Pastoral Prayer (June 5) - Athens First UMC

[I gave Logan Waldie, our Athens First Outreach Coordinator this bottle of coke for doing a great job of sharing about our Athens First outreach ministry this morning during my sermon. A coke commercial says that if you drink this soft drink, the whole town will be transformed. We believe that transformation happens when we offer the love of Jesus Christ. "You give a little love and it all comes back to you."For the sermon, click here.]

Lord Jesus, thank you for setting an example for us by not just spending time in the Temple caring for sheep, but by going out to towns and villages to share God’s love with all people. We want to be more like you and go to places that we would not otherwise go.

Thank you for teaching us what it means to be a church on wheels, a church that isn’t just located on 2 South College Street, but a church that is on the move and reaching out to the people of our community.

Remind us that whenever we extend your love to others that you have already extended your love to us. You risked everything to claim us as your own. You even gave your life for the sake of the world by dying on the cross and rising to new life.

Even now, you are reaching out to every single person in this place. You are reaching out to every single person who is listening to our service on the radio this morning. You are reaching out to our home bound and nursing home members. You are reaching out to the Stempel and Gall families who are mourning the passing of their loved ones. You are reaching out to Bishop Gregory Palmer, as he will be presiding at our West Ohio Conference sessions this week in Lakeside, Ohio. You are reaching out to the widow, to the widower, and to the single parent. You are reaching out to the families who have lost their homes in Texas due to flooding and severe storms. Thank you that no one is beyond your reach.

Lord Jesus, exciting times are in store for our church. Our mission team is preparing for their trip to Honduras, plans are being put in place for our building improvements, and we are already thinking about how we will be reaching out to college students when they arrive on campus two and a half months from now. Help us to be the church you are calling us to be especially during these summer months.

Just as we seek to reach out to our community, we now reach out to you as we pray the prayer you taught us to say together,

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”