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, August 29, 2016

Pastoral Prayer (August 28) - Athens First UMC


[Our Worship U service for college students and young adults is held every Sunday, 12:15 pm to 1:00 pm in our chapel. Above is a photo from yesterday's service.  Below is a short video of one of the songs that was played. A complimentary lunch is provided at 11:30 am in the 1st floor lounge prior to the service. Worship U includes the same worship/sermon focus as our morning services, but offers a praise band with contemporary music along with worship graphics on a large monitor. The 12:15 pm service time is designed to attract young adults who appreciate sleeping in on Sunday mornings!]

O God, thank you for reminding us this morning that our faith doesn’t not to be that complicated. All we need to remember is to do no harm, do good, and stay in love with you. Help us to focus on these three simple rules as we live out our faith.

We confess, O God that we are often quick to point out where other people are doing harm and failing to do good while ignoring where we have forgotten to live out these simple rules in our own day to day living. Forgive us for where we have not been the people that you have called us to be.

Thank you for all of the good that our church has done this past week: for the several prayer walks around our local school buildings, including Ohio University and Hocking College; for meals served at Monday Lunch; for visits to those who are in the nursing home, for the sharing of Holy Communion with Kappa Phi as they begin to meet here in our church, welcoming parents who brought their children to their first day of a new year at Growing Tree preschool, for all the supplies that are being donated for our Festival of Sharing kits.

For these, and so many other ways that our church has sought to do good this past week, we give you thanks, O God, and we look forward to all the good that we will be able to do this upcoming week. We especially pray that our Athens First Saturday outreach will be a blessing to our community as we gather here this Saturday morning to do all the good we can to all the people we can.

And Lord, how can we not remember to thank you for all the good you offer to us. Thank you for being with the young child who attended her very first day of school this past week. Thank you for blessing us through our small group where we have the opportunity to share our faith with each other. Thank you for the bible verse that we needed to hear at just the right time. Thank you for the beautiful weather and sunshine and especially for the low humidity we had earlier in the week. But most of all, thank you for the joy, peace, assurance, and salvation that you offer to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all of these ways that you are working to do good in the world.

When you created the world, you called it “good.” And you see the goodness in us because we were created in your image. We were created to reflect your goodness out and into the world. Because we are your people and you have created us for good works, help each one of us this week to remember these three simple rules. Do no harm. Do good. And stay in love with you.

Together, we join in praying the prayer you taught your disciples.

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”






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