Sunday (October 22) Pastoral Prayer (Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC)

October 22, 2023

O God, sometimes the challenges we face in life feel like we’re trying to scale Mt. Everest. We think we’re ready for the journey up but there are many obstacles along the way, obstacles like fear, uncertainty, lack of resources, unexpected situations, doubt over which is the best path to take. 

 

Thank you that you are our Sherpa. You are our loving shepherd, our Good Shepherd who knows us better than we know ourselves. Just as Moses needed you to guide him the rest of the way to the Promised Land, be our guide as well. Keep us alert to those times when you send us signs of your glory and presence. When we are on the phone, help us to look up to see your light shining on the gold cross of a church steeple, or the little girl holding a balloon, or a hand on our shoulder and hearing the words, “I’ll pray with you.”

 

O God, thank you for all of the ways that you lead us up the mountain of life and the wilderness of uncertainty. Be thou our vision and lead us to your preferred future. 

 

For those who are facing a Crossroads in their life, be thou, their vision. For those who are facing hardships in life, be thou, their vision. For those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, be thou, their vision. For those in Israel and Gaza where there is so much pain, suffering, and death, be thou their vision in this time of darkness, fear, and uncertainty.

 

O God, our Sherpa, our guide, you are our best thought by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence, our light. It is in the name of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who promises to be present with us and lead us every step of the way, that we pray these words that he taught us to say as your church family…

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.