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, March 11, 2024

Sunday (March 10/Lent) Pastoral Prayer

Sunday, March 10, 2024 

Pastoral Prayer

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC


Lord, it’s hard to be humble. Even when we want to do great things for you, we sometimes make it more about us than about you. We talk more than we listen. We stand more than we kneel. We argue more than we seek peace. We react more than we reflect. We indulge more than we serve. 

 

And so, we join our prayer hymn in praying, “Pass me not, O gentle Savior, hear my humble cry.” Hear our humble cry as we continue to explore the meaning of your cross and how you emptied yourself for the sake of the world. May we empty ourselves, die to ourselves, and humble ourselves so that we may become more like You; loving, gracious, forgiving, kind, peace-making, good, and holy. 

 

As we seek to be your humble servants, we lift up to you people who are also praying today, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” We pray for those who are grieving and have heavy hearts, for those who are in pain and in need of healing, for those who are feeling alone, discouraged, and without hope, for those who are in parts of the world where there are wars, famine, and extreme poverty. 

 

Lord, there are so many people offering their humble cries to you this day. Help us to hear their cries and to not overlook the needs that are all around us. And even if it’s sometimes as simple as giving somebody a cold drink on a hot day or gradually putting together a family album to eventually give to a loved one, may every good deed, whether great or small be to your honor and glory. 

 

Even in these next few quiet moments of silence, we offer to you other humble cries that are on our hearts and minds this morning. 

 

In humility, we join now to pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray 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.

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