March 14, 2009

Here is today’s prayer:

O Lord God,
the watchers of Zion have called peace, peace,
when there was no peace.
Wherefore have you so long withheld from us
the influence of your Holy Spirit?
Why have you hardened our hearts?
It is because we have honored you with our lips,
when our hearts were far from you.

Return again to us, O Lord God,
and pardon this iniquity of your servants.
Cause your face to shine upon us, and we shall be saved.
O visit us with your salvation.
Raise up sons and daughters from Abraham and Sarah,
and grant that there might come
a mighty shaking of dry bones among us,
and a great ingathering of souls.

Be pleased to grant
that the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ may be built up;
that all nations and kindreds and tongues and peoples
might be brought to the knowledge of truth,
and we at last meet around your throne,
and join in celebrating your praises. Amen.
-Maria Steward, African American, U.S.A., 19th Cent., alt. (BOW 486)

This prayer series is part of my ongoing ministry as Pastor of Edom United Methodist Church. As such, these prayers are offered as both a reminder to pray and models of prayers, especially of confession, pardon, and repentance during this season of Lent. Therefore, they are a teaching element here on the internet that serves to reinforce lessons that are being taught in classes and sermons throughout the Lenten season. Therefore, as a one-time reproduction I am including the following notice:
Copyright © 1992 The United Methodist Publishing House
United Methodist congregations may reproduce for worship and educational purposes any item from The United Methodist Book of Worship for one-time use, as in a bulletin, special program, or lesson resource, provided that the copyright notice and acknowledgement is included in the reproduction.
Should you wish to use any of the prayers that are offered with this notice attached to it, please refer to the United Methodist Book of Worship for more information on rights and privileges associated with these copyrights.