Prayer for Today, Sunday, May 1

Gracious God,

This is the day You have made and we rejoice. The first Sunday after Easter reminds us that every Sunday is a day to celebrate resurrection. We open our hearts to the Spirit of the Risen Lord this day. May we too confess, as did Thomas, “My Lord and my God”. Forgive us when, in our haste or because of habit, we choose not to worship you. Forgive us when we think our religious life can be faithful without participation in the community of believers. Come to us now, we pray. Bless our lives, our hearts and our spirits. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
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Please continue to pray for Connie Baker’s sister, Charline Corley, who is critically ill in Las Vegas.

Gene Mason has been falling a lot. He was taken by ambulance to St. Mary’s hospital yesterday and was admitted for tests and to regain his strength. Please pray for Gene and his family.

Please continue to pray for Chester Ross. He is recovering at home after a procedure on his back on Friday.

The scripture for today is Matthew 21:1-11:
When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.”This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?”The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The Psalm for this week is Psalm 24:
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Grace and peace,

John McLemore