A previous President leaves office, and a new one is sworn into office. Time marches on. But what do we, personally, do with the time we have? Is our time all the same, or do we encourage special moments, unique times, to come into our lives? Today we shall examine how the quality of our time in life differs greatly, if we allow God to grant us times of wonder and grace and transformation. In pursuit of such times, let us, with confidence in the hope of new beginnings, worship God.
Pastoral Prayer
We thank Thee, O God, that we live in a nation where there is a transfer of immense political power without troops in the streets and no implicit threat that the transfer may not occur. Bless the United States of America and our new President as we enter into a period with many unanswered questions and with anxiety in the hearts and minds of many people. Nonetheless, through it all, we have a strong history which has guided us in the past, and precedents which have served us well. As many Americans have prayed for Thy guidance when other new presidential administrations were installed, so again we now pray for our nation in our new situation. Above all, give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
We pray for various kinds of people at various stages in their lives: for the parents of newborn infants and for those babies; for teenagers who face situations and temptations which older people could never have imagined; for young adults who have left home for college or work, and who may feel baffled by suddenly having to become independent; for young couples newly committed to one another; for older couples whose children are all grown and away on their own; for older people in retirement who may look back with fondness of their past lives and who face the future with uncertainty or fear. Loving God, all of us are confronted by circumstances many others have faced, but we may find ourselves newly thrust into these circumstances. Therefore we ask for Thy guidance and grace to sustain us. Give us strength for the journey, hope for its happy conclusion, and trust that Thou wilt be with us every step of the way.
We pray for those who are weary of body or mind, for those who feel lost or abandoned by life, for those for whom pain or suffering are unending, and they cry out to Thee for relief or for more tenacious ability to withstand their torments. Help us to be agents of mercy to those who need it and beacons of hope to those who have lost it. These and all our prayers we make in the name of Jesus. Now we join together in the prayer he taught his disciples, saying, Our Father….