A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis for September 30, 2020

September 30, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis
During these difficult days, members of the Commonwealth East 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
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 and Matthew 21:33-46
Loving and Gracious God,
You used a time of wilderness wandering to form Israel into your covenant community. Through Moses you gave Israel the Ten Commandments as the foundation of the law that was intended to support the covenant that you made with Israel. You gave the law to your people in order to keep them in right relationship with you and with one another.
Jesus criticized the chief priests and the Pharisees for using the law to validate their own self-righteousness rather than producing fruit for your Kin-dom.
As we continue to wander in the wilderness of these uncertain times, we confess that we are tempted to find security in our own self-righteousness. Forgive us for the times that we use our religion as a validation of our own position as we judge others that we disagree with. Forgive us for seeking to be right rather than to build relationships with our neighbors and participate in your unfolding Kin-dom.
We pray, God of the wilderness, that you would use this time of wandering and uncertainty to write your law of love on our hearts. Move us from self-righteousness and judgement of others to humility and love. Empower us by your Spirit to be peacemakers and bridge builders working together to bring about your Kin-dom on earth as it is in heaven.
We lift this prayer in the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, Amen.
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By Rev. Matt Willis-Goode, People’s UMC (Newburyport, MA) and Merrimacport UMC (Merrimac, MA)