When Was the Last Time You Called Home?

I’m not big on bumper sticker religion. But here’s one that caught my eye.

        “You are a child of God.  Please call home.”

While that sounds a bit like the movie “E.T.” - it is strong encouragement for us to keep communication with God open and up-to-date.  Lent is a time for reflection and a more intentional prayer life.  To that end, I would simply like to share a few short prayers which reach back a few hundred years as prompters in our prayer lives.  May they also connect with our sermon series, as we as individuals and as a faith community, seek to be “Following Christ”.

“Lord, we pray not for tranquility nor that our tribulations 
may cease; we pray for your spirit and your love, 
that you grant us strength and grace to overcome adversity, 
through Jesus Christ.  Amen.” 
- Girólamo Savonarola (1452–1498) 
Dominican preacher and Florentine reformer

“O Eternal God… let me, in spite of me, be of so much use 
to your glory, that by your mercy to my sin, other sinners 
may see how much sin you can pardon.  Amen.” 
- John Donne (1572-1631) 
Dean of Saint Paul’s Cathedral

“Now pardon, O gracious Jesus, what we have been;
with your holy discipline, correct what we are. 
Order by your providence what we shall be, and in the end, 
crown your own gifts.  Amen.”
- John Wesley (1703-1791) 
Founder of Methodism

“Why should I live but to thy praise?  
My life is hid with thee. 
O Lord, no longer be my days, 
Than I may fruitful be.  Amen.” 
- Anne Bradstreet (1612 – 1672) 
New England poet and Puritan

“And now, those things, good Lord, 
that we pray for, 
Give us the grace to labor for.  Amen.” 
- Sir Thomas Moore (1478-1535) 
Lord Chancellor of England

Praying for our Prayer Life… 
         all in a Spirit of Prayer,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young
Senior Minister