Lord Jesus, remember me,
remember me when you come into your kingdom. May this be our humble song to you
today and everyday. Forgive us for whenever we place more importance in having
our political opinions, our theological stances, and our personal preferences
heard, than we do on simply loving you and serving others.
Help us to always sing a
humble song, a song that points people away from ourselves and to your saving
and healing love. I guess what we’re praying for is to be more like the tax
collector, the unlikely hero from our Gospel reading this morning, who simply
prayed, “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”
And so, during this time of
prayer, we humble ourselves before you. We offer to you all of who we are,
including the dryer sheet that is unknowingly still tucked in our shirt, the
hurtful comment we made that should have been kept to ourselves, the judgmental
attitude toward the person we saw walking down the street, and our jealous
attitudes and selfish ways.
Lord, as the song goes, “it’s
hard to be humble,” but we can be humble when we realize that you have created
us in your image no matter our station in life, and that you love us
unconditionally. Thank you that here, in this church, we are all brothers and
sisters. We are one in Jesus Christ.
Today, we especially pray for
anyone who feels unworthy to be included in your church family. We pray for
those who feel outside of your circle of grace. Help us to always be a church
of open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Help us to love others the way that
you love them.
We lift up to you those who
are lonely, scared, in pain, grieving, or discouraged. May they sense your
presence, your acceptance, and your healing love in this very moment. Hear the
names of those who are on our hearts this morning as we silently lift them to
you. (Moments of Silence)
As your humble servants, we
now pray together the words you taught your disciples and now teach us to pray
saying, “Our Father, who art in heaven...”
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