Daily Prayer
News and Information
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)
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.
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