Dedication of Outdoor Prayer Cross (Athens First UMC) - February 14, 2016

[Our Boy Scout Troupe and Prayer Ministry Team built this prayer cross so that people who walk by our church can place prayer needs in the prayer box. Our prayer team will empty the prayer box on Tuesday mornings and pray for each request. In the photo, scouts are placing the cross in the ground after they had carried it from the sanctuary during the closing hymn, "Christ for the World We Sing."]

O God, thank you for this prayer cross. Thank you for the many prayer requests that will be placed in this box. May everyone who walks by our church know that we care about them and that you are a God who is always ready to hear our prayers and guide us through any challenges we may face.

As we seek to put Athens First through our prayers, we pray for our neighbors along this street, for the fraternities and the sororities, and the college students living in apartments and dorms. We pray for the Athens City police department, for county workers, for college campus ministries, and for the many businesses that surround our church. We pray for our mayor, city council members, judges, and courthouse workers. We pray for our Ohio University neighbors, it’s president, faculty, support staff, and students.

We pray that this prayer cross will always be a symbol that knowledge, morality, and religion can help to make this world a better place. Thank you for placing our church in this holy location on South College Street, not just so that we can meet here for worship, but so that we can be sent forth from here to share your love with the people of Athens and this surrounding area.

To this end, we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Prayer (Sunday After Christmas Day)

Sunday After Christmas Day Prayer (Contemporary Version)

Lord, on this Sunday after Christmas Day, we thank you that we can continue to live out the Christmas spirit by wearing our ugly Christmas sweaters to church. Some of these sweaters have puffy large snowmen, some remind us of a Perry Como Christmas special, and others even include blinking lights. Remind us that all Christmas sweaters are beautiful in their own special way. May they all all remind us of the celebration of the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

AHOP - A House of Prayer

In the community where I previously served was a non-denomination church that was known as AHOP which stands for "A House of Prayer." It took me about a year before I began to refer to this church as "AHOP" rather than "IHOP." I often thought that this church should serve pancakes on Sunday mornings just in case they got IHOP customers by mistake.

Really, every church should be known as a house of prayer. Prayer is what reminds us that ministry does not depend upon our own strength and cleverness. Thank goodness for that!  Our ministry depends on how open we are to what God wants to do in and through us. It's not about us but it's always about God.

This week, I have been reminded of the importance of prayer on several occasions. Earlier this week, a church member called to let me know that during a recent worship service, she made a commitment to pray on a daily basis. She told me about a friend who was going through a really difficult time. She said that her prayer commitment was helping her to share God's love with this person. At the end of our conversation, we shared in a prayer.

I visited one of our church members who is a patient at the hospital. She is physically unable to attend church but listens to us on the radio. She said to me, "I may not be able to make it to church on Sundays, but I want you to know that I pray for you and the church every single day." I thanked her and told her that her prayers are making a difference.

Today, for our weekly staff meeting, we will be using our church directory to take turns praying for church members with last names beginning with the letter, "B." We have been praying through our directory as a way of being more intentional in the discipline of prayer. Sometimes when we pray out loud for a family, we pause for a moment, knowing that they have recently experienced a joy or sorrow. It's also been meaningful when we also say the names of the children.

The name of our church is First United Methodist but maybe it's time we have a nickname as well. How does "AHOP" sound? Just remember that the last letter stands for prayer.

Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. - Isaiah 56:7

Memorial Day Prayer

Today, we remember and give thanks for those who have served in the military and are no longer with us. We thank them for their brave service to our country.

Prayer for Heroic Service: Memorial Day (Book of Common Prayer)

O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Oklahoma & How to Help

Our church will be receiving a special offering this Sunday (May 26) for Oklahoma relief efforts through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief.)  Checks can be made payable to "First UMC" with "Oklahoma" on the memo. UMCOR envelopes will be included in the pews for your convenience.

Donations go directly to relief efforts thanks to local churches paying their annual apportionments and the One Great Hour of Sharing offering that we receive each year in March. This is why being a connectional church is making a difference in our world. It allows the United Methodist Church to offer God's healing presence quickly and efficiently to communities who are in need.

In Time of Natural Disaster Prayer
O God, you divided the waters of chaos at creation. In Christ you stilled storms, raised the dead, and vanquished demonic powers. Tame the earthquake, wind, and fire, and all the forces that defy control or shock us by their fury. Keep us from calling disaster your justice. Help us, in good times and in distress, to trust your mercy and yield to your power, this day and for ever. Amen.

- United Methodist Book of Worship

A Prayer for the Victims at the Boston Marathon

At times like this, I especially appreciate the well thought out prayers of church leaders who seem to be able to express what I struggle to say in my own prayers.  May our prayers surround all of the victims of this senseless tragedy that happened yesterday in Boston.

Presiding Episcopal Bishop’s Prayer for the Victims at the Boston Marathon
via Episcopal News Service

Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one. May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us. May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know. May the dead be received into your enfolding arms, and may your friends show the grieving they are not alone as they walk this vale of tears. All this we pray in the name of the one who walked the road to Calvary. Amen.

A Prayer for Teachers/School Administrators Returning to Work this Week



[Sign in Newtown, Connecticut.]

A Prayer for Teachers/School Administrators
from the United Church of Christ

God of Love… Thank you for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift. Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides. Thank you for teachers who expect much and love enough to demand more. Thank you for the special teacher each one of us remembers.

God of Mercy… Sustain teachers who give everything they have and feel abandoned when society expects too much. Strengthen teachers who assume the blame for so many problems beyond their control. Help exhausted teachers rest.

God of Strength… Encourage teachers to care and inspire them to nourish. Motivate teachers to keep on learning for the fun of it and to make learning fun for children.

We wonder at teachers who know how to quiet a class of five-year-olds or help fourth grade girls be empathetic. We admire teachers who enjoy middle school writers, or teach physics or math or civics.  

We cannot even imagine how to help every single student achieve Adequate Yearly Progress. Bless the people who are expected to accomplish these miracles and who know how to comfort children when miracles don’t happen.

God of Justice… help our nation find a way to steward our vast wealth to support teachers in their special calling, wherever they teach and whatever the race or religion or gender or wealth of the children.

We pray these things in the name of our great teacher, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Post Election Prayer

 

All embracing and loving God, you call us to care for one another and to so order our common life so that the least among us will be treated with respect and dignity. Ever remind us that it is our daily votes to love one another no matter how we differ that truly matters and brings us closer to you. Bless all of those who have offered themselves to serve in public office and comfort those who were not elected. Fill us with renewed hope and commitment to our common life and care. Gather us in, Lord that we may see you in one another. Amen.

 

[Source: Daily Office West Wordpress]

Election Day Prayer

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of our country in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Just Pray

We had just concluded a late summer three mile run on a beautiful central Pennsylvania mountain pass.  I was bent over huffing and puffing with my fingers clutched to my knees when I heard my brother talking.

At first, I thought he was saying something to me.  I looked over at him to respond and noticed that he was looking above the tall pines into the clear blue sky talking.

"Thank you, God!  Thank you for this day and this beautiful place.  Thank you for giving us parents who loved the mountains.  Thank you, God!"

His prayer was out of the blue and caught me off guard.  It was one of the most sincere prayers I have ever heard.  It was as natural as breathing.  God's beautiful creation prompted him to just start praying out loud.

Over the centuries, Christians call times like this, "responding to promptings of the Holy Spirit."  My brother was overwhelmed with God's grace in that moment, so he did the only think he knew to do.  He started talking to God.

When you look into a crystal blue sky in the middle of God's majestic mountains, just pray.  When you are looking into the eyes of a newborn baby, just pray.  When you listen to a voice message from a friend you haven't heard from in a long time and who was an important part of your spiritual journey, just pray.

Just pray.   Out of the blue.  Just pray.  This is what Christians do when they are prompted by the Holy Spirit.

A Second Saturday Outreach Prayer - By Jeff Campbell

This prayer was offered by Jeff Campbell, who coordinates our Second Saturday Outreach ministry at Lancaster First UMC.  This is an awesome ministry in which people gather on the 2nd Saturday of each month, 8:30 A.M. at our Crossroads facility to serve for the morning in our community.

We always begin our morning with a prayer and this is Jeff's prayer from our August gathering.  This prayer is great theology because it connects each of our activities with the reason why we are doing them. On the day this prayer was given, I was with the team who was painting over the graffiti at the underpasses of the bike trail.  As I painted, I thought of Jeff's prayer and how God is the one who makes all things new again.

Lord,

Thank you for gathering us together today to spread your love.

As we make our blankets, let us make them with love and your blessing of warmth to those who will receive them.

As we are washing cars and painting walls of graffiti making them look new again, remind us you do this for us when you forgive us.

As we deliver fruit and cookies or play Bingo in the nursing home, let us bring a smile or touch someone’s heart to let them feel your love through us.

Lord, bless the loving hands that have prepared the cookies and donated the fruit that we will be delivering today. Let them know how much they are appreciated for their gift to others.

Be with us today and everyday and shine through us for others to see you,

In Christ’s name we pray,

Amen

Prayer - An Indispensable Spiritual Discipline

As our West Ohio Conference begins to make the transition between bishops, this recent picture of our conference staff members praying for Bishop Gregory Palmer reminded me that prayer is one of the indispensable spiritual disciplines of our faith. Our prayers are with Bishop Ough and Bishop Palmer in this time of episcopal transition.

Prayer is a humbling exercise because it reminds us that the work of ministry is not about us.  It's about the work of the Holy Spirit guiding, directing, nudging, challenging, convicting, compelling, comforting, and equipping us to live out our faith.

Prayer is what helps us to see the people around us from a new and fresh perspective.

Prayer is what leads us to places we would have never gone if left to our own strategies.

Prayer is what softens our hearts so that God can use us.

Prayer is how we keep our focus on the main thing.

Prayer is what unites us as brothers and sisters in Christ and not simply as democrats vs. republicans, rich vs. poor, contemporary vs. traditional, Ford vs. Chevy, and Bengals vs. Browns.

Prayer is what is getting me through a recent death in my family.

Prayer is what unlocks my writer's block for blog posts and sermons.

Prayer is an indispensable spiritual discipline.

Independence Day Prayer

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of The United States of America won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

New Prayer Room

This past Wednesday, a new prayer room at our church was dedicated to the glory of God.  It's located at our Crossroads facility and is presently in the four-square room.  The prayer room is beautifully decorated with small tables serving as altars, multi-colored stones, a baptism bowl, candles, a cross, a screen with rotating nature pictures and scripture verses, and prayer resources.  A semi-circle of chairs provides seating space.

While the prayer room will be available for use whenever our facility is open, it will always be open on Wednesdays from 4:45 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.  The idea for the prayer room came out of our planning for our "Unbinding Your Heart" lenten church-wide focus which begins the week of February 19.  This will be a time to grow in prayer and sharing our faith with others.

While serving as pastor of my previous church, I decided to have our chapel available 24/7 following the terrorist attacks of 9/11.  It became a place of refuge for us to come at any time during the day to pour our hearts out to God in prayer.  As time went by, I realized that people continued to appreciate that dedicated prayer space for other ongoing prayer needs.

I am so thankful for our Unbinding Your Heart prayer team who have put so much time into making our prayer room a reality. 

In our Gospel reading for this Sunday, Mark tells us, "In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed." - Mark 1:35  This has served as one of my favorite verses because if Jesus, the Son of God needed that time away from the busyness of ministry, then certainly we have that need as well.

The new prayer room will help us to find that sacred space during the week for prayer.
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An Election Day Prayer

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of our country and local communities in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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What Do You Want God to Do When You Pray?

Someone recently asked me a very thoughtful and basic question about the Christian faith that often doesn't get the attention it deserves. The question was, "What do you want God to do when you pray?" Specifically, this person was asking what I'm trying to do when I pray for someone who is in need of physical healing.

My quick and unreflective answer would be that I am praying for God to intervene directly and bring healing to the person who is ill. But I wouldn't be honest if I answered the question that way because that's not the substance of my prayers in those situations.

I notice that in these situations, my prayers tend to go something like this:

"Dear God, we turn to you this day to pray for ______________ who is facing ____________________. You know his/her needs in this moment. Thank you that you care about our bodies and you desire for us to be healthy. Bless the doctors, the nurses, (the surgeon), and the caregivers that they would be instruments of your healing for _________________________. Remind ______________ that he/she is not alone. You are with him/her through the presence of your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your church and for the people who are praying for us even now. We pray for your healing presence upon _____________ this day. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen."

This prayer reflects my theology that God desires to participate with us (the doctors, caregivers, loved ones, etc.) in bringing to bear God's healing love upon the person. My prayer asks God to bless the skills of all of these people for the purpose of healing. God is still the ultimate healer, but has created us to be a blessing to others.

Yes, I do believe that God has been known to intervene directly and sometimes even in isolation of human aid, but this is not the typical pattern of how God works. I can't explain why this is the case except that from the very beginning of creation, God has chosen to rescue the world from sin and death through the calling and participation of people like Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, the disciples, the church, and yes...you and me!

While I long for God to intervene directly especially in those cases where human wisdom and strength fall short and I will never fully know the ways of God, I also believe that a time is coming when God's kingdom will fill this earth completely and sin, injustice, disease, death will be defeated once and for all.

Until that time comes, I continue to pray for God to bless and strengthen the skills of those who are in the medical profession that they would be instruments of God's healing grace and love. At the same time, I seek to remain humble at the mysterious ways in which God brings about healing in our world.
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Back to School Prayer

Eternal God, bless all schools, colleges, and universities, that they may be lively centers for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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A Nascar Prayer

When we pray in a public setting, it helps to know your audience so that the prayer will make sense in their context.  With that being said, I'm not sure if prayer is meant to utilize the autotune feature. 
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Enjoy this Nascar Prayer offered by a pastor.

Independence Day Prayer

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of The United States of America won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Pastoral Prayer @ Lancaster First UMC - Sunday, June 12 (Pentecost)

God of fire, new life, and transformation, send your Holy Spirit upon your church yet again.  Kindle within us a desire to serve you and to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in our community and throughout the world.  Through your Holy Spirit, you have given each of us spiritual gifts to be a blessing through your church.  Help us to offer our gifts in humility and in love.

Thank you for this day on our church calendar when we celebrate Pentecost and the gift of your Holy Spirit.  We long for renewal and to be a people of transformation.  Remind us on this day that all things are possible thanks to the gift of your Holy Spirit working in and through us.  Whenever we become discouraged, keep us mindful that we are not alone.  You are with us, guiding and empowering us along each step of our walk with you.

All around us are signs of your kingdom.  As we see the color, red prominent in our sanctuary reminding us of the fire of the Holy Spirit on this Pentecost Sunday, we think of yesterday’s Second Saturday outreach and the many people we were able to help in our community.

Thank you for the signs of renewal.

We think of a wedding that was held here yesterday in which two people made a covenant to one another and to you.

Thank you for signs of renewal.

We think of the baptism in our church today of a young lady who has been attending our church and who wants to grow in her relationship with Jesus Christ and receive support from our church family.

Thank you for signs of renewal.

We think of how your church has provided money, resources, and volunteers to help with the clean-up efforts of the many places that were  hit by tornadoes this Spring, providing hope and support to people who have lost their homes and who have experienced the loss of loved ones.

Thank you for signs of renewal.

We think of small groups, bible studies, and Sunday School classes through our church who meet on a regular basis to provide encouragement and new understandings of our faith.

Thank you for signs of renewal.

We think of these summer Sundays of worship in which we will be studying the Psalms, the Book of Romans, and the Book of Genesis, to help us grow in our faith.

Thank you for signs of renewal.  As your people who have been gifted with the Holy Spirit, teach us to pray the words you taught your disciples and now teach to us, “Our Father…”

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