 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. By Rev. Matt Willis-Goode, People’s UMC (Newburyport, MA) and Merrimacport UMC (Merrimac, MA)
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 September 29, 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 Psalm 19 Gracious and Loving God, We praise your name and delight in your steadfast love for us. We pray that we may always seek to do your will, And stay in your very near presence. We cry out to you in our time of distress; We need to know that you care. We pray that you will give strength to those who are suffering from wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, and for those who continue to suffer from the coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are mourning the loss of loved ones. Heal those who are hurting in their bodies, minds or spirits. Uphold those who are feeling weak, lost, or alone. Help us to live in your righteousness, and to spread your love far and wide. "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Amen. Rev. Rebecca Cho, Community United Methodist Church (Wayland, MA)  September 28, 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 Philippians 3:4b-14 O Lord, Thank you for today’s word through apostle Paul. Oftentimes life gets busy and we forget the upward call you have granted. We do our best to accomplish what needs to be done in our daily life and we become addicted to busyness and accomplishments. Forgive us for trying to become like you as being omnipotent and omnipresent with busyness in order to feel important. Help us remember your grace poured out for us, mere, finite, and imperfect human beings. We confess that all the human accomplishments and recognition we had counted as loss once like the apostle Paul when participating in the death of Jesus Christ began to replace your righteousness. Forgive us that we sought to establish our own righteousness in one way or another. Give us faith that can declare all the human credentials are worthless in comparison to the priceless value of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord so we may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death. May all that we experience whether they are seemingly good or bad bring God glory. Amen. Prayer by Rev. Sue Yun, St. Stephen's UMC (W. Roxbury, MA)  September 27, 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 prayer When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Matthew 21:23-27 Lord of Life, Justice and Truth. As we wander the paths of our present human condition, we thirst for Truth the same way the ancient followers of Moses thirsted for water. Much like the chief priests that confronted Jesus, we have leadership that knows the truth about COVID but fears the crowds and will not speak truth or perhaps, speak at all. We ourselves can be like the elders, afraid to speak your truth when called to do so. We can withhold your grace out of selfishness or ambition. We too can fall to fear and utter, "We do not know" when in fact we do. All of this is a reminder that in this time of COVID, racial injustice, and climate disaster the only real truth comes from you. The only real guidance is your path of walking with Love and Grace. May we honor your authority and proclaim your truth today. In Christ’s Name, Amen. Rev. Preston Fuller, Pastor and Elder, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, St. Albans; Green Mountain District  September 26, 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 prayerPhilippians 2:1-13 Holy and gracious God, In the midst of these challenging days, we are thankful that we do not journey alone, for you are ‘God with us.’ We turn to you for your sustaining grace, so that we might live in harmony and look upon our neighbors with compassion and love, even in the midst of our differences. When we do wander away, when we go astray, turn us around, bring us home, and remind us that we are your children, called to be present to the world with the heart and mind of Jesus, lifting up the hurting, the lonely, the fearful. As we go forward into much that is unknown, we trust in your abiding presence, and we trust, O God, that you are working in us, right now, in this very moment, sharing your will and your good pleasure for us and for the world. And for this, we are grateful. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Peg Hilliard, Retired Local Pastor, Lyndonville United Methodist Church; Green Mountain District  September 25, 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 prayer 2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, 2complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. 3Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. 4Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. 5Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus: 6 Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. 7 But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names, 10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. (Philippians 2:1-12 Common English Bible) Christ Lord our Savior, we have learned that through you all is possible. It is true that our very salvation is to live in eternal peace in your heavenly Kingdom. You have given us so much; possibly the greatest is free will. Like all other servants, we are fallible. We are often quick for vengeance. Lord, we ask that you continue to bless us, for without your grace, we are certain to fail. We look to our world and see so much that we cannot control. The entire globe is covered by an invisible invader that sickens us. Here in our own country, we face a second pandemic, the unfair treatment of our very own brothers and sisters. Lord, there are those among us who have forgotten that you alone are our salvation. They have lost their way, taking a wrong turn off the path of righteousness. Give us the strength to turn our cheek when assaulted. Give us the strength to overcome feelings of hopelessness and depression. Give us the strength to find our way back to you. As the weeks and months greet us, let us look forward to Advent. Let our joyous preparation of your return remind us of the ancient mystery. Let us prepare the world for your return. Let us be true disciples of your lessons in love, compassion, peace and understanding. Let us be guides for others who need to find their way back. Through you and only you, can we have the strength to heal both our bodies and minds. In Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, we shall bow and pray. Amen. Earl Dionne, Executive Director, Rachel's Kitchen, Inc; Rachel Harlow United Methodist Church, Windsor, VT; Green Mountain District  September 23, 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 prayer Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 Is the Lord really with us or not? 1 Hear my teaching, O my people; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. There is pain…there is sickness…there is lost income. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable; I will declare the mysteries of ancient times. What do we tell our children? How will school work? How will teachers teach? 3 That which we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told us, we will not hide from their children. But my community no longer looks like my community. I want to go back! 4 We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, and the wonderful works God has done. Is the Lord really with us or not? 12 God worked marvels in the sight of their ancestors, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. God worked marvels in the sight of our ancestors. You, Creator God, make ways of impossible ways. 13 God split open the sea and let them pass through; God made the waters stand up like walls. You, Creator God, make paths through roaring seas. 14 God led them with a cloud by day, and all the night through with a glow of fire. You, Shepherding God, light paths when the darkness surrounds. 15 God split the hard rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep. You, Providing God, fill our spirits with peace. 16 God brought streams out of the cliff, and the waters gushed out like rivers. We confess our memories fail us when we are full of doubt, fear, hatred and think we have all the answers. Dare we ask that You fill us, in this time, with Your peace, with Your grace, with Your mercy and with Your patience. May we encounter this time of unknowns, knowing and trusting in You and your people. For it is in trusting that we might have the same mind as Christ Jesus. Amen. Tracie Wright, future District Lay Leader, Certified Lay Speaker, Chair Green Mtn District Committee on Location and Building, United Church of Underhill VT; Green Mountain District  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  September 21, 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 and Exodus 17:1-7 Precious Savior, Daily you grace us with miracles, blessings and healings both great and small. We are always being cared for by You like a child with a loving parent. Why is it that on our journey called life we often forget that we are not in control? We forget to reach out to you in all things. Our pride often gets in the way when we think we alone have accomplished great things. Since ancient times you have seen us through trial, suffering and want. Today is no different. This is not the world's first pandemic. This is not the first time we have seen sickness in great numbers. This is not the first time oppressed and marginalized people have struggled. We need to turn to the lessons of old. Your teachings have not changed. We have. It is time for us to incline our ear and hear the words from Your mouth. We need to replace worry with prayer. With You ALL things are possible. We are never alone. Amen! Robin Genetti, Lay Leader at Waterville Union Church; Green Mountain District  September 19, 2020
A daily prayer during this COVID-19 crisis During these difficult days, members of the Granite 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 Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45 O Holy One, Each morning we awaken ready to start another day, another journey of faith with you – oh, but there are many challenges before us and sometimes we can lose our way, forgetting that you are with us at every step. At times it is easier to complain, to give up, to worry, to be angry, to be frustrated. “Why is this happening to me, to my family?” ‘God, where are you?” Remind us, Lord, that you know your people, each one of us. You know our comings and our goings. You know are hearts and our souls. God, you know what we need and when we need it and you keep your promises. Help us to remember on this day and all days that you love your children. That you are our way, our truth and the only life. Father, help us to take a deep breath, to be silent, to listen for your voice, to feel your warmth and your touch. No matter the challenges and burdens we all face, it is your forgiveness, your grace, your love, that make us whole. We give thanks to you, O God, for your strength, for your love, for all you have done for all of your children. Fill us with what we need, each day, so that we may arise, give thanks to you for our lives, and be ready to serve others within your kingdom. All praise and glory to our Lord and Savior. Amen. Prayer by Karen Cassidy, Certified Lay Minister, First UMC, Manchester, NH; Granite District |
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