[We enjoyed hosting scout troupe #71 and their families for Scout Sunday. They assisted in leading parts of the service. This was also the 100th anniversary of the United Methodist Church’s affiliation with scouts. We appreciate all they do in our church and community! For more scout worship photos, see below and for the sermon, click here.]
O God, this is a prayer for someone who is going through a time of darkness in their life, someone who is growing tired of these grey and dreary winter days, someone who is struggling with an addiction, someone who is facing a health problem, someone whose doubt makes it difficult to even say a prayer, someone who is fed up with our politicians, someone who is at odds with the teachings of their own denomination, someone who doesn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning because of all of the negative news in our world.
This is a prayer for someone, someone like us, someone like me.
In this dark time of year, we clutch onto Isaiah’s promise that your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up quickly. We cling to Jesus’ words that we are the light of the world. O God, help us to be the light we want to see in our world.
Help us to be your light in the way that we care for the needs of others. Help us to be your light in how we live out our faith. Help us to be your light in sharing with others how you have made a difference in our lives. Help our scouts be your light in the way that they serve you and their country. Help us to be the light we want to see in our world. Just as the darkness gathers around a glowing candle, we gather around you, for you are the light of the world.
O God, you say that as we allow our light to shine in the way we care for others that your light shall rise in the darkness. May your church be a candlestick burning brightly through all that we do and say. It wasn’t that long ago that we raised our candles in this darkened sanctuary on Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful display of what a difference we can make if we all lift our lights together.
And so, we turn to you, O God to once again receive your light so that we might be your light that shines brightly in any place where darkness is bringing despair, hopelessness, pain, or brokenness. May each one of us contribute to the repair of the world by shining your light. We pray this in the name of the light of the world, Jesus who taught us to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
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