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, January 29, 2018

Pastoral Prayer (Jan. 28/Kappa Phi Sunday) Athens FUMC



[Kappa Phi, a campus ministry organization that meets in our church each year helped to lead our worship services by offering prayers, reading scripture, providing special music, and serving as greeters. This ministry began back in the 1920s and we have a long history in serving as their host church. Kappa Phi Sunday corresponded with our Gospel lesson this week which emphasizes the teaching ministry of Jesus. Click here for the sermon.]



Lord Jesus, we call you by many names like savior, redeemer, friend, shepherd, king. But today, we refer to you primarily as our teacher.

 

Thank you for teaching us what it means to follow you. Thank you for teaching us what it means to love others especially those who are difficult to love. Thank you for teaching us in ways that challenge our preconceived notions of who you are.

 

Thank you for teaching us our faith story, that we have been created in the image of God, that you died on a cross and rose again for our sake, and that one day you will come again and make all things new.

 

Thank you for those who have taught us and continue to teach us. Thank you for Mrs. Maddox. Thank you for Mr. Smith. Thank you for my grandmother. Thank you for my Sunday School teachers. Thank you for seminary professors. Thank you for podcasts. Thank you for bible study teachers. Thank you for daily devotionals. Thank you for our Growing Tree preschool teachers. Thank you for the teaching ministries of the church. Thank you for school teachers. Thank you for elementary school principals. I just felt the need to throw that in.

 

Teacher, we all come to you with some kind of question this morning. Some of us might be questioning if you are really present in a situation we are facing. We have questions about what it means to live out our faith in the work place, in our community, and in the classroom. Lord, remind us that we are always in the process of learning and discovering what it means to be your disciples.

 

On this Kappa Phi Sunday, we are also thankful for our university community where there are so many opportunities to learn and grow. We pray your blessings to be with Kappa Phi in their ministry here on campus. Thank you for our partnership with them and especially for their awesome baked potato/chili meals!

 

Lord, you have so much you want to teach us. Even now, teach us to pray the word that you taught your disciples to say,

 

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

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