Lent – Day 15
Lent 2010: A Season for Listening
3/5/10 – Day 15
World Day of Prayer – Our Father
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”- Luke 11:1-4
Today we pray as we always do: together. Even in solitude Christians pray in union and solidarity. The words that Jesus taught us remind us of our eternal bonds to dependence on God and all people across the world and throughout time. Today we transcend the divisions that plague the Church and return to the simple words that we have held together throughout the ages. May we feel a connectedness and strength that is stronger than all pain and prejudice. May we feel a peace that defies all circumstances and hardship. Today we are one as we reflect on the words of a new hymn written for World Day of Prayer. – Rev. John Mattox
O God of Light, May Our Light Shine
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
O God of light, my our light shine in ways that serve and honor you.
May we be loving, just and kind, proclaiming Christ in all we do.
God, where your people are oppressed and where they cry out in despair,
make us your light to heal, to bless, a witness, Lord, that you are there.
Christ, when your way is pushed aside by those who trust in wealth and might,
make us your lamps that we may guide a searching world to your love’s light.
O Spirit, in this world of doubt, we often sin and drift away;
when our faith is flickering out, shine on our path and light our way.
Let us pray,
Lord,
With gratitude, we pray the prayer your taught us…
“Our Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial” (NRSV)
Let it be. Amen. –Rev. Katie Mattox