“Prayer“, by Mrs. Becky Walker

Sermon Series: Treasures of the Transformed Life

Today is Laity Sunday. In worship today, you will notice that members of our congregation are leading worship instead of the pastors. This is to remind us all that the work of the church is not done solely by the pastors. No, most of the work of mission and ministry in our congregation is done by the people in our congregation…the laity. Pastors are assigned and sent to United Methodist congregations a year at a time by the Bishop. Some of us are lucky to serve many years in wonderful churches like this one. Pastors are provided to organize, teach and administer the Sacraments.

Both clergy and laity are essential for the church to live and act as God has called us to live and act together. Today, we explore this first dimension of our faithful commitments: our prayers. We vow to pray to God, to pray for one another, and to pray for our community and world. In worship today, Lay Leader Becky Walker will help us understand more clearly how we are to live out this vow together.

~Mike Holly

The Word

Luke 11:1-13

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

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