26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Edwin Hatch, 1878 (UMH 420, v. 3)
Gracious and loving God,
We are so grateful always, but especially in these days, to know that it is you who have breathed into us the breath of life.
We are mindful that there are those in our world, in our country, in our Conference and in our neighborhoods that are fighting for breath.
We are mindful that disease has stricken so many and robbed them of the breath they gasp to take in.
We are mindful that oppression has held its knee on the neck of too many robbing them of the breath that you bring into being.
Cultivate in us that mind which was in Jesus Christ so that we may take the necessary precautions to avoid spreading breath-stealing disease.
Cultivate in us that mind which was in Jesus Christ so that we are compelled to stand up against the oppression that steals the breath of your beloved children.
When we do not have the words,
When we cannot fathom the circumstances that have befallen so many in this pandemic,
When we cannot imagine the grief of the mothers whose children have been senselessly killed,
Send us that Spirit which intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
Send us that Spirit which breathed the church into existence at Pentecost.
Search our hearts. Set us straight.
Help us in our weakness.
Breathe in us, Breath of God.
Rev. Cheryl L. Meachen, Pastor
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord NH
Join us for worship at Wesley UMC - Concord NH
Sundays at 10:30 on YouTube at this link.
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