"Look, O Good Shepherd, with Compassion" - 15 March 2020

We worship you for there is none like you, O God, who rides through the heavens to our help, through the skies in your majesty. You, O eternal God, are our dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And you thrust out the enemy before us and say, ‘Destroy’ (Deuteronomy 33:26-27). It is to you we pray.

Look, O Good Shepherd, with compassion on your one flock all around the world, and around the OKC area to include: Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, Christ Church, Church of the Servant, and Clark Memorial UMC. With rod and staff, comfort the people of your pasture and the sheep of your hand. Seek out your sheep and rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. Seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak (Ezekiel 34:12, 16).

Look, O Good Shepherd, with compassion upon this part of your one flock, Heritage Presbyterian Church. Bring us to dwell securely; to be a more successful extension of your promise to Abraham that through his offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed; to dwell securely with none to make us afraid; and that we may know that you are Yahweh our God with us (Ezekiel 34:25-31). And, O Good Shepherd, help us to commit our work to you and find you establishing our plans (Proverbs 16:3). 

Look, O Good Shepherd, and have compassion on the ailing (…), the fretting (…), the aching (…), and the despairing (…). Raise them up and uphold them. Give aid and resilience to those affected by this pandemic (bodily, economically and emotionally) and bring it to a speedy end. Give calm, repose and peace to those afraid and anxious. Give compassion and kindness to all in this atmosphere of foreboding. And, for those who are walking in the ways that seem right to a man, but the end is the way of death (Proverbs 16:25), we pray (…). Rescue them and save them for your name’s sake.

Look, O Good Shepherd, and have compassion on the nations and leaders of nations. Many are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Shepherds have fleeced their flocks, abandoning them to become prey; and many oppressed have become oppressors, and victims have become victimizers trampling out what others need, pushing with their sides and shoulders, thrusting the weak with their horns (Ezekiel 34:17-24). Feed them justice; bring them to see your better way; and cause your covenant of peace to set up house in their lands for their good and your glory.

Look, O Good Shepherd, and have compassion on our own country and the elected and appointed officials. Since it is an abomination for kings to do evil and the king’s throne is established in righteousness, may wisdom be sought more than gold and understanding rather than silver; may we, the leaders and the led, guard our ways and walk along the highway of the upright that turns away from evil. Since pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, lead us one and all to honor humility more than ham-fisted hounding (Proverbs 16). All of these requests we ask with the assurances you have given us in Christ Jesus. Amen.