Good morning.
Today is Tuesday,
December 8th,
2020.
Oh Lord,
Let my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to God,
The three in one,
Creator,
Redeemer,
And sustainer.
As it was in the beginning is now and will be forever.
Amen.
Come,
Let us sing to the Lord.
Let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
Find yourself that you are in God's presence.
Notice how God may be speaking to you today.
Let yourself dwell on any word or phrase that catches your attention or moves your heart.
And let your heart simply respond to God in prayer.
Please repeat these words.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Lord I believe,
Help my unbelief.
Our scripture today is Matthew 18 verses 12 through 14.
What do you think?
Suppose a shepherd has a hundred sheep and one of them strays away.
Won't the shepherd leave the 99 on the hillside and go in search of the stray?
If the shepherd finds it,
The truth is there is more joy found over the one than over the 99 that didn't stray.
In the same way,
It is never the will of your shepherd,
God in heaven,
That one of these little ones should be lost.
Please repeat these words.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Lord I believe,
Help my unbelief.
God who seeks,
You made us,
You know us,
And you love us,
Each of us individually.
None of us are dispensable.
You seek us with the fervor of a mother whose child has slipped away into a crowd.
Never stopping until we are found and safe in your arms.
May we remember your love when we feel dispensable.
May we remember your care when we feel alone.
Because in you,
We find our truest selves.
In you,
We find our permanent home.
I invite you now to sit in the silence and ponder the truth of those words.
That even when we feel lost,
The truth is we are found,
Held,
And loved.
And in this silence,
I invite you to hold someone's name before God.
Don't worry about diagnosing anyone's needs or telling God what to do.
Simply hold someone before the Lord this morning.
Almighty God bless all who call on you from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From your goodness enrich us.
By your love inspire us.
By your spirit guide us.
By your power protect us.
In your mercy receive us.
Now and always.
We pray in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray.
Our Father which art in heaven.
Eternal God,
Earth maker,
Pain bearer,
Life giver.
Source of all that is and all that shall be.
Not only Father but Mother of us all.
May the hallowing of your name echo through the universe.
May the way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world.
May your heavenly will be done by all created beings.
May your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another forgive us.
In times of temptation and test strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love now and forever.
Amen.
And now my friends may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you wherever he may send you today.
May he guide you through the wilderness.
Protect you through the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing.
Once again into our doors.
Go in peace.
