My pastor and his wife have been in Ireland for the past couple of Sundays and so, while I’m not usually the one delivering the message, I have been the last two weeks and will be again this coming Sunday. I love to preach and am so grateful to be in a church that welcomes different voices in the pulpit. But this week . . . With the incidents in the US this week, I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of proclaiming the Gospel in the midst of this national crisis.
Yet, I am glad to be fully aware of my inadequacy, to be reminded that Christ’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. Thus, leaning into that promise, I approached the task of proclamation, beginning with the morning prayer (below). I preached from Colossians 1:1-14. You can find the audio of the message here, or you may download it using the link below.
Loving God, Holy Lord: you are our strength and our shield. You are the God of Mercy, the God of Peace.
We ask Lord that in this place and at this moment, Oh God, let your Kingdom come; let your will be done. So that right now on earth, we will experience blessed peace, divine mercy, and Kingdom justice.
Lord we ask that you will remind us from whom our help comes. Remind us that you are the source of all provision.
And forgive us.
- Forgive us when we fail to recognize our own sins, so attentive are we to the sins of others.
- Forgive us for failing to hide ourselves in you, so intent are we to step out with false pride in our own humanness.
- Forgive us for relying only on ourselves: idolizing our own strengths and cursing our weaknesses.
- Forgive us when we slip into these godless behaviors and forget that only you are holy.
We ask, Lord God, that you would guide us through the temptations of our lives.
- The temptation of our chosen addictions: substances, attitudes, or actions.
- The temptation to over-simplify complex issues.
- The temptation to offer quick fixes and consider ourselves blameless.
Deliver us Lord, from our selfishness, from our knee-jerk reactions, from our mindless pursuits.
Remind us once again that we are called, through your infinite love and unyielding grace:
- We are called to be your people.
- We are called to be one people—one unified Body of Christ
- We are called to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you.
- We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.
- We are called to love you with our whole hearts.
Bring us into this moment unfettered by our own egos.
- Still the voices in our heads that cry out for attention.
- Voices that say, “Make sure you do this, and don’t forget that.”
- Voices that say, “What’s in this for me?” or “This is a waste of my time.”
- Voices that say, “I’m not worthy,” or “I don’t belong.”
Instead,
Make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.*
Lord, in your Mercy, Hear our Prayer.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Below, find the audio of Following Christ: Bearing Fruit, delivered at First Baptist Church of Weaverville, NC, July 10, 2016.
