Prayers based on Matthew 22.1-14

week 5

Prayers Based on Matthew 22:1-14
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Prayer: Come to the Feast
In the midst of all you are facing
Your labor
Your responsibilities
Your hustle
Hear the invitation
“Come to the Feast!”

In the midst of all you are facing
Your burdens
Your shadows
Your shame
Hear the invitation
“Come to the Feast!”

In the midst of all you are facing
Your longing
Your suffering
Your distractions
Hear the invitation
“Come to the Feast!”

Come, eat and drink
Come, dress up and dance
Come, rejoice in the King’s delight
Your presence
Your “Yes!” to Sacred, Lifelong, Union

Listen…
Listen……
Grace is calling
Come, the feast awaits

Prayer Poem/Hymn Text: Come, Sup with God
Meter 88.88 (LM)
Suggested tunes:
HURSLEY (United Methodist Hymnal #339) or
GIFT OF LOVE (United Methodist Hymnal #408)
*I’d be very interested in working with a composer to set this to music

Come, sup with God all you who thirst
All you who hunger be the first
Feast on Christ’s Body and his Blood
O taste and see this meal of Love

Come, children, elders, blind, and spent
Come, foolish, able, indigent
Confess, repent, and then receive
Forgiveness flows abundantly

Come often, friend, for here is grace
made manifest in time and place
Christ’s mercy floods our brokenness
with healing balm and righteousness

Come to be changed. Come to be fed.
Come savor Christ, the Life, the Bread.
Drink deep the gift of healing poured
and leave a vessel of our Lord.

Sing Praise to Christ our Host and meal
Whose saving work provides the seal
for us once bound, now freed from death
to live for Christ with every breath

______________

For the next few months, I’ll be posting prayers to accompany Bishop Ken Carter’s Bible Study on Facebook. Each week, Bishop Carter will bring in a guest to speak about the passage. We’ll be walking through the last chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. 

You’re most welcome to read along and to join this Facebook discussion group. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

May the grace of God’s word, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

Come to the Feast © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Come, Sup with God © 2000 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Prayers based on Matthew 21.33-46

week 4

Prayers Based on Matthew 21:33-46
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Prayer: Cornerstone Confession
Rejected
Dismissed and Disregarded
Questioned instead of dignified
Accusation instead of personhood

I’ve felt rejection’s sting and hollowness
As have you, my Jesus
You understand my pain
Heal my wound

I’ve wielded rejection’s blade
Unknowingly, Subtly, and
Fully conscious of its destructive power
You never have, my Jesus
Forgive me and heal all I have hurt

I am most ashamed of aiming rejection at you, my Jesus
Pierce me with your Divine sorrow
Deliver me, renew me, abide in me so there is
More of my true me and
More of your strong foundation
For my healing and the healing of the world
Amen

Prayer: Faith and Field
Generous One
You entrust us with the goodness
Of your faith and field

Yet
We grasp
We scheme
Deliver us from wickedness

We reject
We harm
Deliver us from wickedness

We murder
We seize what belongs to you
Produce and People
Deliver us from wickedness

Redeem and Renew in us
Strength to work
Joy in the work
A generosity of spirit
So we may give freely and live righteously
At your bidding
Now and forever, Amen

______________

For the next few months, I’ll be posting prayers to accompany Bishop Ken Carter’s Bible Study on Facebook. Each week, Bishop Carter will bring in a guest to speak about the passage. We’ll be walking through the last chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. 

You’re most welcome to read along and to join this Facebook discussion group. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

May the grace of God’s word, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

Cornerstone Confession © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Faith and Field © 2010 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Prayers based on Matthew 21.23-32

week 3Prayers Based on Matthew 21:23-32
The Authority of Jesus is Questioned

Prayer: All Authority
Merciful and Mighty Christ
You proclaim and answer with authority
You reveal the way of righteousness

All authority in heaven and earth is yours
Receive the sacrifice of our trust and time

You deliver and heal with authority
You call for our turning and transforming

All authority in heaven and earth is yours
Receive the sacrifice of our trust and time

You breathe and share your authority
You send us to work and witness in your world

All authority in heaven and earth is yours
Receive the sacrifice of our trust and time
For the honor and glory of your name
For the building of your kingdom
For the saving of all creation. Amen

Be sure to also check out the reflection Authority by Steve Garaas Holmes based on Matthew 21:23-24.

Prayer: Steadfast Surrender
Faithful One, make me faithful.
Steadfast One, make me steadfast.
Unchanging One, change me.
I surrender to your Word and ways, your call and claim.
Fulfill your good purposes in me and through me, now and forever. Amen.
______________

For the next few months, I’ll be posting prayers to accompany Bishop Ken Carter’s Bible Study on Facebook. Each week, Bishop Carter will bring in a guest to speak about the passage. We’ll be walking through the last chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. 

You’re most welcome to read along and to join this Facebook discussion group. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

May the grace of God’s word, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <

All Authority © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
Steadfast Surrender © 2010 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.

Midweek Devotion- Isaiah 45

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 45:8

BREATH PRAYERS:
IN: And he walks with me
OUT: And he talks with me

IN:
OUT: The joy of the Lord is your strength

IN:
OUT: God is near

You’re encouraged to use the following process as you read scripture.
We use this process together on Wednesdays at 8:00AM EST.
https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUMCSarasota/

STILLNESS: Spend 5-20 minutes in silence looking to God and listening for God.

ATTENTION: Read or listen to the Scripture. What word, phrase, or verse captures your attention? Underline it or copy it onto a piece of paper.

CONNECTION: What connections do you see to other scriptures? To your own experience or current situation? Or, to the character or promises of God?

ACTION: What is God inviting you to trust, say, or do? How will your life be different because of this scripture?

PRAY: Talk to God about what you just experienced or anything else on your heart.

Recorded 8/19/2020

Bind Us Together
CCLI Song # 1228
Bob Gillman © 1977
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 686715

PUBLIC DOMAIN SONG:
In the Garden
Text and Music: C. Austin Miles

_______________________________________
Midweek Devotion- Isaiah 45 © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Midweek Devotion- Psalm 33

Scripture: Psalm 33

Breath Prayers: Psalm 33:20-22
IN: Our soul waits for the Lord
OUT: He is our help and shield

IN: Our heart is glad in him
OUT: Because we trust in his holy name

IN: Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us
OUT: Even as we hope in you

You’re encouraged to use the following process as you read scripture.
We use this process together on Wednesdays at 8:00AM EST. https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUMCSarasota

STILLNESS: Spend 5-20 minutes in silence looking to God and listening for God.

ATTENTION: Read or listen to the Scripture. What word, phrase, or verse captures your attention? Underline it or copy it onto a piece of paper.

CONNECTION: What connections do you see to other scriptures? To your own experience or current situation? Or, to the character or promises of God?

ACTION: What is God inviting you to trust, say, or do? How will your life be different because of this scripture?

PRAY: Talk to God about what you just experienced or anything else on your heart.

Contact Information:
941-924-7756
trinity@iTrinity.org

Recorded 7/8/2020

He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought
Text: Joseph H. Gilmore
Music: William B. Bradbury
Public Domain

Bind Us Together
CCLI Song # 1228; CCLI License # 686715
Bob Gillman © 1977, Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

_______________________________________
Midweek Devotion- Psalm 33 © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia