September 25, 2020 A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Green Mountain District of the New England Conference 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 2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, 2complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. 3Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. 4Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. 5Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: 6 Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. 7 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names, 10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. (Philippians 2:1-12 Common English Bible) Christ Lord our Savior, we have learned that through you all is possible. It is true that our very salvation is to live in eternal peace in your heavenly Kingdom. You have given us so much; possibly the greatest is free will. Like all other servants, we are fallible. We are often quick for vengeance. Lord, we ask that you continue to bless us, for without your grace, we are certain to fail. We look to our world and see so much that we cannot control. The entire globe is covered by an invisible invader that sickens us. Here in our own country, we face a second pandemic, the unfair treatment of our very own brothers and sisters. Lord, there are those among us who have forgotten that you alone are our salvation. They have lost their way, taking a wrong turn off the path of righteousness. Give us the strength to turn our cheek when assaulted. Give us the strength to overcome feelings of hopelessness and depression. Give us the strength to find our way back to you. As the weeks and months greet us, let us look forward to Advent. Let our joyous preparation of your return remind us of the ancient mystery. Let us prepare the world for your return. Let us be true disciples of your lessons in love, compassion, peace and understanding. Let us be guides for others who need to find their way back. Through you and only you, can we have the strength to heal both our bodies and minds. In Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, we shall bow and pray. Amen.
Earl Dionne, Executive Director, Rachel's Kitchen, Inc; Rachel Harlow United Methodist Church, Windsor, VT; Green Mountain District