A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for September 22, 2020

September 22, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis

During these difficult days, members of the Green Mountain 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 prayerPsalm 78:1-4, 12-16
1 My people, hear my teaching;
    listen to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth with a parable;
    I will utter hidden things, things from of old--
3 things we have heard and known,
    things our ancestors have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their descendants;
    we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
 
12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors
    in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and led them through;
    he made the water stand up like a wall.
14 He guided them with the cloud by day
    and with light from the fire all night.
15 He split the rocks in the wilderness
    and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
16 he brought streams out of a rocky crag
    and made water flow down like rivers.

Gracious God, we confess that we did not stop where we had to stop. While the people of God stopped because the sea blocked their way, we did not want to stop even though our direction was not clear. While the people of God stopped because they were thirsty, we wanted to continue to walk, not noticing our thirst. We eventually stopped because our lives were at stake, and we realized how weary and tired we were from unceasing labor and our helpless projection for the future.
Lord, let this time be a moment for looking after our souls. Let this memory of collective sickness be an opportunity to create a solidarity of love and empathy with one another. Let this time be a moment for remembering where we are from, where we are going, and who we are, so that our direction is clear and we may start to walk toward the kingdom of God. As you are the one who started this story of salvation, we believe you may sincerely guide us to the destination. Give us your grace, so that we may be faithful as you are always faithful to us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

​Rev. Sunjae Lee, Pastor and Provisional Elder, North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church; Green Mountain District