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


Friday, February 19, 2016

Dedication of Outdoor Prayer Cross (Athens First UMC) - February 14, 2016


[Our Boy Scout Troupe and Prayer Ministry Team built this prayer cross so that people who walk by our church can place prayer needs in the prayer box. Our prayer team will empty the prayer box on Tuesday mornings and pray for each request. In the photo, scouts are placing the cross in the ground after they had carried it from the sanctuary during the closing hymn, "Christ for the World We Sing."]

O God, thank you for this prayer cross. Thank you for the many prayer requests that will be placed in this box. May everyone who walks by our church know that we care about them and that you are a God who is always ready to hear our prayers and guide us through any challenges we may face.

As we seek to put Athens First through our prayers, we pray for our neighbors along this street, for the fraternities and the sororities, and the college students living in apartments and dorms. We pray for the Athens City police department, for county workers, for college campus ministries, and for the many businesses that surround our church. We pray for our mayor, city council members, judges, and courthouse workers. We pray for our Ohio University neighbors, it’s president, faculty, support staff, and students.

We pray that this prayer cross will always be a symbol that knowledge, morality, and religion can help to make this world a better place. Thank you for placing our church in this holy location on South College Street, not just so that we can meet here for worship, but so that we can be sent forth from here to share your love with the people of Athens and this surrounding area.


To this end, we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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