Grace and peace this fine Saturday. It’s good to end the week with you In the Pastor’s Workshop.
This week we’ve focused on recovering our confidence as we prepare to answer the question, “Ready to Reopen?” We’ve followed the story of Gideon as he started to recover his confidence by remembering the covenant he shared with God and receiving the commission God issued to him.
As we come to Saturday we’ve finished our writing. But our work is not done. To fully prepare for Sunday we have to “put it all to prayer”. To be set for tomorrow we have to ready both our minds and our hearts.
So what would be your prayers for our worship? Particularly as you think about this past six months with the Covid pandemic and the reopening preparations before us what are your prayers as we move ahead into the future God would be opening?
Here are a few of mine:
· I pray for all those who have been seriously impacted by this season with the Covid virus, particularly those who: have been ill, had loved ones ill, had loved ones pass away, lost jobs, lost financial security, had educational development seriously disrupted, had mental or emotional turmoil, or suffered any other debilitating effects in these past months.
· I pray for all who have known a “cloud of Covid”, a low grade depression and ongoing dis-ease that has been associated with this disease.
· I pray for all who have lost a feeling of freedom they once had, a sense of confidence they once knew about how they lived life.
· I pray for faith as we move forward in this season ahead, a faith that we can take steps, make progress, mitigate risk, and advance ministry thoughtfully and carefully, wisely and well.
· I pray that the covenant relationship we share with God would be a source of strength and assurance for us.
· I pray that the commission we receive from Christ to be doing God’s work in the world would inspire us beyond any “doldrums”, back into service that is appropriate for these days.
These are a few of my prayers. What are yours? Particularly as you think about the story of Gideon, the reopening of Israel and the reopening of our community and country what are you asking from God? What is God asking from you?
I’m glad we can share in this “preparation with prayer” today. I’ll let you get to your personal time with the Lord.
And I look forward to being with you tomorrow either at “Together at the Tower” or online in the Master’s Workshop.
Prayer: Gracious God, as we prepare to take steps which answer the question, “Are we ready to reopen?, guide us with your Spirit. Keep all safe in Your Care. Call us forward in Your Service. Help us to see the ways we can help one another through these uncertain days. In our covenant with You help us discover the confidence we need to re-engage in life with the sense of promise and hope that is of You. This we pray in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen