Loving God
Who sent Your Son to be among us as our shepherd,
To bring us back together like sheep that have gone astray;Each of us in our own way, off in our own direction, our own agenda, our own manner of doing things;
We find ourselves drifting away from those we love, turning our eyes from the things that we value, becoming caught up in a vast sea of confusion and doubt.
And we become lost.
We hear the voices of self importance on our TV and internet channels. We are confronted by the words of false prophets promoting words of hatred or violence towards your children. And we become wrapped up in the culture of the busy. We are caught up in our obsession for our schedules and our status. And we look around us this morning and realize that we have turned away from You, that we have lost our way.
We return to you this morning Oh God, our Creator and Redeemer. Through the life-giving spirit of Your Son’s sacrifice for us we can begin to see our way to return to You and your eternal love.
Help us this day, in this our time of worship, to hear again the words of your Son, as He spoke so many years ago, and speaks to us again today. Bring us back in your grace, to celebrate in love the presence of the persons in our community, and those seated near us here this morning. As we find ourselves back in your presence may remember those in need, those we are called to serve, those who are sick, or without shelter, or food, or who are lonely and afraid.
For as we return to you, we see once again those who You have placed in our care. And we turn from indifference to concern, from tuned out to tuned in to the needs of others, from a state of distraction to love for one another. And in so doing we return to the sheepfold, called back through the loving sacrifice of Your Son Jesus.
For it is in His Name we pray.