City of Leander is responsible for. We have athletic fields and parks where we can play and go swimming; a public library where we can check out books, good fire and police departments and a municipal court as well as a utility department which provides our water and sewer services. Our neighborhoods are safer, more beautiful, and more beneficial to us all because of our city services. We thank you, Lord, for all the people who work here to make our City a won-derful place to live.

Because of all this growth and change, we realize we have many challenges. One of the greatest is found in the Scripture written above to “love your neighbor as yourself”. Our neighbors can be found in many places, but we first think of our neigh-bors as those who live near or next door to us. So, Father, you have placed this challenge before us: to love our neighbors. May we accept this challenge today and every day. May we look for ways to show love and consideration and compassion to our neighbors.

Amen.

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#3

CAMACHO ELEMENTARY (or any other elementary school that you wish to visit)

“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” ANONYMOUS

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” JOSHUA 1:9

Lord,

As we stop at this elementary school, let us remember that children have had to overcome learning problems related to the corona virus pandemic that we are currently in. We never expected to have our schools shut down and to learn from home on our computers. This has been strange and scary at times and very disruptive to our families. And, we still do not know what to expect in the fall regarding returning to school. Yet, in the Scripture above, You, Lord, tell us to be strong and coura-geous, to not be terrified, to not become discouraged, for You, Lord are with each of us wherever we go and whatever we do. We thank you, Father, for the teachers and administrators of our schools who have had to make major adjustments to ac-complish on-line instruction. We thank you for our parents who have had to be our teachers, in many instances. We have missed seeing our teachers and our friends at school. We thank you for our schools and for our local, state, and federal gov-ernments who provide for our public education. May this time of not being able to attend school teach us to be grateful for the privilege of school and learning and to never take it for granted.

Let us read again what is stated above: “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”

Hopefully, Lord, we have gained strength of character in overcoming some of the things that we once thought we could not do.

Amen.

#4

DANIELSON MIDDLE SCHOOL (or any other middle school you wish to visit)

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, al-ways trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-8

God is always listening---“God keeps an eye on his friends, his ears pick up every moan and groan.” PSALM 34:15

Merciful God,

You show us mercy; help us to show mercy and love to others. The above Scripture teaches us so much; yet is so hard to live by. We stop by this middle school and pray for the youth who have and will attend it. We pray for the teachers and adminis-trators who work with the students. The middle school years, as we are told, are some of the most difficult years of our lives. We are transitioning from childhood into being teens. There are many confusing ideas, thoughts, and emotions that we have. One day we love people; the next day (or even later the same day, we find it hard to like anyone (even ourselves). Protect students that attend this school from gossip, and bullying as they are learning and discovering who they are in this early stage of their lives. May these students remember God is always listening to every moan and groan that you make, and He is there to help you with every step you take!

Father, help us to show mercy. We know you love us; help us to show love to others. Help us to be patient and kind. Help us not to get angry over small things. Help us not to always want our own way. Help us to ask what others would want before we insist on what we want. Help us to forgive others when they have wronged us and help us not to wrong anyone. You, Father, forgive us when we do wrong. Touch our hearts and help us forgive others. May we remember the following chil-dren’s song:

I’ll forgive you, if you’ll forgive me. Then we can live in harmony. I’ll forgive you, for God forgives me. Then we’ll be living in love.

Amen.

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#5

LEANDER HIGH SCHOOL (or any other high school of your choosing)

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” JOHN 8:28

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JEREMIAH 29:11

“I will trust in the Lord with all my heart and not depend on my own understanding. I will seek His will in all I do, and He will show me which path to take. ADAPTED FROM PROVERBS 3:5-6

God of the Past, God of the Present, God of the Future:

As we sit in front of this high school, let us remember how you have been with us in our past, in the present and in our fu-tures. As students we go to school through our growing-up years to learn to be educated, thoughtful, good citizens. May the students value their high school years, not just as a time for fun and friends, but as a time when they will explore new ideas and listen to other opinions as well as establish their own. As we seek further knowledge, may we also seek wisdom and truth. May we seek to know you, Heavenly Father in a way that strengthens our commitment to deepen our relationship with you through prayer, Bible study and friendships with others who know and love you. Lord protect teens from social and peer pressures that may lead down the wrong path. Hold us close to you and show us which path to take. For we know that we are your children and you want the best for us. We know that you have plans for each of us—plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans that will give us hope and a future.

Amen.

#6

LEANDER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 1 PETER 4:10

“When I face troubles, the Lord comes to my rescue each time.” ADAPTED FROM PSALM 34:19

Lord,

We hope we get to see the fire engines and maybe some of the firemen today. As young children, we can imagine how ex-citing it must be to ride on those big trucks, speeding on our roads to extinguish a blazing fire or helping someone in trouble. We see only the excitement, the color, the rushing around and we hear the sirens. Everyone gets out of the way of a fire engine. Cars move over and let them pass. Oh, how important that must make the firefighters feel, having everyone moving over for them. Yet, we do not fully comprehend how stressful a firefighter’s job can be. They must constantly be prepared to drop what they are doing to respond to an emergency. They may be in the middle of an important phone call, an interesting book, or even a deep sleep. Their lives are suddenly interrupted. Then things do not seem so colorful and glamorous. It just seems like an unwelcome interruption.

So, Father, we thank you for the people who have chosen this line of work. We thank you that our city leaders make sure that they have what they need to protect us. We pray that they will be safe and remain committed to their jobs.

Amen.

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#7

LEANDER POLICE DEPARTMENT

“And we know that in all things God works for the good or those who love him, who have been called according to his pur-pose.” ROMANS 8:28

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” MATTHEW 5:9

Heavenly Father,

As we sit in our cars in front of the Leander Police Department, we may have mixed emotions. We are angry because of the actions of some police officers who have treated people unjustly. We need police officers to protect us and keep us safe, to keep us from being afraid, and to serve our community.

We pray for our police officers. We pray that they take their jobs seriously to do the right thing for ALL people. We pray that those who are in this profession are in it out of concern for their fellow man—that they will show empathy and compassion for all citizens.

Help us to remember that our police officers are husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They, in many ways, are just like us. They have families. They want a safe, strong community in which to live. Help us to be re-spectful and love them as they serve. We pray that You give them encouragement and wisdom to bring about a peaceful community for everyone---Blessed are the peacemakers.

We pray that our officers all love God and that they work for the good that God wants for ALL people.

Amen.

#8

H.E.B. GROCERY

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.“ PHILIPPIANS 4:8

Provider God,

Right now, we do not want to just sit in our car and pray for the people working in H.E.B. or for the store itself; we would like to go inside and get something good to eat. We address you in this prayer as “Provider God” because we are so grateful that we have groceries found here in this store that provide us with good food. Sometimes, we forget that all the food that sus-tains us comes, in some way, from you, our “Provider God.”

So, we thank you for providing for us. We thank you for the plants and animals. We thank you for the sunshine and rain that they need to grow. We thank you for the farmers and ranchers who grow the plants and animals. We thank you for the truckers who bring the food to the stores. We thank you for the workers using their gifts to server others inside our stores who stock and sort and organize and check us out and greet us and tell us “to have a good day”.

So, Lord, as we put a cookie or chip into our mouths, make up mindful of where these come from. They don’t just suddenly appear. Make us stop to consider how much effort has gone into bringing food to our tables. Make us grateful. “If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8.

Amen.

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#9

ST. DAVID’S EMERGENCY CENTER

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.” JEREMIAH 30:17

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” JEREMIAH 33:6

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 JOHN 1:2

Gracious God – Healer of All,

Please be with the doctors, nurses and staff who take care of the patients who are at this emergency center. Also, please hold the patients close to you and help them be unafraid.

Thank you for making an education available for the doctors and nurses to learn about diseases of the human body, how to treat and cure people and how to perform surgeries to heal broken bones, etc. Thank you for the science behind the learning and for the research and development of medications and procedures that give us renewed health.

We know, Lord, that many of the patients in this center and other hospitals are in pain, worried and afraid. If they can be healed, we pray that the doctors are able to prescribe the right medicines or procedures to help them. Give the doctors wis-dom. Give the patients faith in their doctors and nurses and faith in your healing power, Lord.

In the Bible, Jeremiah reminds the people that God will restore them to health and heal their wounds and that they will enjoy abundant peace and security. Now, Father, we pray this for all the people in this emergency center.

Amen.

#10

BELMONT SENIOR VILLAGE (or any other nursing home or assistant living facility)

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me.” PSALM 23:4

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow wea-ry; they will walk and not be faint.” ISAIAH 40:31

God of All Ages:

The people in this facility and others like this one are usually elderly and unable to take care of themselves. Sometimes, they are ill and eventually they may die here or in a nursing home. We pray for these people and those who take care of them.

It takes an incredibly special person with special skills and abilities to care for the elderly and handicapped. They need to have patience and compassion, and sometimes it is difficult to maintain these qualities. They work hard lifting, bathing, and dressing patients. Often the patients speak unkind words or take the workers for granted. Please forgive those patients when they do this. Their ungrateful hearts may come from age, pain, selfishness, or dementia. And when this occurs, please give the workers the ability to love and care for the patients anyway.

Comfort the patients who are lonely because this pandemic prevents family members from visiting or who have no family members to visit them.

Help those patients who are afraid. Many know they will never be able to go back home. Reassure them that “Even though they may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they need not fear evil for you, God are with them.” Psalm 23.

Give them the strength to endure whatever lies ahead for them because “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31.

Amen.

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#11

GATEWAY SHOPPING CENTER

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some differ-ence that you have lived and lived well.” RALPH WALDO EMERSON

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” JOHN 14:27

Precious Lord who loves us all,

We pray for the people who work in these stores, businesses, and restaurants. Some of these people earn only enough mon-ey to provide the necessities for their families. They come to work and put on a happy face even when it is difficult for them to be happy because of the worries they have.

They wait on us and answer our questions. Sometimes, we treat them with little respect—expecting them to wait on us. Forgive us, Lord. Help us understand their lives and situations may be different than ours. Help us to be kind to them. We may never know their names or anything about them, but we can show them that they matter. We can appreciate them and what they do. We can value them and be grateful that they come to work to help us.

Let us read again what Ralph Waldo Emerson said about what our lives should be about: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

God, you want us to treat all people well and with respect, no matter who they are or what their station in life.

Now, Lord, we pray for these people the following:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Amen.

#12

LEANDER PUBLIC LIBRARY

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.” PROVERBS 18:15

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” PROVERBS 1:7

All knowing God,

Sometimes, when we pray to you, we say you are “all knowing” or omniscient. You know everything about us and about our world. Forgive us, Lord for thinking that we know everything. There is so much that we do not know and that we do not understand. Yet, too often we think that we are so smart that we do not need to learn more. We, as children sometimes do not want to listen and learn from our parents and teachers. We think that they do not really understand us and that we know what is better for us. Forgive us, Lord. Even adults sometimes feel this way and do not want to take advice or learn from others. Teach us all, both adults and children, to be humble, not proud. Remind us that only you, Lord are “all knowing” and that we each have much to learn.

This public library is here for us to use and enjoy. We may say, “but I don’t like to read, so why should I check out books at the library.” Father change our thinking if we think that way. Help us to just try reading. We will discover what once seemed hard to do becomes easier the more we do it. And there are so many interesting things to read.

Father, if we already love to read, we thank you for giving this gift to us. We thank you for this library, for the city leaders who felt it was important to have a library in Leander, for all the authors who have written the books and the librarians who arrange them and make our library a beautiful place to learn and enjoy.

Amen.

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When you have finished your VBS Prayer Parade, pray this prayer for Spiritual Growth.

PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love with all my soul. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

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