Daily Prayer

February 20, 2022

A daily prayer from the New England Conference

The clergy and laity 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

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 (The Message) 35-38 Some skeptic is sure to ask, “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this ‘resurrection body’ look like?” If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a “dead” seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different. Holy One, You are the gardener. You cause the rain. You made the sun. Plant us. Nurture us. Be with us in this moment, in this day, in this pandemic, in this life. Help us not to worry when we cannot know the future. Grow in us that hope which you have demonstrated as worthy through the life and resurrection of Jesus. Transform us from the feeble, mortal seeds of human existence. Raise us into the glorious, eternal likeness that you loved into being before we knew ourselves. Inspire us with the breath of eternal life beyond human imagination. Care for us as you care for the lilies of the field. For your glory we will rise like mighty oaks. We will respond to your great love by loving each other as trees which shade each other and send nutrients through majestic underground networks. We are in awe of all you have created and we gratefully praise your Holy name, now and forever. Amen. Rev. Cheryl L. Meachen, Chair Granite District Committee on Ordained Ministry and Pastor of Wesley UMC, Concord NH