Sundays after Easter
Prayer
Pastoral Prayers For All Seasons
Object:
This morning, O God our Savior, we thank you for friends. For the people that we see again and again at the bank, in the grocery store, at the prescription counter, whose smiles and service we often take for granted. We're grateful for the friends we've made at work, within our extended family, and at school.
Especially do we thank you for our friends in the church. They are the ones whose fate is joined with ours. And we care for each other very deeply. In all likelihood, apart from our meeting at church, we might never have chosen each other as friends.
We thank you for our abiding friends who have come closer to us than a brother or a sister, who steadfastly stand by us through all manner of sorrow and joy. They are the friends we've welcomed into the most intimate corners of our lives and they've not failed our trust. When our lives are deeply shaken by illness, rejection, or death -- these are the people we want to have at our side. They have no way of profiting from our friendship and yet they come at the time of critical need. With them we can say whatever is in our hearts without fear of judgment; with them we can share our dreams for tomorrow without fear of ridicule.
One of our enduring joys is answering our telephone to find one of these friends, only wanting to say "hello." Such a simple act. Such an uplifting moment. Such a wondrous gift.
How deeply touched we are, when we consider that our Master wants us to call him "friend." What a honor it is to be given such an intimate place in his life. We will cherish this love all the days of our lives and in all the tomorrows of your heaven. To Christ be all honor and glory. Amen.
Especially do we thank you for our friends in the church. They are the ones whose fate is joined with ours. And we care for each other very deeply. In all likelihood, apart from our meeting at church, we might never have chosen each other as friends.
We thank you for our abiding friends who have come closer to us than a brother or a sister, who steadfastly stand by us through all manner of sorrow and joy. They are the friends we've welcomed into the most intimate corners of our lives and they've not failed our trust. When our lives are deeply shaken by illness, rejection, or death -- these are the people we want to have at our side. They have no way of profiting from our friendship and yet they come at the time of critical need. With them we can say whatever is in our hearts without fear of judgment; with them we can share our dreams for tomorrow without fear of ridicule.
One of our enduring joys is answering our telephone to find one of these friends, only wanting to say "hello." Such a simple act. Such an uplifting moment. Such a wondrous gift.
How deeply touched we are, when we consider that our Master wants us to call him "friend." What a honor it is to be given such an intimate place in his life. We will cherish this love all the days of our lives and in all the tomorrows of your heaven. To Christ be all honor and glory. Amen.
