Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Proverbs 17: 9
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
Prayer
High God, holy God; you rule the ways of peoples, and govern earthly government. Work with those who work for peace. Make every person in authority an agent of your reconciliation, and every diplomat an ambassador of hope. Bring peace and goodwill among all people, fulfilling among us the promise made in Christ, who was born to save the world. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Ephesians 4: 32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Prayer
Almighty God, guide the nations of the world into ways of justice and truth, and establish among them the peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they many become the kingdom of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - 1 John 2: 11
But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.
Prayer
Great God over us all, destroy the prejudice that turns us against one another. Teach us that we are all children of your love, whatever our skin color is. Encourage us to live together, loving one another in peace, so that someday we have a unified world that sees our diverse racial lives as a rich and beautiful tapestry. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Joshua 1: 9
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Prayer
Eternal God, you have led us through our days and years, made wisdom ripe and faith mature. Show men and women your purpose for them, so that, when youth is spent, they may not find life empty or labor stale, but may devote themselves to dear loves and worthy tasks, with undiminished strength; for the sake of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Prayer
Loving God, in Christ you dealt with spirits that darken the minds or set people against themselves. Give peace to those who are torn by conflict, or cast down, or dream deceiving dreams. By your power, drive our minds from the demons that shake our confidence and wreck love. Tame unruly forces in us, and bring us to your truth, so that we may accept ourselves as good, glad children of your love, known in Christ. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Psalm 139:16-17
How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them! I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
I come to the end I am still with you.
Prayer
Everlasting God, you are the comfort of the sad and strength to those who suffer. Let the prayer of your children who are in trouble rise to you. To everyone in distress grant mercy, grant relief, grant refreshment; in the name of Christ. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Psalm 91: 1
“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
Prayer
God we come to you in prayer and commend to your goodness all who are near and dear to us, wherever they may be today. Watch over them; provide for them; bless them in body and soul; through the love of Christ. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations I am exalted in the earth.
Prayer
We pray for doctors, nurses, caregivers, public health officials and civic leaders. May God grant them courage as they seek to respond to this emergency with compassion and in the service to the common good. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Matthew 28: 1-10
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him. This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Prayer
Glory to you, O God: on this day you won victory over death, raising Jesus from the grave and giving us eternal life.
Glory to you, O Christ: for us and for our salvation you overcame death and opened the gate to everlasting life.
Glory to you, O Holy Spirit: you lead us into truth.
Glory to you, O blessed Trinity, now and forever.
Blessed Easter!
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Numbers 6: 24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you,and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Prayer
Gracious God, we remember before you the vast multitudes of those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our wealth and resources that all persons may find suitable and fulfilling employment, support and community and receive payment for their labor. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Genesis 1: 1-5
In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
Prayer
God of living water, protect from pollution or misuse rivers, lakes, oceans, streams. Bless the work of those who dig wells and those who advocate for access to clean water, that all people and animals have enough to drink. Amen
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Psalm 25: 4-7
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Prayer
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
Scripture - Ephesians 5:8-10
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light—for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.
Prayer
Dear God, you set us in families, where we learn to live together in charity and truth. Strengthen frayed bonds of love. Where separation threatens, move in with forgiveness and understanding. Melt hard hearts and free mixed minds, break the hold of stubborn pride. Lay claim on us, so we can be restored in the healing love of Christ. Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan
Dear Good Shepherd,
We are in an unprecedented time and let us be assured of God’s love and healing in our world.
Scripture - Mark 12: 30-31
you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Prayer
God of ages, in your sight nations rise and fall, and pass through times of peril. Now when our land is troubled, be near to guide us with wisdom and compassion. May leaders be led by your vision; may they search your will and see it clearly. If we have turned from your way, help us to reverse our ways and seek your grace. Give us your light and your truth to guide us; through your son Jesus Christ, Amen.
Peace be with You,
Pastor Dan