"Saving God, Who Has Promised..." - 7 June 2020

Saving God, who has promised that you would be with your people to the end of the world, we pray on behalf of your Church globally, this congregation, as well as Selecman, Skyline-Urban, Southern Hills, and Sunny Lane UMC. Since we are those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ, then may mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to us. Give us the wherewithal to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints, since certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for condemnation; ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. And, by your gracious aid may we build ourselves up in our most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep ourselves in the love of God, wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life, have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and show mercy to others with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh (Jude 1-4, 20-23).

Holy God, take the nations in hand, and grab the steering wheel. Lead, guide, direct, and pilot one and all, to include world leaders, so that peace, safety, prosperity, and justice will grow and blossom world over. Grant us and all countries a robust and resilient fiscal and social recovery. Keep COVID19 at bay, hogtying it so there won’t be a second or third round.

Creator God, who made all humankind in your own image; and made from one blood every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek you, and perhaps feel their way toward you and find you, though you are actually not far from each one of us (Acts 17:26-27); see the conflicts raging in our country, and hear the cries of those calling out for what is just and fair. We acknowledge – even if grudgingly at times – that there are legitimate claims of wrongdoing and wrongs done. Assist us to get even better at bringing liberty and justice for all, regardless of bloodline, borough, wealth or worth. Further, Lord, make us a nation that is truly E Pluribus Unum – from the many, one. Heal our nation, and help each of us to treat others, even people different from us, with equity and equanimity. May our neighbors, irrespective of their ethnicity or economy, feel safe with us, and feel treated with dignity by us.

Lord God, you who open the eyes of the blind, raise those bowed down, and uphold those who are stumbling; hear our prayers for those in need (…). Raise them up, turn all that is bad to good, lift them from the miry pit and set them on The Rock.

We present ourselves and our petitions to you with optimism: optimism because your Son promised, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15.16). And we present ourselves and our petitions to you in humility since it is “the Spirit (who) helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8.26). Amen.