May 10, 2022
A daily prayer from the New England Conference
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
John 10: 22-30; Psalm 23
Our Gracious and Eternal God, as we bow our hearts in your presence we bow in need of your graciousness. We live in a world where there is often little tolerance and compassion among humankind. We do not do well with diversity. Our history is replete with rejecting behaviors which have shut out people due to their religious beliefs, due sometimes to the color of their skin, due sometimes to their national origin, due sometimes to their sexual orientation, and due sometimes just to stubborn dislike. We bow in need of your forgiveness and grace. Forgive our rigid attitudes which would shut out even one of your children.
We pray that you would change our hearts. Drive out the fears which so easily beset us. For fear is always what causes us to retreat from and reject others and it is fear that holds us back from embracing them.
Give us a heart like Jesus, a receiving and gracious heart.
Give us hearts which reach out to embrace others.
Give us wide open arms to embrace the pain of the exile in our midst.
Give us the will to be a church which is a gathering of the wounded, the vulnerable: yes, and also of the hopeful, those who are hopeful of a new and exciting life and a new community in Jesus the Christ.
We also bring before you the great pain and travail of our broken and war-torn world. Be with the wounded and suffering. Be among the grieving. Be with soldiers who have served to long and yet must stay on duty because they cannot be relieved. Be with the sadistic who find delight in others’ suffering. In all that sinfulness many a new world be born. Amen. Prayer by Richard Einerson; submitted by Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun, Seacoast District Superintendent
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