Opening Devotion - Wesley United Methodist Church, Church Conference, December 23, 2007

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we also have forgiven those who trespass against us;
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever.
Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

---
Thy Will

Thy Will be done
here, now, in this place
this creation, this earth
This place where you have birthed me
where we share this space together
members of your body here
So is the prayer, within the prayer
you taught us Lord
that the Father's will
will be done
here, on earth
So we pray each time we join
into one voice, echoing
up to the rafters
or down to the floor, heads bowed
in prayer
That we would do your will
and trust in you
for our Daily Bread

December 13, 2007
Matthew 6:9-13

---
Daily Bread – 1

Lord, we bow in prayer, the prayer you taught us
taught the disciples, so long ago
and we affirm the faith we share
with those peoples in the desert
who grumbled and feared,
regretting the comfort of their oppression
the security of their imprisonment
who feared the unknown
more than the Pharaoh's whip
How you gave them just enough
each day, for year on year, day on day
to sustain them in their journey
their journey to regain their faith
How much we too,
comfortable in our space
need to remember your provision,
your providence, oh Lord, Almighty God
Count on you to provide
so long as we do your will
in this place
as we discern your will
through bowing in prayer
to hear your voice, your call
for this generation

December 13, 2007
Matthew 6:9-13

These are the prepared words that I shared for the
Opening Devotional for the Church Conference,
Wesley United Methodist Church, Concord, NH
December 23, 2007