Heavenly Father,
You have called us to walk in love with You. Thank you for bringing us into your communion — the communion of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You have called us to be Your light. It is hard to do this when we feel unloved, forgotten, and unworthy. We ask that You will help us receive Your goodness, forgiveness, and lovingkindness. Shine the light of your Word and your Presence in our lives.
Light up the darkness we have hidden in because of shame, guilt, and fear. Cause us to see as you see. Heal us of blind-spots conditioned by our society, by our families, by our experiences, and by our choices.
And Lord give us courage fuelled by the experience of being loved by you. Sometimes we just don’t want to see — we are afraid it will be too painful to acknowledge and to enter into the pain some people are living with constantly.
We lift up people who are on the journey for refuge in Greece. Allow them to experience Your loving Presence and provision; show us how to join You in receiving them and in caring for them in your name.
On the continent of Africa people living close to the land are facing a food security crisis in several countries. Lord, the locusts swarm and eat harvests intended for people’s food; we ask for your intervention. We pray that you would stop the locusts.
Oh Lord you are like a tree whose leaves bring healing. You bring healing to the nations. There is lots of fear over the coronavirus. We ask that you give health officials, doctors, and nurses wisdom. May you spring up like a tree of healing in Wuhan for those who feel trapped. Help us all to turn from fear to You and to receive Your strength, love, and wisdom.
Help us, Jesus.
Oh Lord strengthen us so that the manners of fear do not keep us from being openhearted with others. Cause us to be a community of love and obedience walking by Your Spirit — an attractive light others desire to be in. Then, images of grief and struggle may move us, stories of hardship and overcoming may inspire us and we will live the story You envision for us: a people who walk together in the way of Jesus — loving each other through all our struggles and seeing your kingdom come.
In your name we pray. Amen.
Please join me in praying the Lord’s prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one;
for yours is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever.
Amen.
Prepared by Ellen and Craig O’Brien