Prayer for Today, Saturday, March 26

Gracious God,

The cross stands before us as the symbol of Your love for all the world. The empty tomb stands before us as a symbol of the new life that is available to all through Your son, Jesus the Christ. Help us to understand Your love and new life can be experienced in the present moment as well as in eternity. When we pray “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” may we realize that we are praying for Your reign to be as much a reality now as in the distant future. Forgive us when we look on the present life as just a “preparation” for heaven. May we be empowered by Your Sprit to work earnestly for heaven on earth. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
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Kim Price is having exploratory surgery this morning as a result of complications from surgery earlier this week. He is at the Summit Clinic in Edmond. Kim is the son of Imogene Price. Please lift him up in your prayers.

Maude Purnell’s funeral is today at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel. Please pray for Maude’s family.

Ruth Weston will have surgery on Monday morning at St. Mary’s hospital. Please pray for Ruth.

Don’t forget tomorrow evening’s “Connect All” party for all ages in the Fellowship Hall. Bring some chips and a bottle of pop and a board game, if you wish. We will start at 6:30 p.m. It will be a lot of fun.

Bring a friend to church with you tomorrow.

The scripture for today is Matthew 16:13-20:
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Grace and peace,

John McLemore