JANUARY 2016 MBUMC FOCUS PRAYER

Please join the MBUMC Prayer Ministry team in praying this prayer.

Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. (1 Peter 4:10 CEV)

Holy God, let your people be happy and celebrate because of you. O God, you are the one who rides on the clouds, and we praise you. Your name is the Lord, and we celebrate as we worship you. Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper. (Psalm 68:3-6b CEV)

Some of us feel orphaned; some are widows; many are lonely or prisoners to sin and shame.  Thank you, God our Father, for your love and care. Thank you for our brother, Jesus. Thank you for the church family and the brothers and sisters you have given us in this community of faith. Together, let us learn and grow in wisdom and knowledge of your Word and your Way.

We pray our thanks for the many volunteers who offer their time and talents to our community of faith. Thank you for the Church Council members who organize various ministries and for the Trustees who help take care of our church buildings and property. Thank you every one. We are especially thankful for Linda Hooker, Church Council chairperson, and Mickey Ellis, Trustees chairperson.

We thank God for all of you . . .in our prayers. This is because we remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. Brothers and sisters, you are loved by God and we know that he has chosen you. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 CEB)

Each one of us has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So let us use these gifts well. If you have the gift of speaking, preach God’s message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.

(1 Peter 4:10-11 CEV)

The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord; We are his new creation by water and the Word; From heaven he came and sought us that we might ever be his living servant people, by his own death set free.

Hymn 546, words by Samuel J. Stone, 1866; adapt. By Laurence Hull Stookey, 1983; Music by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864.