Sunday (October 1/World Communion Sunday) Pastoral Prayer (Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC)

October 1, 2023

O God, on this World Communion Sunday, we are humbled to remember that our our church is only one of 380,000 churches in this country alone and our denomination is one of 45,000 denominations throughout the world. 

 

We represent many different languages, styles of worship, theological leanings, and approaches to ministry. We even have many different names to refer to the Sacrament that we are about to receive today - Holy Communion, the Mass, the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper. Your church is so diverse!

 

And yet on this first Sunday in October each year, we are reminded of what unites us even with all of our diversity; your love that has been made known to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and is present with us through the power and presence of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for this good news of our faith that we share together!

 

This is the good news of our faith that is shared every time we receive the bread and the cup. It is what truly makes us one throughout the world. 

 

We are also grateful for how prayer makes us one as well. And so, we lift up to you your Body of Christ throughout the world that we would be faithful in loving and serving you. 

 

Unite our congregation, as different as we each may be, and help us grow in being the visible expression of Christ’s love for our community and world. Bless those of our congregation who are unable to be with us today, including those who are traveling, those who are shut-in, and those who are facing health issues.  For all who are on our church’s prayer list as well as others who are on our hearts this morning, may your gracious and comforting presence bless and surround each of them. 

 

And now, we join Christians from all around the world in praying these words that Jesus taught us to say together…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.