A United Methodist Pastor's Theological Reflections

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (nikos) through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Corinthians 15:57


Monday, November 26, 2018

Sunday Pastoral Prayer (Nov. 25/Christ the King Sunday) Athens First UMC




[The last Sunday of November is typically the Sunday before the Season of Advent begins which is the case this year. It was not only “Christ the King Sunday,” but it was also the annual Sunday when we invite the congregation to decorate our Chapel and Sanctuary with Advent/Christmas decorations. The top picture is our Sanctuary and the bottom picture is our Chapel. This week, three large Christmas wreathes will be placed above our front entrance graciously paid for by a church member. “Christ the King Sunday” always serves as a bridge between the long church season of “Ordinary Time” that began last June and the four weeks of Advent that begin next Sunday. For the sermon, click here.]


O Lord, you are more precious than silver. And may it always be true that nothing else we desire compares with our desire to love and serve you.

Help us to remember this song especially when we are tempted to not keep you as the top priority in our lives. Help us to remember this song as we put up Christmas decorations after worship today. Thank you for these symbols of faith that point us to your earthly as well as as heavenly rule.

And so, we pray for your loving and healing rule to be with all who are in need of you this day; for people in California who have been displaced by wild fires, for your creation that has been impacted by Global Warming, for world leaders who have been entrusted with the responsibility to seek peace and the protection of human rights, for our local leaders as they make decisions on behalf of our city and county, for our college students as they draw near to Final’s Week, and for our church that we would keep our focus on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of our community and world. 

We also pray for those who are facing medical challenges, who are feeling lonely, who are grieving, or who are worried about the future. Surround all of these persons with your loving care. Thank you for reminding all of us on this last Sunday of November that Christ truly is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And it is in his name that we pray for your kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven…

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

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