Great God,

Our scripture today speaks of how wonderful the Temple was after restoration by King Hezekiah, and we walk into Peachtree Road UMC’s sanctuary and are astounded by its’ magnificence. If we have been attending worship for a while, we may even overlook how lovely it is. Help us to see with fresh eyes the beauty surrounding us: the rose window and the stained-glass windows, the doves at the ceiling, the carvings in front of the Great Organ, both in front and in the balcony, the gleaming marble floors and the needlepoint chairs and kneeling cushions and side benches created by our amazing group of talented folks. Help us never take for granted this holy space where we worship You. We are thankful for those who invested so much time and money into building a masterpiece dedicated to You.

While the Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Israelite worship, when it was desecrated, the people were bereft. Where would they worship now? Help us know there is not only one place and one way to worship You. Help us also to see the beauty surrounding us in nature and other churches and wherever we feel close to You. Let us feel connected to You in every place and every circumstance, and let us worship You everywhere, all the time.

In Jesus’ name. AMEN.


Rev. Julie Wright

Most Gracious and Loving God,

We open our hearts to you in this moment of prayer, and our souls long to be with you. While you reside in the highest of heaven, we’re amazed by your glory but humbled and grateful that you extend your presence into the depths of our hearts and souls. Thank you for making your home within us.

Lord, each of us longs for home. We long for something more profound than ourselves. We desire a place that makes us feel secure and loved. We long for a place where we can feel at peace and content. Call us home, Lord.

We realize that the incarnate Jesus Christ laid the foundation of our home. From that foundation, we can rise to new heights in your love. Allow our souls to look on high and seek your splendor. You are our sun and shield, and we bask in your glory. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.

Please help us recognize your presence within us during our pilgrimage with you.

In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray, amen.


Rev. Geoff Beakley

Loving and gracious God, we praise You and thank You for the gift of this new day.

Help us to understand Your instructions and follow Your guidance. Give us the wisdom to understand the rewards when we follow Your way and the negative consequences when we follow our own desires. With the Apostle Paul help us to know that “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”

O Lord, guide us and guard us today as we go about our routines. You know all that we will face and the decisions we will have to make. The hymn writer expresses the desires of our hearts:

Lead me Lord. Lead me by the hand and make me face the rising sun. Comfort me through all the pain that life may bring. There’s no other hope that I can lean upon. Lead me Lord. Lead me all my life.

Walk by me. Walk by me across the lonely road of everyday. Take my arms and let your hand show me the way. Show the way to live inside your love. Lead me Lord, All my life.

You are my life. You’re the lamp upon my feet. All the time, my Lord, I need you there. You are my life. I cannot live alone. Let me stay by your guiding love. All through my life, lead me Lord.

Lead me Lord. Even though at times I’d rather go along my way. Help me take the right direction. Take your road. Lead me Lord and never leave my side. All my days, all my life.*

In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

*”Lead Me Lord” by Basil Valdez


Rev. Jamie Jenkins

Holy and Loving Lord,

We praise you, for we know you are with us, and you are more ready to listen than we are to pray. You hear us, see us, and love us faithfully. Help us to open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts this day to see you, hear you, and experience your grace anew. Empower us so to live that we may share the love of Christ in all we do. Lead us, Lord, as we seek to glorify you.

AMEN.


Rev. Elizabeth Byrd

Great God,

Here we are. Consecrate our lives to you today. Set us apart for the work of your Kingdom. Help us to experience your handiwork throughout the activities of our day.

As the morning sun meets our eyes, prepare us to reflect your light into the world. Fill us with daily bread that is sweeter than the honeycomb. Entrust us to plant seeds today. May what we plant grow roots and blossoms in your love. When our tasks seem as tall as the mountains, be Thou our vision every step of the way. And when we feel as low as the lowest valley, give us a sign that we are not alone. Be our rock and our redeemer this day and forevermore.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Rev. Josh Miles

Gracious and Loving God,

Faith, life, prayer, relationships are all filled with promises… Promises that we intend to keep to, adhere to, yet often, we fall short. Our promise is to put our faith first, to have no other Gods before you, to worship you with every word, action, thought and deed. The trappings of life tempt us to put money, things, wants, ahead of our relationship with you. So, we pray to be forgiven and to mend our wayward offenses and unkind thoughts and acts. When we transgress, slip up, put our greedy desires above our love for you, we know that we need you more than ever.

Gracious and Loving God,

We pray that our lives will reflect your life. May our words and actions concur with your words and actions. Help us to emulate you. Help us to think your thoughts, speak your words, perform your deeds, experience your feelings. Help us to embody your love. This is our prayer. We simply want to honor you and uphold the promises we made to you and to one another, thereby creating wholeness instead of sowing uncertainty and division.

Gracious and Loving God,

As you hold steadfast to your promises to honor all of us, as your precious beloved children created in your image, we ask for your guidance for our lives, While we cannot change our past bad decisions, bad thoughts, bad actions, bad feelings, we are convinced, dear God, that with you we can make better decisions, create positive thoughts, perform nicer deeds and allow the good feelings that come when our priorities and promises are in sync with our love for you – freeing us to reflect your love and emulate your goodness.

In Your Holy Name We Pray, Amen

Rev. Mace Hall

God of Love and Light,

Open our eyes to see you and to be in awe of your handiwork around us. You created the world and all that is in it. You didn’t have to make it beautiful, but you did. Help us to see with fresh eyes, the eyes of a child, the wonders of your creation and to sing your praises. Assure us of your presence. Lift our hearts away from fear and doubt. You have given us the gift of life and want us to experience it in abundance, in restored relationship with you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to believe! Remind us of your goodness and how you have provided for us in the past, even when we turned away from you. Remind us that you keep your promises, even when things seem hopeless. You are mighty to save; your grace is sufficient, and your power is made perfect in our weakness. Give us strength to walk in the light, willfully following the steps of Jesus Christ, loving you with our whole hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Let our lives glorify your name in all that we do.

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Rev. Leslie Watkins

Loving God,

You are faithful in every season of life. We give you thanks that we can trust you both in times when we can see the way clearly and in times when our vision is clouded. You provide all that we need to live and believe in your goodness no matter how difficult the circumstances. And so, by faith, we can affirm that, “Faith is the assurance of things that we have hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Forgive us when we fail to live by faith and restore our vision so that we can trust in your goodness and faithfulness.

We pray all of these things in the name of Jesus, who makes all things new. Amen.

Rev. Daniel Ogle

Almighty and Merciful God,

We praise You this day for the gift of life and the glories of creation. We give thanks for the goodness of the works of Your hands. Coming before You in awe and wonder, O Lord, we acknowledge that although the things of this world may change, You remain the same. Your love and life-giving Spirit are unending.

O God, You call us to trust You in all the seasons of our lives. So often, we allow perceived circumstances to drive our decisions and our attitudes. We believe in what we see and think we know. We want to be faithful, but it can be so difficult to accept what we can’t conceive. Like Sarah, to whom You promised the gift of a child, we discount Your power. And yet, Sarah would come to hold the child Isaac in her arms. You are indeed the God who can do what we would deem impossible.

Forgive us when we think we know best. Quell our pride and teach us humility. You seek us in relationship. Open our hearts and minds, O Lord. During our Lenten journey, let us empty all that distracts us from Your truth. By the Holy Spirit, allow us to experience Your presence. Guide our steps; we pray. Comfort all those who are grieving, searching, and hoping. Let us tend to those who journey with us, confident that Your Son walks with us every step of the way.

For it is in His holy name we pray, Amen.


Rev. Darren Hensley