April 1, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis
During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and members of the New England Conference Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week.
You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions.
Today’s prayer
Will you harbor Me?
By Ysaye M. Barnwell Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? Would you harbor a Christian, a Muslim, a Jew; a heretic, convict or spy? Would you harbor a runaway woman or child; a poet, a prophet a king? Would you harbor an exile or a refugee; a person living with AIDS? Would you harbor a Tubman, a Garrett, a Truth; a fugitive or a slave? Would you harbor a Haitian, Korean, or Czech, a lesbian or a gay? Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you? Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you?
Maundy Thursday: Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19 & I Cor. 11: 23-26 O holy One, we come before you with a mixture of feelings and a need of confession. We hear of the sufferings of Jesus, yet we try to resist hardship for ourselves. Forgive us our foolish and selfish ways. Awaken us from slumbering spirits, and call us by name. For you alone give us life, and provide all the resources with which our lives can be meaningfully sustained. We stand in special need of an extra measure of wisdom, grace and love. Help us to see your love for all people, so that we may become more loving ourselves. We perceive ourselves to be your human children, all sisters and brothers in one great family, regardless of the distinctions which create such wonderful variety among us.
As we gather around the table of life, help us to make room in our hearts for all of your children; one bread one body. Forgive us for permitting the differences that make us unique, to become stumbling blocks of division. Forgive us for not always using the gift of life responsibly. Save us from narrowness, and show us the way to mutual respect and trust. Show us the way to a perception of one another that transcends gender, race, or nationality. Nurture us to a maturity that wants for others, every healthy experience that we desire for ourselves.
Take away from us all prejudice, pride, and hatred. Give us strength to grow toward a more perfect expression of love to all people, in all places, at all times. Through penitent spirits for our own provincialism, enable us to find ways to demonstrate the way of love through the expression of our own life. Strengthen us as we walk in the paths of integrity.
It is in the Spirit of the one who showed us the great value and power in love that this prayer is offered. Amen. By Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun, Seacoast District Superintendent