Sunday, October 25, 2020
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 146
MUSIC
Curated by Nathan Gutzmann
Bethel Music - We Praise You
Bethel Music - Sing His Praise Again
Worship Circle - My Jesus I Love Thee
Hillsong Worship - O Praise The Name
ANCIENT PRAYER FOR FRIENDS
Written By Yelena Pakhomova
As we continue to worship today, we will take a couple of moments here to pray for our friends.
And we will do so using the words of an ancient prayer that comes to us from Anselm of Canterbury, a monk, a theologian, a saint of old.
In this prayer, Anselm names this tension between our desire to pray for our friends and the feeling of inadequacy of the attempt. But what encourages him to pray is his trust that God’s love for his friends is not dependent on how much he, Anselm, loves or fails to love them. And this rings so true for us today, 10 centuries later, in the pandemic season, when we negotiate all of our social connections and when even close friendships feel less tangible.
So as we allow the ancient words to come alive and touch our imagination, I invite you to think of a friend, or two or three, someone you care for and who might use a word of prayer today.Let’s pray.
Ancient Prayer for Friends
(Anselm of Canterbury, c. 1033-1109)
My good Lord,
I long to pray to you for my friends,
But I am held back by my sins.
Since I stand in such need of grace myself,
How can I dare ask for grace for others?
I anxiously seek intercession on my own behalf.
Yet, even so, I shall be so bold
As to intercede for others.
You commend me to pray for my friends,
And love prompts me to do so.
So I pray to you, good and gracious God,
For those who love me for your sake
And whom I love in you.
If my prayer does not deserve to be answered,
Please love them for their own sakes,
For you are the source of all love.
And make them love you with all their hearts
So that they will speak and do
Only that which pleases you.
My prayer is but a cold affair, Lord,
Because my love burns with such a small flame,
Yet you who are rich in mercy
Will bestow your grace not according to my prayers
But according to the infinite warmth of your love.
Amen.
