 July 10, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Many Waters District of the New England Conference 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 “Come to me, all you who are struggling and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest…” Matthew 11:28 , CEB Creator and sustainer of all that was, is, and ever will be – you who move mountains and cause the earth to tremble – who spin planets in orbit and ignite stars in the sky, hear our prayer today. Your beloved creatures, sheltering on this planet we call home, need your loving care and renewal. You formed us in the womb, breathing into our lungs, spirit, life and love. Protect us now, we ask. Guide us with wisdom as we navigate the waters of these trying times, comfort us with the knowledge that you have all things in your benevolent care. Be with us in these times of solitude, guide us into new expressions of community, and renew our hope for better days to come. Help us recognize your unfailing provision in good times and in days of challenge. We rest and find peace, trusting in your love. Amen. Jude and Steve Bascom, United Methodist Church of Auburn (ME), Many Waters District
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 July 9, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Many Waters District of the New England Conference 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 119:105-112 The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet, O Lord, and a light unto our path. The Word of God became flesh who is Christ, our Savior and the healer of our souls. The Word of God is the guidance of the Holy Spirit leading us toward the restoration and transformation. O Lord, we pray, in this confusing and fearful time, protect us from being deluded by false voices; voices which do not come from you; voices which lead us into conflict, to do injustice, and to cause pain among us. Shine Your light and eliminate the darkness that surrounds us, awaken us from our spiritual sleep, and lead us in the footsteps of Jesus today and always. In his holy name we pray. Amen. Rev. Taeseob Cho, Pastor of Rainbow UMC and Coordinating Pastor of Old Orchard Beach UMC  July 8, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Many Waters District of the New England Conference 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 Based on Isaiah 55:10-13 Dear Lord,I pray that, like the rains coming down from heaven, that I may be used to nourish life on earth while I am here. Guide me to quench the thirst for freedom, justice, and peace for all people of the earth. Teach me to replenish the earth, rather than destroy it and leave it striving to survive. Give me the courage to speak up for those who cannot speak; be they human or animal or environmental. Remind me to care for those who cannot care for themselves due to physical, mental, economic, or any other obstacles they may be facing. When I have finished this role on earth, only then may I be allowed to dwell in your house, Lord, in peace and comfort. In your name, Amen. Sharon Merrill, Many Waters District Lay Leader and Member of the Many Waters District Committee on Lay Servant Ministries. Member of the Bolster's Mills UMC  July 4, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the YOUR DISTRICT of the New England Conference 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 Let us pray for the needs of the world, saying, Gracious God, hear our prayer. God of all goodness, we give thanks for the newness you give each of us every day. We thank you for your surprises, for the people you put in our paths to show us new dimensions of your faithfulness. Gracious God, hear our prayer. We give you thanks for all people of faith, for churches everywhere, for the differing insights into your will offered and proclaimed by many teachers to guide and refresh your people. Gracious God, hear our prayer. We thank you for all nations, for racial and ethnic differences, for the variety of languages, foods, and lands you have created. Mold us into people who praise you for the marvels you set before us. Help us not to fear distinctions but to embrace them as your gifts. Gracious God, hear our prayer. Soften us, Lord, so that we are able to enter into others’ pain. When we are healthy, make us grateful. When we are in need, help us to receive the care of others. Gracious God, hear our prayer. We pray for those who suffer; for those who have no home, for all who lack enough food, for people who have no work or work that is live giving, for all who live in fear, and for all who hunger for peace and do not know where to turn. Gracious God, hear our prayer. We prayer for all the needs we name now silently or aloud…. Gracious God, hear our prayer. Fill us, O God, with your power. make us whole so that we journey with complete faith. Into your hands we commend all who need our prayers, trusting in your compassion, through Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord. AMEN Rev Michele St Cyr *Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume2: Trinity Sunday through Reign of Christ. Copyright 2014  3 July, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Katahdin District of the New England Conference 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 We praise you, Abba Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have revealed yourself to us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, And that you have spoken to us through the Advocate whom you sent, the Holy Spirit. We long to hear your words of hope but we confess we often look first to the world instead We look to the world for love, but instead find anger and hatred; We look to the world for comfort, but instead find backbiting and panic We look to the world for healing, but instead find a raging pandemic; We look to the world for provision but instead find systemic racism and poverty; We look to the world for wholeness but instead find brokenness and violence; We look to the world for mercy, but instead find slander and resentment We look to the world for unity, but instead find bitterness and division; We look to the world for leadership, but instead find corruption and deception; We look to the world for justice, but instead find our children of color gunned down by those sworn to protect them. O Lord our God, we confess that we are weary and burdened To whom else can we go than you, you who claim to be the Way and the Truth and the Life? Raise up our heads so we can see your face. Unstop our ears so we hear your call, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Let us be yoked, not with the world, but with you, Jesus, so we can know your love, comfort, healing, provision, wholeness, mercy, unity, leadership and justice. Let us be yoked with you, Jesus, so we can join you in your work to bring love, comfort, healing, provision, wholeness, mercy, unity, leadership and justice into this broken world. On this independence weekend, we declare we are utterly dependent on you, Jesus. We trust not in the freedom the world offers, but rather we trust in the ransom you paid for us on the cross so we can know your true freedom and new life as we are raised together with you and all your children. For it is for freedom that Christ has set us free, to God be the glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Rev. Gwyneth Arrison Matthew 11: 25-30 July 2nd, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Katahdin District of the New England Conference 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 Father God, We need your love in a world of unrest. We need your wisdom to understand your Word and how to apply it to our lives. We need your healing for the illness in our land and in our hearts. In a noisy society, we need to hear the same gentle whisper that Ellija heard, sending us forth with hope, conviction and forgiveness. With thankful hearts, we pray these things in the name of the Triune God. Amen. Deanna Philbrick 1 Kings 19: 11-13  July 1st, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Katahdin District of the New England Conference 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 Oh God, you have taught me the way of love. You have shown me what is good and you have made it so clear to me how to live. I l love you, Lord God, and I want to live my life in the manner you have taught me. And there are some days when I come pretty close. Yet, there are more days when I do not. While I long to live as you would have me, I give in to selfishness, greed, anger, and jealousy. I am grateful for you mercy, Lord. For I do delight in your ways and I know that Jesus is still redeeming my faulty attempts. Thank you Lord, thank you. Rev Dr Jackie Brannen, KADS Romans 7: 15-25  June 30th, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Katahdin District of the New England Conference 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 God of our lives, thank you for each new day you give us -- for the chance to love others, for the chance to do some good, for the chance to find joy and beauty. We are grateful, and humbled by your gifts. But we confess, merciful God, that we do not always use those gifts -- each day, each opportunity -- in ways that bring glory to you and hope to your people. We ask your forgiveness for the times we fall short: too often, we forget needs we should remember, and let fester feelings we should release; too often, we ignore truth when it becomes uncomfortable, and lack courage to do what is called for, and allow weariness and excuses to get the better of us; too often, we fail in prayer, in compassion, in doing justice. Accept our repentance, we pray, and grant to us new life. Thank you for our salvation in Jesus, who died to set us free from the power of our sin, and who lives within us, loving us through each day. We know, holy God, that you have formed us in your image, and that our spirits are guided by your Spirit, and that as your children we are called to love and minister in your name. And so we seek to walk with Jesus in this new day, embracing whatever gifts and work you set before us, holding to your light all in need of healing, peace, grace, hope, and offering to you our grateful hearts. In Christ's name we pray, Amen. Submitted by Mary E. Miller, Retired, Mars Hill UMC and United Parish Church, Fort Fairfield, based on Romans 7:15-25  June 29, 2020
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 My heart is glad this morning, O God, I can’t stop praising your name on high, Since you call me your own, You have made my heavy yoke light, The green grass seems to be dancing with me, The birds too join with me as I sing songs of salvation. It is your calm presence, sufficient grace, and ardent love that brought light into the dark night of my soul, that upheld me and raised me up from my countless fallings, that reignited your calling within my heart to follow your footsteps, that taught me to empathize with the laugher and the mourner, that delivered a wretch like me from blindness and bondage, that grounded my soul with rest so that I may bear trials and persist through them. The love you give me brings glory to your name, Grant that I may proclaim and live by joy, May I seek to rest in your beauty, order, and abundance. Allow me to bear your yoke even through dark, difficult, and painful moments. For I now have an understanding of what you said to your followers, “Put on my yoke, and learn from me … My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light” Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, who offered me rest and “acted to set things right in this life of contradictions.” You granted me this new day, O Lord, So I will celebrate your presence, I will serve you with all my heart and mind, May you use the entirety of my being for your mighty will, And I will keep singing. Through all the tumult and the strife, I hear that music ringing It finds an echo in my soul. How can I keep from singing? By Rev. Taesung Kang, New Hampshire District Superintendent Psalm 145:8-14; Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30; Romans 7:15-25a The Faith We Sing # 2212 “My Life Flows On” (How Can I Keep From Singing)  June 28, 2020
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 “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” These words have been attributed to John Wesley (June 28, 1703 – March 2, 1791), whose birthday we celebrate today. However, Methodist scholars maintain that Wesley never actually said these words. At least, it has not been demonstrated that these words originated with him as they do not appear in any of his writings. That said, many life-long Methodists have associated this “rule of life” with John Wesley. If the most we can say is that Wesley used words similar to these (as is the case in one of his sermons) or that Wesley’s theology, life, and ministry reflected the essence of these words, or simply that we have come to connect them with Wesley because they (likely wrongly) have been attributed to him for so long, so be it. Let us be grateful for this wise “rule of life” as we celebrate the 317th birthday of John Wesley. Better still, attempt to “Do all the good we can ... ” Scripture Readings: Genesis 22: 1-14, Matthew 10: 40-42 God of the Ages, As you gave the ram for the sacrifice, As you made a way for our mothers and fathers, for Abraham and Sarah and the long line of the faithful, and As they trusted in the Word that they did not fully comprehend, As you journeyed with them into a future they could not see, As your Spirit sustained Jesus in the wilderness where he was tempted but did not forsake you, As Jesus instructed his followers by his example to love, As he gave us the gift of abundant life ... So give us faith to believe in your promise that we do not fully see or comprehend, So make us strong to resist evil in whatever guises it presents itself, So make us willing to stretch out our hands in the name of Jesus to offer hospitality to the stranger, to give a cup of water to the little ones, to welcome the outcast. Restore in us, oh God, the faith you gave Abraham, “Jehovah-Jireh” (God will provide); Restore in us the faith that you give us now; Restore in us the faith That You will provide to all generations, That the sacrifice and the reward will be given and received. In the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. By Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar |
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