"O LORD, our Redeemer" - 8 March 2020

O LORD, our Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: you are the LORD our God, who teaches us to profit, who leads us in the way we should go (Isaiah 48.17); to you we pray.

You who have called your people; you who are the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Isaiah 48:12); we pray for your universal Church and these churches in the larger OKC area: Resurrection Free Methodist Church; Acts United Methodist Church; and Asbury Hooten Memorial UMC. In Hosea’s words we pray; may your people press on to know you, and may they find you coming to them as the dawn, as the showers and spring rains that water the earth. Help all your people to sow righteousness, to reap steadfast love, to break up their fallow ground, to seek you so that you will come and rain righteousness on them. And by your restraining hand and truth-guiding Spirit, may they not plow iniquity, reap injustice, or eat the fruit of lies by trusting in their own way, in the multitude of their own strength (Hosea 6:3; 10:12-13).

For us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (1 Corinthians 8:6); therefore, we pray for this congregation that you would supply every need of ours according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) that we would continue to grow in love, more and more; and that from this church your word would continue to increase and prevail mightily (Acts 19:20). And we pray for our adult children, many of whom grew up in this church, that you would enfold them in your peace and joy in Jesus. And for those children we are deeply worried for, we pray (…). Draw them back to you or closer to you that they may know you are God, our exceeding joy (Psalm 43:4).

The heavens declare your righteousness, for you, O God, are judge (Psalm 50:6)! We pray for the nations of this world and the leaders of the nations. Cause what is good, fair, right and wholesome to succeed and thrive; and that which is immoral and impious, dishonest and debased to crumble into dust.

You who shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; who will one day bring the nations to beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks so that nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore (Isaiah 2.4); to you we pray for our own country and the elected and appointed officials. We implore you to help us; restore peace where there has been animosity; civility where there has been coarseness; and justice where there has been unfairness. Have mercy on Nashville and all who are trying to piece their lives back together, those weeping over the death and darkness that has visited their lives. O Lord, have mercy, and grant them your peace.

Mighty God, who upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down; who gives food in due season, who opens your hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:14-16); we pray for the sick (…); the worried (…); the distressed (…); and the heartbroken (…). Raise them up and uphold them. All of this we ask with the assurances you have given us in Christ Jesus. Amen.