Prayers for the People—July 2, 2017 at WDMUMC By Mike Powers

Prayers for the people—July 2, 2017 WDMUMC

By Mike Powers

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise you as the maker of all things. Thank you for allowing us the great blessing of being able to live in this world and experience the joys and wonders of your Creation.  On this weekend when we celebrate our freedoms, we know that many people today are not free.  There are many parts of the world where people are persecuted and oppressed because of their beliefs.  We know others, even in this country, in our own community lack freedom by being held captive by illness, poverty, hunger, lack of shelter, persecution, addiction, abuse or violence.  God, we ask that you extend your mercy to all who are suffering and enable us to act as your servants in easing such suffering in whatever way we can. 

We see so many examples-- where we, your people, abuse each other in various ways—attacking each other physically, verbally or emotionally.   Such attacks stand in stark contrast to the message of love that Jesus taught us.  Darkness is not eliminated by additional darkness.  Darkness is driven out by light and Jesus is the Light of the world.  Hate cannot be conquered by other hate.  Hate is conquered by love.  Let us serve You by being the beginning of the end for the cycle of hate in the world.  Let each of us serve you God by following Jesus’ example of living lives of peace and forgiveness and spreading Your Word to those who do not yet know You. 

We thank you for the leadership that Reverend Steve has provided our church for the past two and half years and we thank you for returning Pastor Cindy to this church to lead us into the future.  With your guidance, may she shepherd this church along a path which expresses love to both You and our neighbors. 

But we know she cannot do this by herself.  The church is larger than anyone of us.  God, we know that we are most effective in serving You when we work together, each striving to do our own individual part in accordance with your plan to move this church forward in its mission to change lives in the name of your Son Jesus Christ.  It requires the support of every member of this congregation.   Ignite the Holy Spirit that resides in each of us to provide the drive to find our personal mission as to how we can each help the whole of this church by engaging and supporting it. 

Amen.