(My Prayer of Invocation as lay leader today in church)
Here we are God.
Of course you know who we are and why we are here. After all, if you can count the hairs on our heads, you must know our names and our motivations.
But I’m going to tell you a little bit about us, anyway, because it helps me to talk with you, and believe me, God, the one thing for sure that we hear at this church is that it is ok to talk with God.
Many of us come here just about every week. We seem to have this habit.
We come to be together, to be part of this church community—to be with people who believe that the covenant of MCC is worth saying together every, every, every week.
Um God, do you get tired of hearing our weekly repetitions? I mean, how many times have you heard, “Our Father, who art in Heaven”?
Anyway, we also come here to be with you in our own personal way. I’d say it is a combination of community and, as that arcane term goes, for our personal salvation.
Also, today, God, undoubtedly there be some people who come to this church only once in a while, and there are probably some folks who are visiting for the first time. Again, you know who they are.
Regardless, maybe all of us, in our own little way, have come for the affirmation that whoever we are and wherever we are on life’s journey, you welcome us.
But God, I have to admit that although what I’m saying is true, that you know us, love us just as we are, and like to talk with us, I need to ask you, once again, to open all our hearts for this hour, as we listen and respond to you through scripture, Pastor Tom’s message, prayer, joys and concerns, music…. If I left anything out, well, you know what it is.
Finally, God…. And I promise I won’t go on but this is important. It’s another one of those weekly repeats. Help us never to forget to ask for prayers for the un-employed and under-employed, and for peace in our hearts, peace in our families and peace in the world.
So, as I said, here we are God. Thanks for always being available to talk.