[Our church was blessed to have the Dalton family in worship on Sunday. They moved to New England two years ago and are back visiting. Matthew served on our Leadership Board and Laura was our Director of Communications. They enjoyed seeing our newly remodeled church facility.]
O God, thank you for giving
us those special moments in life where there is so much celebration and
joy…like a 65th wedding anniversary, the birth of a child, a
retirement celebration, a college acceptance letter, an unexpected financial
gift, good news from the doctor.
O God, thank you for all of
these times of celebration and happiness. And we also thank you for the many
other moments of our lives that might seem ordinary, but are nevertheless, holy
moments…like that first cup of coffee, planting flowers, mowing the yard,
paying a bill, buying groceries, walking the dog, writing a sermon, donating
diapers and baby wipes, preparing a meal.
Living God, you are just as
present in these ordinary events as you are in the more extraordinary moments
of our lives, if only we take the time to notice. And so remind us during this
long season of Ordinary Time, to take time to pray often and to be reminded of
the purpose you have given to each and every one of us, to make disciples of
Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and world. Help us to see
our daily tasks in light of this greater purpose that you have entrusted to us.
Even now, we lift up to you
all of the prayer concerns that are on our hearts this morning.
Together, we pray for friends
and family, for our community, for our mayor, for our law enforcement
personnel, for doctors and nurses, for our hospital, for the university and its
new president, Dr. Duane Nellis, for all the churches and pastors in our
surrounding area, for organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Good Works
Outreach, Hospice, and our own Monday Lunch as they serve the needs of our
community, for a safe Brew Week here in Athens, and for so many other prayers
requests that we silently lift up to you, knowing that you hear our prayers.
(Moments of Silence)
And now, we join together, in
praying the words you taught your disciples to pray, and now teach us to pray…
“Our Father, who art in
heaven…”
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