Every Sunday when we worship together, we become one community of faith. We have different backgrounds, different outlooks, different economic levels, and certainly different opinions. Yet through worship, we become one. This remarkable unity is a gift of God, and He graciously gives it to every congregation everywhere. Therefore let us, with the unified confidence He provides for us, worship God!
Pastoral Prayer
We come to Thee, O God, with gratitude in our hearts for the obvious blessings of our lives. We live as free people in a free land. We have been surrounded by many individuals, both past and present, who bring meaning and richness and value to our lives. We are grateful for our community, our homes, our families and friends. We look around us at the beauty of this community, and we are struck by how very fortunate we are. Remind us always to be grateful, Lord God, so that we never take any of these many blessings for granted.
On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember with both gratitude and sorrow all those men and women who have given their lives in service of our country. We remember their willingness to defend our nation against many foes throughout the past two and a half centuries, and for having fought bravely on behalf of all our citizens. We ask Thy presence to be especially felt among families who have lost loved ones in recent wars, and who still feel the painful void of those losses. Bless those who have the authority, the ability, and the intent to keep us out of future conflicts, so that peace may prevail for us, our allies, and our enemies.
We pray for the people of Ukraine, Russia, Israel, and Palestine who are engaged in unceasing warfare. May their leaders be inspired quickly to seek an armistice among their own citizens and in response to people all around the world. Be with the thousands of families who have lost loved ones in the terrible continuing destruction. As many political problems as we think we have in our own country, we pray for people who daily wonder if today will be their last day on earth. We ask Thee to help our nation to do whatever it can legitimately and wisely to promote peace among other nations. These and all our prayers we make in the name of Jesus, whom we perceive to be the Prince of Peace. Now we join together in prayer as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father….