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, April 10, 2017

Pastoral Prayer (April 9/Palm Sunday) - Athens First UMC


[Elyse Suhay, Music Director of our Worship U praise band got into the Palm Sunday spirit by placing her palm branch in her guitar during our opening songs. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week when we observe the last days of Jesus' life prior to his resurrection on Easter Sunday. We concluded our "Crosses of Jesus" sermon series by focusing on the Crucifix. Join us for our Maundy Thursday service in the Sanctuary at 7 pm and for a noon ecumenical Good Friday service at Christ Lutheran. These services will help us to prepare for our glorious Easter Sunday worship celebrations at 9 am and 10:30 am!]

O God, sometimes the sight of the cross causes us to tremble. We tremble because it reminds us of just how far you were willing to go to offer your sacrificial love for the world. We tremble because we are aware that it wasn’t the nails that kept you on that cross, it was your love, a love that has no end.

We tremble because there is no evil, suffering, or sin in this world that is too great for you to overcome. We tremble because there is nothing that we can do to make you love us more and there is nothing that we can do to make you love us any less. You just love us and there’s nothing we can do about it.

O God, we also tremble when we think about the brokenness we see in our community and world. We tremble at the thought of children dying in Syria. We tremble at the thought of so many children who live in poverty throughout Athens County. We tremble at the thought of children being raised without the basic necessities of life. We tremble at the thought of children being raised in a world where there is so much pain and brokenness. We tremble, O God.

And so, we thank you for the cross and how it symbolizes your love for everyone, especially for the least, the last, and the lost.

We tremble when we see the cross because it reminds us that your heart is broken for the children in Haiti just as much as it is broken for the children in Dayton, Ohio or any place where there is so much pain and suffering.

May the crucifix always remind us that you care about the suffering in our world. You care about our suffering. You cared enough to die on a cross for our sins. You cared enough to raise your son to new life. And you care enough that you will one day send the risen Christ to renew all of your creation once and for all.

As your people who tremble, we join now in praying the words you taught us to pray,

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

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