God
of grace and love, giver of all good things, we come to you in worship
of all that you are and all that you have been for us and for the world.
Be with us during this hour so that we might hear your voice clearly.
Give us courage to do what you ask, courage to be faithful and to trust
in your word.
Be
with all those who need you and all those who have only a glimpse of
your love. May needs be met, may your love be apparent, both here and
throughout the world.
Forgive
us for our hesitance to drop our nets and follow. We are so often like
the young ruler, offered the chance to not just be alive but instead to
live. And, like that young ruler, we look at what we would lose by
following you rather than what we gain in following you, and we walk
away.
But
you continue to look at us and love us. May we see love in your face as
you call us to follow. May we know that you call us not because you
need us, but rather you call us because we need you. Give us faith. Help
thou our unbelief.
May
we learn to love you more and more so that our love might remember that
love shown to us by your son, Jesus Christ, who taught us when we pray
to say: 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 forgive 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,
forever.
