October 21, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceMembers of the New England Conference 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 PrayerHoly One,
As we awaken and begin this day, we declare our trust in you.
Thank you for the sun as it shines, for the rain as it falls, for the trees as the leaves change, and for the clouds in their spectacular ordinariness.
Thank you for our breath to live into the opportunities of this day.
As life intervenes and challenges arrive, there will be hardships for us –- health, finances, relationships, employment, and others. Naysayers abound.
But we will trust in you – that you will never abandon us through these challenges.
Even when we cannot see a way forward, we will open our hearts and minds to the ever-present Christ among us with the confidence that your love will prevail. Let us draw strength from the caring and goodwill offered by others.
In this day, put us to use – each one – giving as we have been gifted, working alongside you, and careful not to get in the way of your Spirit.
Will this be my day to lift another who is hurting, to forgive, to provide safety and shelter, to offer a word of encouragement or a word in solidarity, to stand against bigotry and injustice?
God of us all, placing our trust in you, we are ready this day to bring your love into the world.
Amen.

Inspiration: Job 42.1-6,10-17; Psalm 34.1-8, 22; Mark 10.46-52
By Rev. Ted Crass, President, The United Methodist Foundation of New England

October 20, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceMembers of the New England Conference 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 PrayerEternal One, whose thoughts and ways are not ours,
you alone are God, awesome, holy, and most high.
School us in the ways of faith and wisdom,
that we, like Job,
may learn to truly see and hear,
and in humility find blessing. Amen.
 
Job 42:1-6, 10-17
Reproduced from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.

October 19, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceMembers of the New England Conference 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 PrayerLife-giving God,
guide us as we seek to follow our
teacher Jesus Christ, 
who always heard 
the voices others would ignore. 
Help us to be attentive
to the needs of those around us 
and to respond as you would 
bringing peace, comfort, and courage.


Mark 10:46-52
By Beth DiCocco, Conference Director of Communications

October 18, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceMembers of the New England Conference 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 PrayerDear Jesus,
 
Quite often, I’m with James and John, and even Bartimaeus. I want you, the Almighty, to do whatever I ask. You asked the question: “What do you want me to do for you?” You asked twice! It seems it would be so much easier to operate this way. I ask, You do. It really feels good to just make something happen. I like the idea of being “co-creator” with you – creating beauty and color and mountains and life and life-giving moments. Let me get up there next to you and let’s put things right! And yet, you offer another way. To do great things is to offer myself as servant. To be the first, I must step to the back of the back. Strength is realized only in weakness. To get the most is found where the least is. Safety is found in being vulnerable. The way of life is … death. Such a different way. What do I want? Jesus, I want to see – to see the world in this upside down, inside out kind of way. Help me Jesus. Heal me from lack of sight. Amen.
 
Based on Mark 10:35 – 51
By Rev. Rick McKinley, Conference Director of Congregational Development

October 15, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceThe clergy and laity 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 PrayerInspired by Mark: 10:13-15
 
God of Promise and Spirit of unity, we thank you that your presence of love surrounds us. You created the heaven and earth and we are grateful for this day. We want to worship and to praise your holy name among nations.
As we praise you among nations, we ask for grace and mercy as we celebrate your church and beyond. Forgive us, be with us as we claim your peace and strive to live peacefully with all your children. And let us never forget that you are a God who welcomes all and creates healing and Christian wholeness. In the name of Jesus, the Christ we always pray. Amen.
With love and blessing from Rev. Alecia Reeves-Freeman, Shepherd-Leader, Fisk UMC (Natick, MA), where God is always present, Commonwealth East District

October 14, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceThe clergy and laity 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 PrayerBased on Job 23:1-9, 16-17
 
Amazing and awesome God, you are to be praised.
We confess, often we do not understand you, and it is difficult for us to accept the mystery of your ways.
Often, we come to you with expectations of how and when you should answer.  We admit at times, the bitterness and resentment in our hearts keep us from feeling your presence. We grow frustrated, and our doubt grows, and we become hurt and angry because you do not meet our human expectations.
God, forgive us for our impatience and our lack of understanding.
We pause then and remember that your ways are not our ways. Our hearts grow faint, and we stand in awe of all you have created, all you have done, and all you will do.
God, we raise our voices in praise for your love and steadfastness.
We lift in prayer all those struggling today; we have been in that place.  May their faith sustain them, and they find hope in your holy mystery.
God, we ask you to answer our prayers not as we want but as you will.
Amen.
 
By Pastor Tim Southern, Pearl Street UMC (Brockton, MA), Commonwealth East District

October 13, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceThe clergy and laity 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 PrayerInspired by Psalm 91:9-16
Gracious and loving God, our forever protector.
We come to you in love – ready to praise.  We thank and thank and thank you.  Sunrises, love, new homes, negative results – we know you listened because you love us, and we know we have you to thank.  We don’t feel lost or afraid when we can see your hand at work in our lives.
We also come to you in fear – ready to run.  Lions, snakes, pandemics, hurricanes, loss, financial troubles – we carry it all around and lay it on you.  We aren’t always sure if you hear us asking for a particular result or if we know how to get through whatever we have to face without you.  We can’t always clearly see you.
In good times and bad – you love us always.  You hear us always.  Things will be as they will be, but never ever are we facing anything alone – you are the constant in our lives when everything else seems too much to deal with. 
You always stay with us, even when we question whether you are there or not.  Remind us when we are afraid you are there and are brave for us.  We can’t do this without you.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Prince of Peace.
Amen.
By De Keimach, Certified Lay Minister Candidate, member of Aldersgate UMC (North Reading MA), Commonwealth East District

October 12, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceThe clergy and laity 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 PrayerJob 38: 1-7, 34-41; Psalm 104: 1-9, 24, 35c; Hebrews 5: 1-10, Mark 10: 35-45
 
God of the whirlwind, we often forget your role in our lives.
As the morning stars sang, you laid the foundation of the earth.
We forget that you are the foundation that supports our lives.
You know us,
       you provide for us,
              you call to us.
And yet, it is only thanks to you that we can hear that call and receive those provisions.
Lord, help us to hear your call.
       Help us to measure up and align with your plumb
       Help us to offer our gifts in community to help others
       Help us to understand that we too will be called to sacrifice
       Help us to meet that call
Lord, keep us from the hubris that demands “we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you;” rather, guide us to ascertain your will so that we can do whatever you ask. Help us to be servants as opposed to the served. Help us to worry less about being first so that we can help those who are last.
Lord, how wonderful are your works! How wonderful that we are part of your plan! Strengthen us so that we may walk in your way giving love to all creation. Amen.
 
By Pastor Bill Hoch, Woburn UMC (Woburn, MA), Commonwealth East District

October 11, 2021A daily prayer from the New England ConferenceThe clergy and laity 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"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.” (Job 38:2-3)
 
O questioning God,
You come to us with many questions.
And we try to give answers,
So often without knowing what we are saying.
In reality, O God, we cannot help but admit our ignorance.
 
We do not know
       when this pandemic will be over;
       why innocent lives should be lost in earthquake, tsunami, and hurricane;
       whether we will see the world
              where there is no war, no violence, no discrimination, and no injustice;
 
Ignorant as we are, we do believe
       that you love us no matter what;
       that you are good and faithful to your love;
       that you expect us to love one another.
               
We know nothing but your love for us all.
We want to know nothing more but to live in love with your children.
Help us, O God, realize
       that your love always surpasses our understanding;
       that your presence is found without fail in our love for one another.
 
In Jesus’ name who is the surest answer to all the questions life presents, we pray. Amen.
 
By Rev. Shin Ahn, Wesley UMC (Medford,MA), Commonwealth East District