A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for November 18, 2020

​November 18, 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
Based on Psalm 100: A Psalm of thanksgiving.

Gracious God, this Psalm may not resonate with us as it might have only a few short months ago.  The joyful songs we long to raise in praise to you have been quieted by this pandemic which necessitates that we cover our faces and refrain from singing in order to protect and preserve the lives of all your precious children.  Our traditional worship has transformed from that which was familiar and comfortable, filled with music, dancing, passing of the peace, choir music and fellowship, to worship from a distance, worship in front of a computer screen and, for some, in-person worship physically distanced and shortened for safety reasons.
 
Yet in all times, in all places, you are God, and we are your people.  Your love for us is steady and abiding.  Your faithfulness to us endures and encourages us even in the darkest days.  And so, we sing our songs of worship and praise to you in our hearts.  Our eyes, smiling behind masks, radiate our love for you and others.  We employ our hands and feet, along with all of the spiritual gifts you have provided, to serve as you call us to serve, remembering that wherever we worship, wherever we serve, you are there with us.
 
Empower us, Holy One, to be living songs of praise, thankful for the opportunity to serve, blessing your name with our whole being, always giving you the thanks and the glory and the praise and the honor.  Amen.
 
“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever ,and his faithfulness to all generations.”
 
Sue Brown, Pastor, Mars Hill UMC, Mars Hill, Maine