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, June 24, 2024

Sunday (June 23) Pastoral Prayer


Sunday, June 23, 2024 

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC


Loving God, thank you for this day of worship and the opportunity to sing your praises. We are grateful for hymns of faith that help us to express our hearts and our deepest longings as we seek to grow in a closer relationship with you. 

 

During this sweet hour of prayer, we lift up to you those who are on our church’s prayer list as well as other joys and concerns that are on our hearts and minds this day. 

 

For those who are in need of healing, surround them with the care they need so that they would be restored to fullness of health. For those who are grieving, send them an extra measure of your grace and compassion. For those who are troubled and in need of guidance, grant to them your wisdom in the decisions they are facing. For our world in which there is so much conflict, poverty, and heartache, may those who are in positions of power provide whatever resources are needed especially for those who are vulnerable and downtrodden. 

 

And as we pray for those in need, we also take time to lift own needs to you. Thank you for being a God who knows us even better than we know ourselves. You know our needs even before we offer our prayers to you. As the psalmist says, you know when we sit down and when we stand up and you are familiar with all our ways. You know us because you are the one who has created us, and you have created us in your image. And you have made us alive in Christ. 

 

It is in his name that we offer this prayer that he 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.

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