 Jan. 26, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, members of the Extended Cabinet and United Methodists across New England are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Lord, we come to you in this time of pandemic, looking for miracles. Over the past year, many of our idols have been displayed in front of us and found to be empty stumbling blocks. Our lives have become simplified as we have been forced to put so much of what we once found essential, aside. In this refining fire, we have come to rely only upon you, the One true God. Just as you once sent unclean spirits far from your followers, we ask you to send this virus far from us. We love you, Lord Jesus. Make us clean. Make us whole, Make us well. Amen. By Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Brannen, Katahdin District Superintendent. 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-2
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 Jan. 25, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar, members of the Extended Cabinet and United Methodists across New England are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Almighty and eternal God, we come before you today with a deep desire to know you, and to feel your loving embrace surround us. Calm our minds, and soothe our spirits as we sense your presence. We come as persons who have something to give to others and to you. Each of us are aware of our areas of strength and of our areas of failure. Speak to us through the “Nineveh moments” of life. You have called us to follow you, and your voice has been drowned out with the noise of our lives. Forgive us for not listening. Speak to us again in our moments of quietness, and remind us to slow down, to be silent, and to listen. Make yourself known to us anew. Transform our defeatist attitudes. Give us courage us to try new behaviors which are filled with purpose and love. Lift our hearts to you today as the source of our strength and inspiration. We are give you thanks for the gift of another day, and we marvel at the many challenges and possibilities that lie within. Give us grateful hearts, O God for work to do, and for the strength with which to do it. Let your spirit push us onward and help us not to become distracted by difficulties. Help us instead to become inspired by what might be. Instill within each of us, a desire to face every challenge in life with the possibility of excelling, and turning adversity into victory. We thank you for your abiding presence as we life our voices in praise. Amen. “The longest, most arduous trip in the world is often the journey from head to heart. Until that round trip is completed, we remain at war with ourselves. And, of course, those at war with themselves are apt to make causalities of others, including friends and loved ones.” — Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin By Rev. Dr. David V. Calhoun, Seacoast District Superintendent Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62:5-12 I Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20  Jan. 24, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Jesus, Like Andrew and his brother, and James and his sibling, you invite me to follow and in so doing, you will make us “fishers.” Fishers of people. Truth be told, I’m not a big fan of fish-people. Have you seen them? Have you smelled them? Fishy people, Jesus. Doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. And truth be told, I’m pretty happy with the nets I’m using. I like what shows up in my nets right now. I know what to expect. I can count on what is going to be in those nets. I’m comfortable with the net-intake. Not to mention: they are good nets. Why would I leave good nets? Perfectly good nets! Your mother would tell you, “Don’t waste good nets, Jesus!” (Well, at least my mother would.) Following you means leaving my nets? Following you means maybe no nets at all? Are you crazy Jesus? But maybe you’re up to something, something I didn’t catch at first (get it, Jesus?) Maybe what you are inviting us to do is not catch people AT something, but fish people OUT of something. Out of despair. Out of hunger. Out of thirst. Out of loneliness. Out of darkness. I’d like to be caught like that. I guess that I’d like to be part of something like that. But also I know this: I’ve never fished like that before. So Jesus, if you’ll be my teacher, I’ll be your follower. I’ll leave my nets and my need for comfort and security and control … I will follow you. Help me be your follower. Amen. Inspired by Mark 1:14 - 20, written by Rev. Rick McKinley, Dir. of Congregational Development  Jan. 23, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer A Prayer of Petition and Trust (based on Psalm 62: 5-12) God of unfailing love, with confidence we gather to worship you; to praise your holy name; to express to you our trust and confidence in your promise of security and refuge within your loving presence. Within the safety of your love, we honor you for the commitment you have made to your people, and pray that your people will respond to that love with trust and an acceptance of God’s merciful forgiveness. If only all your people showed the same commitment to you, O God, as you show towards them – they would know that a life lived within God’s presence is one that is rich beyond our understanding, and with a depth of inner peace that can only be hoped for and dreamed about. O God, our Rock and our Redeemer, you are our stronghold against the forces within human life that confront us each day; and which try to shake our faith and resolve; so we look to you in confidence and trust. We pour out our hearts to you O God, because our God is there waiting to lovingly respond to our needs, and quietly waits to offer us love and acceptance, and a secure road to travel that will lead us to our home in God. Thanks be to God – our Rock, our Redeemer and our Refuge – always. Amen. @2012. Joan Stott “The Timeless Psalms” RCL Psalm Year B, used with permission. Submitted by Rich Hughen, Interim Conference Lay Leade  Jan. 22, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer “Does anything good come out of Nazareth?” “Anything good” Almighty, in these tumultuous times with pandemic national trauma and other social ills, is there anything good? Yes, there is the loving warmth of Christ in our hearts and souls delivering inner peace to all. Please bless us. Amen. By John Cardillo, Conference Treasurer and Director of Administrative Services  Jan. 21, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Constant Companion, Sometimes you find us mending nets and call us to something greater We can become complacent with net-mending; complacent with worn out routines, old and tired traditions Comfortable doing the same things with the same results But you see us and see greater possibilities for us You call us to take what we know, and what we have, and use these gifts for a new purpose You renew our spirits and turn our mending into meaning May it be so Rev. Erica Robinson-Johnson, Director of Connectional Ministries/Assistant to the Bishop Mark 1:14-20  Jan. 20, 2021
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar and the members of the Extended Cabinet are sharing a daily prayer based on the Revised Common Lectionary for the week. You are welcome to use these in worship or in your own devotions. Today’s prayer Psalm 62:5-12 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work. O Holy One, On this historic morning, we come before you with hope, relief, and disquiet. We celebrate our human-made institutions and a new opportunity. We long to breathe and be the Beloved Community. You call us to love one another, to reject violence, and to listen. Our hope is in you, our rock and refuge, the Source of all that is good and never-ending. Your Truth makes us free. And yet, we mourn division with sisters and brothers. We have made media, coin, and systems our gods and sing My Country ‘tis of Thee. Forgive us. For so long, we have lived in our normal routines at less than our best and we can no longer recognize our need for your healing. Puncture our delusions of privilege and status, and deliver us from greed and favoritism. O God, awaken us to the life-taking fear and lies that separate us from one another. Disturb our self-righteousness, and reveal your grace where it is needed and not wanted. Remind us to be life-giving, to wish the best for one another, to have compassion for one another, and to acknowledge our own brokenness. Our hope is in you, our rock and refuge, the Source of all that is good and never-ending. Your Truth makes us free. Today we gather together – at a distance – over the screens of our TVs and devices, Longing to be shoulder to shoulder, touching one another, 350 million strong. Feeling that we are all turning the page together. Feeling our hope passed from one to another. God of love, we thank you for leaders who wear the joys and sorrows of life for all to see: Triumph, disappointment, loss and grief, joy, courage, and service. We pray your blessing upon Joseph Biden and his family and on Kamala Harris and her family. Bless their leadership, and inspire them to be leaders who hold their humanity boldly. May they recognize your Divine Spirit in all people, especially the poor and marginalized and serve them. Awaken us to the tangible reality of our holy web of interdependence and inspire us to act in our oneness. Lead us to work for justice and equity, and let justice roll down like waters with righteousness a mighty stream. Give us the strength to sustain our spirits and will in this sacred work. Let us rise together, go up together. Our hope is in you, our rock and refuge, the Source of all that is good and never-ending. Your Truth makes us free. Guide us each day to embrace your grace and to bring your love and justice into the world. On this day of hope, gird us for the difficult challenges and holy opportunities ahead. Help us to be true to you, O God, and true to our native land. Amen. Written by Rev. Ted Crass, President, The United Methodist Foundation of New England Inspiration: Psalm 62.5-12; Lift Every Voice and Sing, UMH 519  Jan. 19, 2021
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