Sunday Pastoral Prayer (Sept. 29) Athens First UMC

[This picture was taken during our Noisy Bucket offering to support Athens County Food Pantry and next week’s Athens County CROP Walk. Since our worship service focused on the importance of reading the Bible, it’s only appropriate that the altar bible is at the center of the picture above. For the sermon, click here. In addition to Noisy Bucket Sunday, we presented five children with their 3rd grade bibles, enjoyed a Kappa Phi fundraiser lunch, and hosted a new member class. The Chancel Choir was also busy by providing two beautiful anthems. See photo below. It was a GREAT Sunday of worship together.]

God of the spoken Word, thank you for speaking to us through the scriptures. 

 

Thank you for the book of Genesis that affirms the goodness of your creation and reminds us that we have been made in your image. Thank you for the biblical books of history that describe the joys and the challenges of following you in our day to day living. Thank you for the biblical books of poetry that awaken our creative imaginations of who you are and who you call us to be. Thank you for the Psalms that offers prayers covering all of our human emotions and longings. Thank you for those books of wisdom that teach us use our minds in discerning what we should do in any given situation. Thank you for the prophetic books that call for justice and equality. Thank you for the Gospels that announce the good news of your kingdom through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you for the Epistles that instruct us on what it means to live out our faith through the church. Thank you for the Book of Revelation that describes the beautiful picture of new heavens and a new earth.

 

God of the spoken Word, thank you for giving us this treasure called the Bible. Open our hearts to hear you speak to us whenever this book is read and proclaimed.

 

For those who are in need of hope, may the words of this book point them to the good news of Christ.

 

For those who are in need of healing, may the words of this book offer them comfort.

 

For those who are in need of direction, may the words of this book provide guidance.

 

For those who are feeling lonely, may the words of this book reveal your abiding presence.

 

For those who have sinned, may the words of this book provide forgiveness, cleansing, and a new beginning.

 

Thank you for these wonderful words of life.

 

And now teach us to pray the prayer that we find in your Holy Book, the Lord’s Prayer… “Our Father, who art in heaven…”

[Our Chancel Choir offering one of two anthems during Sunday’s 10:30 worship service. We are blessed with great music in our church!]