Our District Superintendent, Rev. Linda Taylor, sent the pastors this word of prayer and I’d like to send it on to you. Please join in prayer:
I invite you to join your prayers with mine this morning as together we lift our prayers…for all healthcare workers who are on the front lines caring for the ill…for those who are sick and fighting to get well in the face of this COVID-19 virus…for those who grieve the sudden death of loved ones…for the leaders of our country…our world…for those who have been furloughed from their jobs…for all anywhere and everywhere who feel isolated, alone and lonely…for those who feel forgotten…for all who are fearful…for all who feel hopeless…prayers for those who are homeless…for heart prayers known only to God…for strength and courage in the face of uncertainty…prayers lifted in faith and trust…God, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
“Compassionate God, hold us to your heart when we feel helpless in the face of the world’s pain…Light-filled God, keep us ever closer to you during those moments when bleakness surrounds our lives…Comforting God, shelter us under your wings when we are engulfed in sadness and overcome with distress…God of peace, you are the center of our lives, a strong refuge of peace in the whirlwind of our pain. We look to you for strength and a constant assurance of hope.” (excerpt from the prayer by Joyce Rupp, “In Difficult Times.”)
“O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name…for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings, I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:1-4, 7-8 NRSV)
We are in this together…and together we are stronger…let us hold one another close in our hearts and prayers this day and always.
God is with us…Amen.
Rev. Linda Taylor