Lord, first we want to apologize to you for treating your love like it’s our own private possession or in a way that would suggest that we believe we are more special than anybody else. Your love is both/and not either/or.
Thank you for your love which was supremely demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, an overflowing love that includes more people than our personal biblical interpretations and limited minds can ever, ever imagine. But we also thank you for your overflowing love that also includes each and every one of us in this sanctuary.
Thank you for the disciple, Peter, who responded to the very unsettling vision you gave to him, by including people that he believed to be outside of your embrace. We don’t want to be the people who refuse to stand up when it’s our turn to continue the wave of your love. Teach us what it means to be a people of open hearts, open minds, and open doors.
We also pray that the wave of your love would be extended from our worship in this sanctuary and overflow into our community and world; to the people who are on our church’s prayer list and others we have lifted up to you this morning; to those who live in our community but do not have a church home; to those we encounter on a daily basis; and to people all around the world who are experiencing food scarcity, war, and suffering. On this Cinco De Mayo day of celebration, remind us that you call us to follow you humbly and continue the wave in sharing your love with everyone.
We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray together…
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.
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