From its inception, the Church of Jesus Christ has consisted of many branches. Today we shall be thinking about that branch of Christianity known as Mainline Protestantism. Almost all of us have been associated with one or more Mainline denominations in our lifetime, and we need to understand what is happening to the Christian tradition in which we grew up and have spent most of our adult years. Therefore let us, with confidence, worship God.
Pastoral Prayer
Once again we gather before Thee in prayer, O God, ultimately thanking Thee for giving us the health and strength to be here with Thee and with one another. We praise Thee for Thy blessings to us during the past week, and for the promise of more blessings to come in the week ahead. We thank Thee also for the opportunity we have of worshiping Thee. By means of it, we are renewed, revitalized, and restored to a stronger relationship with Thee and with one another. We ask that out worship may benefit not only ourselves but others around us, simply because we have been here.
On this designated Fathers Day, we thank Thee first for those of us whose fathers are now with Thee in eternity. We thank Thee for their good influences on our lives, and for the helpful ways in which they shaped us. We pray for fathers of adult children, and especially for those whose sons or daughters are experiencing major challenges in life. May their fathers give those offspring good advice where it is needed and no advice where it is not wanted. We pray also for new fathers and for the fathers of young children. Convince them of the importance of their role in the care and development of those children. Keep them from putting their work first and their family second. May they understand that a role they alone ultimately chose is the most important role they are currently playing.
Once again we turn to Thee as our nation has been confronted by another mass murder of scores of innocent victims. We pray for federal legislators who lack the required courage to take the necessary step of preventing ordinary citizens from buying or owning assault rifles. Give to all of us the obvious perspective of understanding that changing conditions demand changing laws and statutes. Forgive us from worshiping a national status quo which slowly but continuously requires updates. We pray for the families of all those who were killed, and for others who were wounded in the rampage. We pray for professionals who deal with the mentally or morally ill, and for families who live with the mentally or morally ill. Enable us more wisely to live in a fallen world, and to do whatever we can to keep it from falling further. We make our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who has led us into Thy presence. Now we join together in prayer as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father….