Gracious God, like Lydia from our scripture reading today, help us to have open hearts in which we faithfully offer our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness to strengthen the ministries of the church.
Like John Wesley, help us to have warm hearts because we have a full assurance that our sins are forgiven and that nothing can ever separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And like Army Lieutenant Annie G. Fox, help us to have Purple Hearts where we help to make our nation and world a better place.
On this Memorial Day weekend, we give you thanks for all of those who have served in the armed forces. We thank you for their sacrifice, their willingness to serve, their bravery, and their pursuit of freedom throughout the world.
Today, we also lift up to you people who are on our hearts and minds. May your guiding, comforting, healing, and gracious presence be with each of these persons this day.
Thank you for people along our faith journey who like Lydia, have helped us to grow in a closer relationship with you. Without their encouragement, wisdom, patience, sacrifice, and love, we would not be where we are today. We are so blessed because of them.
And just as our prayer hymn says, we offer our promise to serve thee to the end. May the offering of our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness be a blessing to others.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Master and our friend who 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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