Pastoral Prayer - February 3rd (Noel UMC)

Dear Friends, let us now go to God bringing whatever it is that is on our hearts, knowing that God is present among us and that God is listening to God's people.

 

Would you pray with me?

 

God of grace, patience and love,

 

We come to you today seeking forgiveness for all the times we have failed you. For all the times we have failed to live up to the people you have called us to be. For all the times we have failed ourselves. We ask that you look past our sinfulness and our doubts. We ask that you mend the broken places of our hearts and fill the empty spaces of our souls for we are a broken people.

 

Continue to mold us and shape into the people you call us to be. We are desperate for healing, we are desperate for forgiveness and we are desperate, indeed, for the promise of redemption to be renewed in us and through us.

 

For all the times that we fall short. For all the times that we shut you out of our lives. For all the times we rebuild the walls you continue to tear down. Oh Lord, have mercy on us.

 

Again and again, we pray with everything we have, Lord. We pray for this church and its leaders. We pray for our community and the people who walk through our doors each and every day. We pray that this place would be a place where your Spirit is felt and where you and your disciples may call home. 

 

We thank you for your faithfulness to us and to this community. For the renovation of this sacred building, for the faithful leaders you have blessed us with and for the responsibility of the task ahead. For the new church officers and congregational care ministers. In their times of struggle and decision making, we ask that your peace be with them and that your spirit guide them. May we ever look to You for guidance and for discernment, oh gracious Lord. 

 

God we are your people and again today we come into this place seeking to find you in the songs, the prayers, the sermon and the sacraments. We are again listening …. Waiting for your voice to be heard. Wash over us in these sacred moments and allow us to be still and know that You are God.

 

(Silence)

 

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.