A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, March 29th

Good Morning, God,
Lord Jesus, our prayers go out today with our thanks to you for what you did, which we humbly remember today.
We remember the story, Lord, and how you had the meal with your disciples last night, then went to the garden to pray. There you were arrested and your terrible ordeal began that has kept you up all night. You have been taunted, lied about and interviewed. You have been deserted by your friends, many who claim they don't know you. We know that you will be beaten with a cat-o-nine tales that will rip your flesh.
Lastly, as is tradition, you will be nailed to a cross with nails in your wrists and one in your ankles to hold your feet to the cross.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, you will "give up your spirit" to God.
Lord Jesus, think on us this day as we worship at noon and other times, thinking of you.
In Jesus's name, amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, March 27th

Good Morning, God,
The headlines have been about the word "respect" lately, Lord: respect for the arts, respect for the dead, respect for tradition, and respect for faith, this time for the Jewish and Christian faiths.
As for faith, this week is very important for the Jewish faith, for it celebrates when the Israelites were exiting from Egypt with the feast called "Passover." It is very important for Christians, for it celebrates when Jesus re-identified the Passover, with his own body and blood symbolically becoming, the bread and wine of Holy Communion, the Eucharist. We are humbled by both of these acts and respect them.
We also give thanks for the respect that many have for the arts and having a good performance because of their volunteerism. We give thanks for the respect for life and the dead that Boy Scouts learn, even as several Boy Scouts are working on a cemetery for an Eagle project.
Lord Jesus, may we grow to respect all things good, and do our best to enhance life.
In Jesus's name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, March 25th

Good morning, God

The headlines many years ago came from President John F. Kennedy when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather ask what you can do for your country”. 

The headline just last week spoke of President Obama saying that “Yes, we live in a land of the free, but we don’t live in isolation . . . . We have an obligation to take responsibility for others”.  

The interesting thing is, Lord, that in a scientific survey, we Americans like our personal freedom more than we support “the greater good”.  If anything is proposed that will take away our individual freedom, such as “gun control”, we balk.  However, if something is needing to be done and it is couched in the phrase for the greater good, such as “we need to stem gun violence” we are more accepting.

However, and we’ve seen this, Lord, when it is for “the greater good” we have less energy for it.

God, may we care more for the great good and less about our individualism and individual rights.

In Jesus name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, March 22nd.

Good Morning, God

Lord, sometimes on Friday evening, a voice comes on the radio and asks the question “it’s 10:00p.m – do you know where your children are?” or “it’s 11:00p.m – do you know where your children are?”  This question, because it is not often asked so publicly, causes us to pause as parents and ask ourselves if we do know where our children are or, it causes us as young people to pause and ask ourselves if we want our parents to know where we are!

As the headlines this week have told us that the Greater Jasper School Board has approved a set of strict drug and alcohol policies because of a student survey that showed a higher-than-normal abuse of substances, we might want to take seriously the question posed by the radio announcer: “Do you know where your children are.  Guide us as parents, Lord to getting our young people to be in appropriate places on, especially Friday and Saturday nights.  And guide us as young people, Lord, to being in appropriate places on Friday and Saturday nights . . . and doing the right things.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, March 18th

Good morning, God

May the headlines be so much better than some of the ones last week!  Last week the headlines were about a boy who died after being pulled from a Disney pool.  The headlines were about 4 dead in 3 car wrecks; about a 13-year old boy who stole a police car; about the creepy things Facebook knows about us; about 7 more people being beheaded in Saudi Arabia for stealing, despite the United Nations asking that it not happen, because the men didn’t get fair trials, it is thought.

Lord, amid all of these headlines, we can all think that perhaps for but your grace in our lives, we could be involved in losing loved ones to accidents or intentional violence or bad choices or serious criminal activity.  So, we pray on this Monday to begin another week, that we will continue in your grace and have the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the strength of faith to lead a live worthy of being called and accepted as people of God.

Forgive us our sins, lead us not into temptation and keep us from the evil one.

In Jesus name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, March 15th

Good Morning, God

Today we give you thanks for your quick answer to the prayers!  On Wednesday morning we prayed for your wisdom to be with the College of Cardinals as they sought your will for the next Pope, the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.  You answered our prayers, Lord, almost in record time, if we can say this.

Latin American Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglo – as he takes the name and position of “Pope Francis”.   So now we pray for the leadership of “Pope Francis”.  Give him the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, and the fear, the awe of you, Lord.  May he seek your face with every decision, with every missive, with every interpretation of scripture and every offering of pastoral care.

Also, now we pray for the fellowship of the membership of the Roman Catholic Church, including those of our local parishes.  May each person heed their faith, follow their leadership, pray for their Pope and seek your will and guidance for their own lives under your authority and the authority of the Holy Catholic Church.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, March 13th

Good Morning, God

The headlines tell of the College of Cardinals once again meeting behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel.  It wasn’t but just a few short years ago that we were praying for the collective wisdom of the Cardinals as they were meeting to select the pope who ultimately was Pope Benedict the 16^th.

Now, the Cardinals must once again seek the will of you, God, for who will lead the Roman Catholic Church.  Theirs is a daunting task, as it usually is when any group of believers seeks to follow your will for its life.  This time, however, it seems even more difficult because of the different voices that have been speaking more loudly in these days.

The questions have become about how the new Pope will lead through the maze of issues including the participation of women, the continuing celibacy of its male clergy, the fallout from the abuse cases, in fact, most of the issues that we all face as we live between our sacred and secular lives.

So Lord, may your wisdom be upon the College of Cardinals.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, March 11th

Good morning, God

On Friday we prayed for those times when we are surprised by a sudden death and are saddened because the person was a friend or relative but thankful when it wasn’t a friend or relative.

Today, Lord, one of the other headlines from last week was about a surprise gift because of a sudden death.  It seems that a person was willed a horse by someone unknown . . . and that person is now trying to figure out how and why.

Perhaps, Lord, it is your doing.  Perhaps it is because the gifted horse is a gentle thing, meant for a person who needs gentleness and calmness.  Perhaps, Lord, because a fine organization “Freedom Reigns” can use the fund that the sale of another horse brings.  Perhaps, Lord, one will never know the exact reason why.

This is okay, isn’t it God.  We don’t know why you gift us with blessings; it seems someone else is just following suit.  Thank you for your example, God.

In Jesus name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, March 8th

Good Morning, God

The headlines on Wednesday morning and evening this week were about a traffic accident on Tuesday afternoon that claimed the life of a local woman, Magy Clark.  Seems she was the victim, in a snowstorm and on slick roads, of a vehicle that lost control.  We pray for that young driver, Cameron, and all of the family and friends of both, for peace, comfort and love.

During the ensuing investigation, Lord, while many were sitting waiting to get through, some of thought of loved ones and friends that were on that particular highway at that particular time – and we prayed that the accident did not involve them, especially upon hearing that it was a fatality.  When we found out our friends and loved ones were safe, we blessed you for it, Lord.

Lord, how fragile our lives are!  Help us to treat ourselves and each other as “fine china” at all times, especially when there are the possibilities for dangerous situations

In Jesus’ name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Wednesday, February 6th

Good Morning, God,
God, do you see what is going on on Facebook? Do you have a Facebook account? Oh, you see all and know all quite without Facebook, don't you!
Lord, what do you think of all the posts against President Obama? Oh, your word says to pray for those in authority over us, but many are very frustrated with this President.
Lord, what do you think of all the crude and rude posts, complete with language fit for the sewer? Oh, we know what your word says, but those writers are merely expressing themselves, their free speech.
Lord, what do you think of all the relationships and friendships that are "worked on" through Facebook; however, usually for the worst? Oh, we know your word says to love and care for each other, but so many don't base their relationships on your word first and foremost.
Lord, could Facebook come only with a "smiley face" emoticon, please?
In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Prayer for the Headlines for Monday, March 4th

Good Morning, God

It’s Monday again and so another workweek begins for probably the greatest number of people.  Some of us, especially pastors, began (or perhaps ended) our week yesterday.  But for one pastor who for years, almost 85 to be exact, yesterday was the first Sunday in a very long time he didn’t have to conduct a church service or perform any other church duties.  Benedict XVI is retired from his position of “Pope” and leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

God, we give you thanks for his ministry.  We pray your blessing be upon him in the years ahead.  We pray that he will sense from you what all of us, no matter our positions in life, long to hear - the words “Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful.  Enter the joy of your reward”.

And, we ask for your blessing to be with the leadership of the Catholic Church as they determine their new leader and the direction of the Church, not just for today or tomorrow, but for the years to come.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

A Prayer for the Headlines for Friday, March 1st

Good Morning, God

It’s Friday, March 1^st, and today the sequestration starts, the across-the-board decreases to federal spending.  Not thinking 6 months ago that it would come to this, Democrats and Republicans and the president had voted for it.  But, even more staunchly than ever, the players – all the players – have dug in their heels.  “Compromise” is in the vocabulary, but only if one compromises in the other’s way.

So, today we pray for the citizens of these United States.  We pray for that additional hole in our belts necessary to tight them.  We pray for the truly least, lost and lonely who truly need government benefits.  We pray for the hard-working souls who take their responsibilities seriously to put food on the table, a roof over their head and clothes on their backs.  We pray for those whose income and lifestyle won’t be affected today, that these folks look around and ask what they can do to help others.  Perhaps, Lord, all of us need to pray for guidance asking “What can I do to help us get through this mess; me, myself and I, what can we do to help us straighten this thing out?”  And then, just do it!

In Jesus’ name, Amen